Pain is Temporary.   Pride is Forever.

At approximately 8 AM on Thursday 23 April, nineteen intrepid IST students and their teachers reached Uhuru Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro.  The six-day journey took the climbers through rain forest, moorland, alpine, high desert and glacial landscapes.  The arduous climb to the summit began from Kibo Hut (4700 m) at 11 pm.  Climbers left Kibo Hut with a light blanket of snow covering the ground and a brilliant display of stars to guide the way.  However, the trek was no picnic and by the midway point, most climbers were feeling the effects of the extreme altitude.  The guides from the Marangu Hotel then took the lead and helped individuals by carrying their gear or even pulling them up the mountain with their hiking poles.  But it was the inner strength of every student which made the difference and got them to the summit.   Every single person on that mountain that day found something inside themselves and was able to test the limits of their physical and mental strength.
However,  the most impressive display of endurance and strength happened the previous day.  The twentieth participant of the group had been stricken with a severe cold from the first day of the walk.  After watching this young woman struggle for four days, the trip leaders made the call to send her down the mountain.  It was clear to everyone that this young woman had climbed her own Kilimanjaro.  It was astounding that she was only one hour away from Kibo Hut, the base camp for the summit climb.  She was then helped down the mountain by Annie Sproston and a guide where she recuperated at the hotel. 
Once the group reached the hotel at the conclusion of the climb, they had a short ceremony where they received certificates and enjoyed some songs sung by the guides and porters.   It was a fitting culmination to a truly remarkable achievement. 
Many thanks to trip leaders Paul Cronin, Jarod Dale and Annie Sproston for making the IST Kilimanjaro Climb a spectacular success for everyone.

For Photos : Click Here !