Article October 17, 2005 Issue

Climb every mountain

By David Harned

When seeking the pathway through all sorts of challenges in my life, I have often been helped by Mary Baker Eddy's observation in Science and Health that she found the path less difficult when she kept "the high goal always before her thoughts, than when she count[ed] her footsteps in endeavoring to reach it. When the destination is desirable, expectation speeds our progress. The struggle for Truth makes one strong instead of weak, resting instead of wearying one" (p. 426).

I was able to apply this wisdom four years ago when a friend of mine, Al Gemrich, suggested we climb Mount Kilimanjaro together. I'd never considered going to Africa, and a 19,000-foot peak is an unlikely target for a first-time mountain climber. But following that moment of surprise, I agreed to go. The trip was many months off, so there would be ample time to prepare and equip myself.

However, I found that I had to take reservations that would get me to Africa almost a week ahead of Al. So I read everything I could find on the Internet about Kilimanjaro, and learned that another mountain 40 miles away was frequently mentioned on the same websites—Mount Meru, which is just outside Arusha, Tanzania. It is often suggested as a warm-up climb for Kilimanjaro, good for becoming acclimated to the elevation. To me, it sounded like a good suggestion. Since the summit of Meru is "only" 15,000 feet above sea level, I thought it would be an easy jaunt—a walk in the park—and a great way to fill the time until Al arrived.