Vietnam veteran and 1993 Liberty graduate, Timothy Henderson, embarked on an intense journey to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. His first remembrance of this motivation was being mesmerized and drawn to it while looking at National Geographic pictures. “I was amazed and it was as if the mountain was summoning me. This year, I answered.” Timothy recalls thinking.
At 19,340 feet, the dormant volcano’s last eruption was four hundred years ago, yet its deep crater still emits heat today. There are five distinct climate zones on Kilimanjaro, ranging from 85 degrees F at its base to -0 degrees F with frigid wind chills at its summit. Climbing this mountain has been previously compared to climbing a four-mile high stack of twenty Eiffel Towers. Mount Kilimanjaro has supposedly been called ‘everyman’s Everest’ because relatively anyone in reasonably good shape can get to the top. There is apparently no technical expertise required such as ropes, ice picks, or oxygen, but the climb is still difficult. The individual’s own body’s reaction to altitude and the lack of oxygen become the great equalizers. “Eighty-year-old great-grandmothers have made it to the top, passing marathon runners and bodybuilders being taken down on stretchers.” Henderson remarks. At age 60, he is conquering his dream to summit the mountain.
Timothy Henderson began the climb excitedly and explained that the days had consisted of early wake-ups, big breakfasts, and hiking that started by 7:30 a.m. The hiking group slowly inched its way up the towering mountain through gra
dually thinning landscapes and air. “There is a saying on the mountain that, ‘if you’re going up, don’t look down and if you’re going down, don’t look up.’ It is best to focus on where you are and not where you’re going or where you’ve been. The only thing that matters on the mountain is the present.” according to Henderson.
After years of dreaming, months of getting into shape with climbing the gorge and power walks, hours on the YMCA treadmill, and a week of exhausting climbing, craving sleep and oxygen, the moment of truth had finally come for Henderson. Five days later, in the final moments of submitting and completing this incredible feat, Timothy vividly describes his experience:
“The night was clear and cold. At 19,000 feet, the stars actually seemed bigger, the moon the size of a huge quarter in the sky. With small flashlights attached to our heads lighting the way, double socks, a layered down jacket, the frigid wind still cut through to the bone. Four hours after starting and only halfway up we stopped to rest at the Hans Meyers cave, named after one of the first explorers to summit Kili…Walking ten paces was exhausting and coupled with the cold air, left me gasping for breath.”
“Everything I had once believed was essential to functioning…air, strength, and energy had all been taken away and I was left with only my soul to draw from. But whatever it was, it was enough because at 6:15 on the morning of Jan. 22 as the sun’s blinding bright orange rays broke through the 360-degree cloud-covered horizon…at 19,340 feet, I suddenly found myself standing on the roof of Africa! So high up that the gentle curve of the earth could be seen. The blinking lights of planes below the clouds and the glistening of massive ice-age glaciers sparkling like huge birthday cakes. The tears of joy froze on my cheeks as I stood near the battered wooded welcome sign.”
“Somehow, I felt closer to heaven than I had ever felt before so I looked up and said a prayer: ‘God, thank you for being with me on my journey.’ I heard Him answer: ‘Tim, you didn’t have to come this far.’”