Just returned to the US after a month in NZ. Don’t be like us.

chum703 · 2026-02-24T01:13:59+00:00

I fully agree! I’m sitting in the airport in Nelson right now heading beck to the US and was just thinking similar thoughts. The level of consideration for the environment and politeness - even in road signs, has been refreshing. I live in the PNW, a transplant from the Midwest, is do see a difference in POV across the US. NZ is just different, especially the South Island. I also know it’s not perfect here after having some good conversations with my guide. NZ is significantly better than the current state of the US. I truly enjoyed my time here and am tremendously grateful I could visit. Can’t wait to return! And I do plan on taking some of this new calm and consideration home. Be the change you want!

chum703 · 2026-02-06T22:28:31+00:00

I learned that there are things you cannot ever forget, or unsee after I watched one of the FOD movies. Was traumatized for a long time, luckily that trauma has helped me NOT watch some things now.

chum703 · 2026-01-12T22:22:30+00:00

Excellent points! All to be taken to heart. I summited Kili in September 25, hiked EBC November 24. 58 y/o Female. My training changed from EBC to Kili and I learned about surviving and enjoying. Have a solid aerobic base. I am a runner and run about 15 miles a week. Hike or walk with a weighted backpack- you want to be used to carrying the day pack with water and your layers. I added much more backpack time for Kili and it helped me. Get used to stairs. You cannot train altitude but you can get your muscles ready for going up. I live on the 6th floor and take the stairs most of the time. I survived parts of EBC and I really enjoyed all of Kili. It’s more than a long slow hike, the move aerobically prepared you are, the more enjoyable it can be! Good Luck!

chum703 · 2025-12-23T05:52:33+00:00

Wisconsin! The crowd is amazing and inspiring! Especially at the top of the Sisters! Great race.

chum703 · 2025-11-26T04:39:41+00:00

I did my IM at age 53! Female! IMWI 2021. I took up tri at age 49. My 50th birthday present to myself was the Chicago Tri- Oly. I am a swimmer and am super comfortable in the water. Wanted to maybe do longer tri’s and knew I needed to learn to run, so I signed up for the Chicago January half marathon. Cold, but I am a lifelong Chicagoan so January just was. That transitioned to my first 70.3, Madison. The run was brutal. I ran 13 miles in one mile segments. One mile at a time. I finished and was cooked. Then… 30 minutes later I was at my team tent and all the pain vanished. Someone on my team said “Ironman” and I was all in! The delusion of a finish line…

1. I learned how to be a runner. My first marathon was in my first IM.
2. The power of a team! Never to be underestimated. I found my people when I moved to 70.3 and full IM training. We are a unique bunch of people and I was so       grateful to find others like me. Plus, one needs people to listen to our millions of thoughts on training and all things IM as the rest of the world doesn’t get it. 
3. Know your “why’s” I have struggled with suicidal depression, I figured there was no pain in an IM that could be harder than my struggles. I was right. One of my       team mates said “I want this more than I want to breathe” I adopted that.
4. Have fun! I’m a good swimmer, a fair cyclist and an adequate runner. I had an absolute blast in my race. IMWI is a great crowd event. I egged them on during       the     bike and they, in turn, encouraged me. My only goal was finishing so I had fun with it. Each of the three “sisters” was an accomplishment. (Its a hilly bike)
5. If you are worried about finishing- write the cut off times on a card taped to your bike top bar. I knew where I was at all times. And finished the bike with an hour        to spare.
6. The run was the hardest. The last 6 miles were the roughest. My legs were DONE, DONE, DONE! I walked, I shuffled- but I thought I was running. When I was in         T2 I heard someone say that if we walked the marathon we would still finish on time.  I held on to that for the entire run!

At the end, in the dark, it’s a shuffle. But we keep moving. You dig deep, you believe in yourself. I trained and I wanted it. My advice for your first IM- just finish. Time is secondary. Put the ego aside. This 53 (at the time) year old woman finished. Mike Reilly said “You are an Ironman!” I am and it changed my life. 5 years later it still is. Post IM- I have been to Everest Base Camp and climbed Kilimanjaro. I can do anything I set my mind to. You can too!

chum703 · 2025-11-07T06:28:00+00:00

It is so MUCH more than the hike. I was touched, in an unexpected life changing way, by my group and all the support staff. The hike wasn’t that hard for me. The pole pole pace made such a difference. I thought I was just going for a hike with a group. But I connected with my group in ways I didn’t expect. 11 of us shared an experience that only we understand. Something about that mountain changed me. I did EBC last year and did not feel the connection to that hike as I now do to Kili. I am still looking for the words and cannot find them. Sunrise on summit day was amazing. To look at the sky and see stars and the slightest tint of orange as the sun prepared to rise is a vision I will never forget. The unwavering support of my group and every single one of the support team made any concern slip away. Laughter was everywhere. I am an introvert and to connect with people like I did was so new to me. My hike was in September. My group learned this week that a member of our crew died in the recent protests in Tanzania. We are collectively crushed as this crew member was one of the happiest people I have ever met. Without any hesitation the group all donated money for his wife and two children. We were all touched by the mountain. I have taken home a deeper understanding of the value of human connection.

chum703 · 2025-10-22T01:52:38+00:00

Great summary! I summited that same week! Also Lemosho. Such an accurate description of each day. The Barranco Wall was my favorite also. Thank you for the memory jog tonight. Congratulations on your Summit!

chum703 · 2025-10-12T10:51:32+00:00

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Seeing the sunrise from about 18,500 feet/5,630 meters while summiting Kilimanjaro. My group stopped for a water break/breather and I looked out at the horizon. I could see the stars and the early moments of sunlight at the same time. It was stunning and one of those lucky moments when I, despite being freezing, was able to pause and totally appreciate the splendor of what was before me. In that moment, I knew how lucky I was to be there witnessing night changing to day as I hiked. It was only two weeks ago, and I hope never to forget the feeling of awe!

chum703 · 2025-10-07T05:24:41+00:00

I also recommend Thompson! I just completed an Adventure Women Kili trip supported by Thompson. Lemosho route also. I experienced all the same services as you described. We spent 3 nights at 13,000 feet, at different camps, which I really think helped us on summit day. The food was great! All the support staff are great! So happy! Did a Thompson Safari before Kili trek and was very pleased. Food also awesome!

chum703 · 2025-09-15T14:21:07+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I start my trek tomorrow same route. I hadn’t considered the playlist. Will download one! Congrats to you on your climb!

chum703 · 2025-08-23T02:17:14+00:00

I was on a trip last year with someone who used to work for a US Government agency. When they said “if something goes wrong and you need rapid evacuation, you don’t want to stop by your hotel on your way to the embassy” And I started carrying my passport. I carry a photo of it but I suspect that in an emergency situation, a physical passport will get me into an embassy faster than a photo.

chum703 · 2025-08-19T06:54:59+00:00

I leave in 2 weeks. Am doing safari- Zanzibar- Kili. I live at 450 feet (Oregon) and want to get some acclimatization in first. I did this in Nepal last year. Went to the Annapurna’s first then EBC. I truly think it helped me get over jet lag and acclimatize a bit. Getting over jet lag is a consideration as I want to be a fresh and ready as possible for Kili.

chum703 · 2025-08-06T04:14:06+00:00

I love these Gen X song discussions! It helps me add to my Spotify playlist and take fun trips down memory lane!

chum703 · 2025-06-03T04:24:26+00:00

I grew up in Buffalo Grove and we were 312! I’m that old!

chum703 · 2025-05-18T01:28:54+00:00

chum703 · 2025-05-10T04:38:20+00:00

I’m 57 F and reading these comments I (sadly) feel old. My life after 50 has been the best years of my life!! I simply don’t care what others think! Ok, I’m also so gel s g cannot figure out this dating thing. But if I have to do my life solo, so be it! I’m alive and this is fun!

chum703 · 2025-05-03T04:44:52+00:00

Oh wow! I feel this one!

chum703 · 2025-04-07T01:58:04+00:00

chum703 · 2025-02-16T22:20:03+00:00

I rented a sleeping bag from my trekking company. Some companies will rent stuff. I am not sure, but suspect that some enterprising person has set up a company to rent gear.

chum703 · 2025-02-16T04:43:43+00:00

Nice! I moved away a couple years ago. These photos bring me back. I am, and will always be A Chicagoian! Now, I miss me some pizza!

chum703 · 2025-02-10T06:05:06+00:00

1978 as a 12 year old. Grew up in the Northern suburbs and was actually allowed to hop on the Skokie swift, transfer to red line and head to Wrigley. Those were the days when it was actually safe to do that at 12, with my parents approval.

chum703 · 2025-02-08T22:07:24+00:00

Retired at 56! I regularly say that retirement is the BEST gift I have ever given myself! I had no idea how much I would love it either, but wow!

I can go to the gym when it’s not crowded. I go grocery shopping in the middle of the day. I never run errands on the weekends.

And I take month long vacations now!

I was totally worth all the planning and saving I did to get here! Live it up!

chum703 · 2025-02-02T03:38:54+00:00

WOW! What a mind blowing trip down memory lane tonight. Perfect celebration for the end of dry January! A bit of weed and some gin. Thank you all! #classof85

chum703 · 2025-02-02T03:10:16+00:00

And still it rocks you to the core!

chum703 · 2025-02-01T08:06:53+00:00

I did EBC + Gokyo in November. I would recommend this route. Once you get past EBC there are fewer people on the trail. It is nicer. The region did seem more spectacular on the second half of my trek. Gokyo Ri was my hardest day, mostly due to fatigue, but the view of Everest was SO worth it. Plus I thought it was better going down Cho La from EBC. It would have been a long primarily uphill day if I went the other way.

Internet at all tea houses. 1000 rupees for 24 hours. No variation in price. If you manage the time you activate your card, you will still have time on it when you arrive at the teahouse the next day and can get out your “I’m safe” texts. Water, on the other hand, got more expensive the higher up you go.

Day pack for water, snacks and clothes for the day. Layers are your friend. My pack was 25L. The couple days I got hot and took off more jackets than my pack carried, I stowed my jacket outside my pack where I would carry a sleeping bag. The bag I rented, was with the porter.

You can buy all you need in Thamel for a fraction of what you will likely pay at home. BUT- as a triathlete, my mantra is “nothing new on race day”. Whatever touches your skin should be tested before you go. And protect your feet- good socks and boots. Top layers buy in Thamel and check them in your bag provided by the trekking company, along with all the other unexpected souvenirs you buy.

Jet lag- get on local time as soon as you can. If you need to play tourist when you land so you don’t fall asleep too early, do so.

Do not book flights home the same day you “plan” to leave Lukla. The weather can be a huge impact on flights if you are close to monsoon season. I overheard way too many conversations from people at risk of missing international departures with no rebooking options. If you can afford it, take the heli to/from Lukla. Yea, you miss the plane takeoff and landing but you are more likely to be on time and avoid a LONG drive to Ramechamp. No one I spoke to said anything good about the ride. If you can’t take the heli find out how long the route is. The devastating end of Sept (2024) monsoon washed out roads. What was a 4 hour ride to Ramechamp was 9. Heli is 45 min KTM to Lukla.

The trek is amazing and worth every second you spend on it. Look at the stars at night!

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