second thoughts (45)

Not second thoughts about the trip, but about what I'm going to do there in my spare time. A few days ago I picked up a book called "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. It is a personal account of the Mt. Everest disaster in 1996 (although I only got half way through the book so far, so I don't quite know what the disaster is yet). The first half of the book has talked about the inadequate and unprepared campers that Mr. Krakauer saw attempting to hike the biggest mountain in the world at over 29,000 feet above sea level. That is the same height that major airplanes fly at. What the heck. The oxygen is so thin up there that not only is it harder to breathe, but also your body reacts differently to it; inducing blood clots, filling lungs with fluid, brain swelling, and more. Even though Kilimanjaro is significantly smaller than Everest (approximately 10,000 feet lower), the oxygen is still thinner. I'm scared, what if something happens to me and I pretty much pay $2000 to become a victim to mother nature? gah. So much to think about and worry about, but I know I would regret it if I went so close (only a few hour drive away!) without attempting to climb one of the world's seven summits, amidst the African wildlife and God's incredible creation. hmm what to do....

(This photo is of my sister and I on our sailing trip! Notice the book in my hand;)