Trekking, or for the most part hiking, has always been one of my lifelong passionS. What really draws me to the mountain is beyond me. Is it because “IT’S THERE!? I am not going to give any psychological reasons as to why but let me just tell you humbly that it’s because NOW!!! I HAVE THE RESOURCES! And that it includes one’s HEALT H!,and, a very supportive wife who is herself is an avid mountaineer. All that aside, let’s get back to the mountain. To be specific it’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest (19,341ft) freestanding mountain in the world located in West Africa. Mt Everest may be higher but it belongs to a range of Himalayan mountains in Nepal and India. Mt. Kilimanjaro is all by itself, alI because of volcanic activity. In 2014 I was invited by a generous, dear friend from Oregon to join him and his group to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro and I did not disappoint him. The journey began with a 21 hour flight from Los Angeles to Amsterdam and to Tanzania in West Africa where it sat waiting. (Backtrack a bit to Los Angeles where 2 months before my journey to Africa I had to acclimate and condition my body to extreme elevations and weather temperatures. I even spent the whole night at Mt Baldy (10,064 ft or 3,068 m). The final objective destination was Uhuru Point, the summit. The trek started at a base camp taking the “Lemoso” route, promising spectacular vistas. It is at the base camp where we get all our gears together and our assigned porters and guide. (Fast forward, 7 spectacular eventful days later at the main summit. I raised the Filipino flag all the while shivering cold, but relieved and felt so happy and blessed....... Read more on Full Issue!