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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-24, Page 17Ms.. M. Mitchell VICE-PRINCIPAL - ELEMENTARY I'I ',nal -Star • Wednesday, August 24, 2011 rbara H Puts Metz ra Hollingworthdid it, new hip tanding she did it all: climbed the 19,500 t m.) Mt. Kilitnanjaro and raised her 310,000 goal that will be 10 Plan hada to help build two in Rwanda under the "Because I l ` initiative, i1inutiec.i by her children 'lhonnas, and II)ierdre along with son -in- . E-iollingworth celebrated her -thday by 'taking a hike--liter- though rough "hike" does 'not begin to } the trek. ti rob involved a lot of scrambling nni?ering," reports Hollingworth, tip and two down. And the terrain is covered with fine vol- st that's always in the thin air." ollingworth —1 Mt. Kilimanjaro - Hollingworth's exploit began with 24 sleepless hours of air travel and wait times, followed by a night in a hare bones; no frills hotel room designed for trek guests. "We arrived on a .Friday evening," says I ioliingwonh, "with orientation the next day and the climb started on Sunday." "What we could take with us up the mountain was restricted to good hiking boots and clothing that we could layer," she goes on. "It gets progressively colder as you climb." "The friendly porters and cook that accompanied our group of eight were slightly built but strong Tanzanian fel- lows who carried the excess gear; food- stuffs, tents, equipment, even a dining table and chairs!" "Killian, the local head guide, had just Goderich District Collegiate Institute 260 South Street GODERICH,ON N7A 3M5 PHONE : 519-524-7353 FAx: 519-524-1710 E. Wright PRINCiPAt. - SECONDARY Mr. G. McEwan PRINCIPAL 2011/2012 SCHOOL YEAR Secondary students are to meet in the West Gymnasium and Elementary students are to meet in. East Gymnasium at the school prior to 8:50 AM on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 New students planning to attend GDCI should call the school for an appointment to register. student fee for the coming school year is $40 (secondary) and (elementary) which will help subsidize the cost of a Yearbook and erous Students' Council activities/events during the course of the •01 year, including athletic events. ase make cheque payable to G.D.C.I. Business Account �.44 THE MEMO UNE OF THE CHEQUE IT IS IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY THE REASON AND NAME OF THE STUDENT) tudents new to G.D.C.I, taking physical education will be required rchase a uniform ($30.00) at the school during the first week of 01 ase make cheque payable to (i. D. C I. Business , l cc•ou►rt SCHOOL COUNCIL rents of G.D.C.I. students are invited to become active members he School Council. Nominations forms are available from the in office and must be returned to the Principal by Friday, ptember 10, 2010. Elections will be held at the first School Council Meeting Date & Time TBA EMINDER to the GRADUATING CLASS OF 2011 The Annual Graduation & Commencement Exercises will be held at the school on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 PROGRAM STARTS AT MOO PM SHARP three pieces of advice: eat the food, drink the water and poley, poley—go slowly, slowly," recalls Hollingworth. A reasonably gradual ascent can help to avoid debilitating altitude sickness. "We carried daypacks that contained ,clothes, water, and snacks, anything that we might -need during the dav's climb," llollingworth states. Each camp up the mountain consisted of tents, a dining tent, and a makeshift toilet sur rounded by privacy canvas. "There was no showering," reports Hollingworth. "We had wipes with us and twice a day they brought us bowls of warm water to freshen up a little." "Our daily routine after hours of climbing and helping set up camp consisted of a cup of tea, dinner in the dining tent (a wel- come relief from the blowing ash and dirt) and gladly turning in around 8:30 pm. We were tired and It gets dark early in Tanzania." "The meals were very good, often with fresh baked bread, banana fritters, and fresh fruit in addition to the main dish: she says; Water in quantity is essential to such a long and arduous climb. The porters knew where to collect it, 'sometimes more than a kilo- metre away, and trekkers purified it with UV pens. "Each of us drank three to four litres of water 'a day," says Hollingworth. The climb started at the gates of Kilimanjaro National Park with temperatures around 32°F (0°C) at 5,500 feet above sea level. The group covered 3,500 feet through rainforest the first day, camping. at 9,0010 feet, Just above the treel ne. "The second day involved seven hours on steeper terrain, says Hollingworth. "Lots of scrambling over large rocks. After a lunch break, we had a long climb to 12,000 ft." "And by the time we stopped, I was quite ill with altitude sick- ness. Nausea, a splitting head- ache and unable to move. "I immediately started taking medication to counteract it: she reports, "and by the next morning 1 was ready to climb again." Then came two days of varying degrees of altitude sickness within the group and climbing around the mountain as much as up it, to Barbara Hollingworth with the certificate verifying she climbed to the summit of 19,500 ft. Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania during July hi support of Plan Canada and the "I Am A Girl" Initiative building schools in Rwanda. allow their bodies adjust—climb high, sleep low --the guides kept them within a band of about 2,000. feet. The air temperature hovered around 22°F or -5C. °From 14,500, we headed for the 17,500 -foot level, another seven hour climb, Hollingworth states, "in preparation for the final push to the summit." At the last camp, Hollingworth's group was allowed to sleep for a few hours before being wakened at 11:00 pm to start the last leg. The Full Moon Climb to the top is completed through the night by headlamp and moonlight. "Killian, our Tanzanian guide, placed me right behind him and was a great help to me as we slowly made our way to the sum- mit in the thin ale "Three quarters . f the way up I was really feeling the strain, so Killian took my pack and carried It with his own, while assisting me. An amazing climber who was as determined as I was that I would make it to the top." "I just kept following his foot- steps. His encouragement was important to us all." Approaching the peak, the climbers rested for a short while at the rim of a crater and enjoyed hot tea prepared by the porters— welcome in the cold. With one final effort, the Hollingworths reached Mt.. Kilimanjaro's summit at 7:00 a.m., in time to see the sunrise over surrounding mountains and glaciers. "It was breathtakingly beauti ful, says Barbara, remembering that moment, "and very special to be there with my kids." The human body doesn't do well at over 19,000 feet above sea level and the guides were soon moving them down the moun- tain, slipping and sliding over loose shale for the next four hours to their last camp. "We rested for two hours, packed everything up and contin- ued ontin-ued for another six hours," remembers Hollingworth. "That 17 hours with minimal sleep was the hardest part, she says. "But it was all worth it" The family says that their sense of humour kept them going -- being non -campers, they had lots of laugh about up and down the mountain. "It was a once in a lifetime adventure," says Hollingworth. "7111k about off the beaten path." And Plan Canada will benefit because Barbara Hollingworth climbed to the top of the world. To support Barbara Holling- worth's achievement, go to: haps:// plancanada.ca/ hollingworthfamily LET'S MAKE CANCER HISTORY (.o.dtan Calmer For information about cancer, Society services or to make a donation 1.888.939.3333 • www.canca r ea 0 Iht convey