Canada's Toughest Climber

Some people just won’t give up. They keep trying and trying until they get past the obstacles that would discourage the rest of us. They keep focused on their goals, ignoring adversity, pain and even injury. They ignore cold, fatigue and isolation. You never hear them complain, not even once.

These are the people that we meet only a few times in our lives. They are focused, determined and confident. Sometimes they are well known leaders, mentors and guides, but sometimes they are humble, preferring to sweat quietly in the shadows while others bask in the spotlight. An even smaller subset work hard - not for themselves - but to help others. These are the toughest people I know.

In 50 days I will be fortunate to spend a few days with someone like this. He has previously been called "Canada’s Toughest Biker". Last Summer he put his Project Management company on hold for the month, said goodbye to his Wife and Daughters and he rode his motor bike from the Atlantic Ocean in Newfoundland to the Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island, BC. His efforts were part of the Ride For Dad’s Coast To Coast Team, a small group of people that were hardy, determined and adventurous. He rode without a windshield, visor or gloves, earning him the reputation of “Canada’s Toughest Biker”. The coolest part of this story is that the was riding across the World’s second largest country for others, and not for himself. The Ride For Dad is a fundraiser, aiming to raise donations for Prostate Cancer.

This past Summer, Canada’s Toughest Biker again committed to another adventure: climbing the World’s Tallest Mountain, base to summit, which just happens to be Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro stands at just under 6,000 Meters, or just under 20,000 Feet. It is so massive that, despite being situated at the equator, ancient glaciers persist at the summit. Generally, ropes, crampons and ice axes are not needed to climb Kilimanjaro, but strength in legs, lungs and mind are considered to be prerequisites to climb. Of course, a good Guide and lots of Tanzanian Porters help as well.

“Kili”, as it is called by the local Maasi and Chagga Tribes, requires a week or more to ascend, and one passes through several distinct climatic zones, including Tropical Rain Forest, Heath, Moorland, Alpine Desert and Arctic Glacier Zones. Weather ranges from +35C at the base to -15C on the summit, covered over one week of climbing. The available Oxygen on top is less than half of what you and I enjoy in most cities, making climbers feel like they are trying to breathe through a mask.

Oxygen deprivation is the single most dangerous part of a Kili Climb, causing lethargy, insomnia, exhaustion and dehydration. In extreme cases it can lead to High Altitude Cerebral Edeoma (HACE) or High Altitude Pulmonary Edeoma (HAPE). These are lethal conditions where ineffectively acclimatized climbers can suffer fluid build-up in the brain or lungs. Together, HACE and HAPE are known as Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. Science has tried to develop medication for AMS but the side effects of these drugs is not much better than the symptoms of the AMS itself. The only sure-fire way to combat AMS is to descent to lower elevations.

And so Canada’s Toughest Biker will be put to the test as “Canada’s Toughest Climber”. Camping out in sub 0C weather, carrying loads, and walking through oppressive heat and blinding blizzards in equatorial Africa. He will fight fatigue and screaming muscles, draining sweat, thirst and hunger for several consecutive days, half way around the globe, and for what? Fame? Fortune? On this adventure, Scott Day will be challenging himself and working toward a personal dream, however, part of his goal will be to climb to raise money for Cancer Research.

What makes Scott’s efforts even more amazing, is the realization that he suffered through compression fractures in his spine just over two months ago. While training for Paragliding, Scott was being pulled by a vehicle to gain enough speed for the wind to catch his Paraglider Chute to keep him aloft. As the vehicle accelerated, the cable that connected them broke before the vital wind speed was achieved. As a result, Scott and his paraglider sank immediately, causing Scott to land on his back. With only four months left until the trip to Africa, and only one day after booking his non-refundable plane ticket, Scott’s X-Rays confirmed the diagnosis of fractured vertebrae.

At first, Scott’s friends were discouraged. He was making great strides in training and conditioning, and this freak accident was sure to cause him to cancel. But Scott didn’t see it that way. Only days after his fall, while he was still unable to move from a chair, Scott announced that he still intended to climb Kilimanjaro. Nothing was going to slow him down. Indeed, over the past two months, Scott has slowly but steadily increased this training regime from simply standing up, to walking around his house, then the block, then several blocks, some easy trails, longer trails, some 5,000 Ft. peaks in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, and then some long, 20+ KM hikes with backpacks in the Gatineau Park area of greater Ottawa. Not once has Scott complained. He has continued to be a source of inspiration as the departure date draws closer.

Some people are naturally strong and some people are naturally determined. A few people are all of the above, and they are naturally helpful and giving as well. For those rare, selfless people, a difficult road like Mount Kilimanjaro is worth the effort to achieve such a worthwhile goal.