The Men’s Shed concept has been celebrated around the world, but never quite like this. Thanks to Wayne and Lori Van Wyk, who have been friends and supporters of the Arnprior/Braeside/McNab Shed since it’s inception, the Shed’s flag has travelled all the way to the roof of Africa and back.
According to Lori and Wayne, “It felt like we had ascended into heaven, body and soul when we finally reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.”
The most daunting challenge of ascending Kilimanjaro is the extreme altitude rising to a staggering 19,341 feet (5,895 meters) above sea level. And, the journey has both its physical and mental challenges. The temperature changes are dramatic as you climb, from 20 degrees at the base and dropping to -20 degrees at the summit.
Initially, according to Lori and Wayne, as you slowly continue to climb you feel a mixed set of physical challenges, it starts with a headache, lack of appetite, tiredness, and feeling off balance a bit, even a bit of nausea sets in. Wayne is proud to report he lost 8 pounds due to the strenuous activity, changes in diet, and the high altitude effects on the body. Of course Lori had no comment on the subject.
Summit night was by far the the hardest part of the Kilimanjaro trek. They set out at 11.30 p.m. in the freezing cold and reached the summit at 8.30 a.m. the next morning with cheers from around the world. Lori says that the sunrise was unbelievable, a sight that she will never forget.
Last words from this dynamic couple, “It was a personal journey for us with so many mixed emotions, tears, euphoria, fatigue, and so much hard work, and it takes a Team to accomplish what we achieved. We cannot change the world but we can accomplish so much here at home if we all work together.”
