Our Head of Finance, Alex Smith, recently took on the incredible challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, complete with a custom Pexhurst branded coat. We sat down with him and asked him all about his experience…
What inspired you to do the hike?
It all stemmed from the Covid-19 lockdown period. At a time when there wasn’t much we could do but walk, I started going out with my mate and our dogs, covering progressively longer distances and taller hills. I can’t call them mountains now that I’ve seen Mount Kilimanjaro! It just snowballed from there.
How long did it take to reach the summit?
There are lots of different routes you can take up to the summit of Kilimanjaro, each of which takes a different number of days giving you more or less time to acclimatise to the altitude. We took the Lemosho route that is completed over eight days, split roughly into six and a half days to climb up and one and a half days to get back down.
On summit day we were up and ready to leave camp at midnight and didn’t get back until midday.
How did you feel when you reached the summit?
Relieved. Nothing can prepare you for how tough that day is going to be but obviously the reward of reaching the top outweighs all of that. We were also faced with really tough conditions – it was so cold that our hydration packs froze – so I was incredibly proud that everyone in our group made it to the summit.
Do you have any tips for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro now you’ve done it?
Unfortunately, there’s only so much training you can do to climb a mountain of that size, and you never know how your body will react to the conditions so physical preparation is only half the battle.
The best thing you can do is research. Talk to other people who have done it, watch videos, listen to podcasts – take in as much information as possible.
Were you able to draw upon any skills you’ve gained throughout your career?
I would say I’m very determined. I started my career later than others and had to work hard to get to where I am today. That has taught me to always push myself out of my comfort zone and strive for better.
When I set myself a goal, I have to complete it and climbing Kilimanjaro was no different.
What’s next? Everest?
Climbing Everest is my life goal but there are a few hills to climb between now and then – it’s a big commitment of time and money.
I think the next logical step in that journey is trekking the Himalayas, but long term Everest is on the cards.
Any final words?
Just a massive thank you to everyone at Pexhurst for being so supportive, and of course for the coat. I’d love to organise a Pexhurst three peaks challenge next year so maybe next time I reach a summit some of the team will be there with me.
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