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For many, climbing the highest mountain in Africa in Tanzania may seem like an impossible feat. But for a determined group, they have never imagined to accomplish the summit of a lifetime and make history as America's first black-and-white expedition team to climb. Kilimanjaro.
A unique group of 11 climbers, aged 25 to 60 from across the country, came together through Outdoor Afro. A national nonprofit organization founded on the creation of a network that inspires African-American connections and leadership in nature.
Outdoor Afro With nearly 80 leaders in 30 states across the country, Outdoor Afro has allowed thousands of people to experience outdoor experiences to "change the face of conservation." Through the help of sponsorship and fundraising teams in prospect states, the organization has provided many outdoor events for members locally and internationally.
"This experiment was aimed at fostering relationships with other like-minded leaders," said Chaya Harris. As a leader in education in Boston, Harris works for change in his community and wanted to be able to combine that with his favorite hobby of being in the wild.
While coaching for a year, members were not extreme athletes and were gearing up for this trip and demanding a change in their diet and lifestyle. "I was hiking 6.5 to 10.5 miles with weights on my back once a week," said Olatunde (Ola) Gholahan, a father of two from Austin Texas. As the son of a Nigerian, Ola said it meant a lot to have the opportunity to travel to Africa – his father's birthplace.
Outdoor Afro "Will I have the opportunity to go home and get the support of my community and peers to participate in this amazing experience?"
Gholahan said that being the only man in the group to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and being the only man in a group of women showed him how powerful women are. The women in the group reminded her of these girls and it was a source of inspiration to tell her daughters that they too can accomplish incredible feats like this one.
Although located in separate states, the team organized daily calls to share their progress in coaching, to help each other with resources to pack their bags and to to get to know each other better Outdoor Afro also held a leadership summit in Los Angeles that allowed leaders to unite before the trip.
Outdoor Afro For five days, the team began climbing the southwestern slopes of the mountain, up to Kibo Peak, with visible western glaciers -altitude desolate rocks. Hiking four to six hours each day, covering thousands of feet, hikers increased their altitude until reaching Barafu Hut, a campsite in Kilimanjaro National Park, before embarking on the summit.
Outdoor Afro Beginning of their ascent to 23 hours. climbers have endured difficult and perilous conditions. Walking on a 45 degree slope in total darkness, with decreasing oxygen levels and a relentless wind that disoriented the group – they relied on their confidence in the person before them and a determination to keep moving forward .
"I'm going to get there, the sun will come up – I was just repeating that to myself, I had to get to the top for my family, my support system, the people of Boston – I'm doing it for my team Says Chaya Harris.
Outdoor Afro Of the 11 climbers, only five reached the summit of Kilimanjaro but for all members, reaching different points of the mountain. The trip was special in many ways.
For Ray Smith, a 59-year-old veteran of the 59-year-old Washington Air Force, the trip was "going beyond the point of departure to create one's own summit." As a cancer survivor, Smith said that traveling to Kilimanjaro was a testament to his stamina and being part of a team of black outdoor leaders who supported each other was crucial.
Outdoor Afro has created a network of leaders who are connected by not having extreme athletic backgrounds but an admiration for the outdoors and adventures. Mountaineers who have traveled to Mount Kilimanjaro have been challenged by what it means to be a leader in a group during a physically challenging expedition.
The organization helped push the barriers by training members to how they can strengthen their community through nature.
"There are misconceptions that blacks do not have a global perspective and this trip has allowed us to change the traditional narrative to reflect what it means to be a person of color and adventurous," says Chaya Harris.
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