We did it!

We did it!
On the Roof of Africa

Who are we & why did we do this?

We are three couples living in Nova Scotia who were intrigued by the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. We have all been blessed to live in Canada with good health and rewarding careers. However, all of us know of a family member or friend that has been touched in some way by mental illness. We decided to dedicate our climb to rasing money for Laing House. We are proud to say that we achieved all of our goals. We returned home safely; we raised over $117,000 for Laing House, almost twice our original goal; and we all summitted on Sept 18. The trip was certainly a challenge but many of us say it was the trip of a lifetime in spite of the fact that all of us have travelled extensively. However, the last word belongs to the most famous African, Nelson Mandela, who said, "After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb".

About Laing House

Laing House is a support centre for youth living with mental illness. It is a youth-driven and community-based organization where young people between 16 and 30 years of age, who are living with a mental illness, can get the support they need to rebuild their lives. Since opening in 2001, Laing House has assisted over 300 youth from across the Maritimes. There are currently 100 members of Laing House. Programs, including employment, healthy living, education, and peer and family support, help youth recognize and develop their own strengths, talents and resources in a welcoming, respectful and collaborative environment. Laing House is the first of its kind in Canada.

The supportive environment of Laing House allows youth and staff to build meaningful relationships. They work together to create personal development, community education, and advocacy programs. These experiences and opportunities provide youth with support and resources to further educational and vocational paths. They develop the life skills needed to form relationships, secure safe housing, and experience hope for their futures. A variety of unique programs and services are employed to attain these goals. Laing House looks forward to a day where the stigma surrounding mental illness has dissipated and there is equal opportunity for all.

Thank you to all Laing House supporters!

The support that Laing House has received as a result of this climb has been fantastic. We wish to express our gratitude to all of you. Like all charities, Laing House feels the impact of the recession. The extra funds raised as a result of this climb will provide Laing House with the resources to continue to serve young people struggling with mental health issues. Thank you!

Climbing Plan



Friday, Sept 11: LONDOROSSI GATE to MTI MKUBWA CAMP 9,170-ft/2,800-m • 2.1 miles/3.4 km • 3-4 hours

We enter Kilimanjaro National Park and check in at the Londorossi Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. Our trek today will be along a little used track through the montane forest. The flora and fauna are richer here than on the other more popular routes through the rain forest. Our first camp is in the rain forest at Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree).


Saturday, September 12: MTI MKUBWA to SHIRA PLATEAU CAMP11,500-ft/3,505-m • 4.5 miles/7.3 km • 7-8 hours

We leave the glades, and start the climb towards the heath and moorland zone. A couple hours after lunch we cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau, very different from the rain forest. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro's volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. Weather and volcanic action have decimated the crater rim. Today we'll get our first close views of Kibo - the summit of Kilimanjaro.


Sunday, September 13: SHIRA PLATEAU to MOIR CAMP13,650-ft/4,160-m • 5.7 miles/9.2 km • 7-8 hours

We hike east across the Shira Plateau past the Shira Cathedral towards Moir camp, tucked away at the end of a huge gorge, at the foot of a giant lava flow. We'll stop for lunch at Fisher Camp, which is only a couple hours from our destination.


Monday, September 14: MOIR CAMP to BARRANCO CAMP12,950-ft/3,950-m • 4.6 miles/7.4 km • 6-7 hours

We start climbing toward Lava Tower lower camp, at 14,950-ft/4,556-m, where we stop for lunch, allowing our bodies to acclimatize. We descend down through the Giant Senecio forest to Barranco Camp, which is beautifully set up on a ridge at the foot of the Barranco Wall. This is where the Machame and Lemosho routes converge, so we meet other climbers ascending the Machame Route.

Tuesday, September 15: BARRANCO CAMP to KARANGA CAMP13,200-ft/4,023-m • 2.4 miles/3.9 km • 4-5 hours

We descend on the trek down through the Giant Senecio forest to Barranco. Camp is beautifully set up on a ridge at the foot of the Barranco Wall, just across a beautiful stream.


Wednesday, September 16: KARANGA CAMP13,200-ft/4,023-m

This is our key acclimatization day, as we go on an acclimatization hike to 14,500-ft/4,420-m, after lunch returning to camp for dinner.


Thursday, September 17: KARANGA to BARAFU CAMP15,200-ft/4,633-m • 2.2 miles/3.5 km • 3-4 hours

It’s all uphill to the rocky, craggy slopes at Barafu camp. Barafu means "ice" in Swahili, and it is extremely windy and cold at this altitude. We'll be able to see the eroded peak of Mawenzi, painted with colors of the African sun.


Friday, September 18: BARAFU to SUMMIT to CRATER CAMPSummit: 19,340-ft/5,895-m • 2.8 miles/4.5 km • 6-9 hours Crater Camp: 18,700-ft/5,600-m • .5 miles/.7 km • 1 hour

We'll repack our gear, taking only what we'll need for the summit push. Today’s the toughest day, with the most stunning views of Mawenzi, the Kibo Saddle and the plains below. We slowly wind our way up over the rocky outcrops and through the scree until we reach the rim of the crater. After lunch on the rim, we make our push to the summit. The weather and effects of altitude will determine how long we stay there. After our summit celebration we descend to our crater camp for overnight facing the amazing Furtwangler Glacier. We spend the remainder of the day taking it easy, and enjoying camp at the highest sleeping altitude.


Saturday, September 19: CRATER CAMP to MWEKA CAMP10,400-ft/3,170-m • 10.2 miles/14.5 km • 7-9 hours

We'll probably take a short hike up to the Ashpit, where fumaroles are evidence of Kilimanjaro’s dormant volcanic state. We then head downhill to Mweka Camp, where we enjoy our last night on Kilimanjaro. The descent is often one of the toughest parts of a climb. We'll cover a lot of ground and it can be hard on the joints.


Sunday, September 20: MWEKA CAMPto MWEKA GATE to MOSHIMweka Gate: 5,500-ft/1,676-m • 3.7 miles/5.9 km• 3-4 hours Moshi: 3,000-ft/914-m

We'll have a 3-4 hour walk down to the gate, where our vehicles meet us and take us back to the hotel for our first shower in 10 days!
Posted by The Kili Team

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