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feature may 2023
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design by ayesha khan
S U M M I T all up Senior plans to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro this summer
mile walks at least four to five times a week,” she said. “I do a lot of runs, like treadmill walks with high inclines. I’ve recently started going to the track at the high school and Heading off to college can be a pinnacle moment in doing stairsteps with my climbing boots on because I have to itself, but climbing one of the Seven Summits of the world get those broken in or I’m going to have blisters the size of at 18 magnifies this transitionary phase to unseen heights. quarters on the backs of my heels.” This summer, senior Carson Marquardt will embark on a The trek up Kilimanjaro itself will take a week — four month-long adventure in Tanzania where she will climb the days up and three days down. world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro. “The first few days, we’re hiking around a crater and “I love to be in the outdoors and hiking, and my dad, and I have started doing more technical hikes in the past few years,” the area, spending time in the villages there and [getting] acclimated to the altitude because where we’ll be is already at Marquardt said. “I found an opportunity to go [through such a high altitude because it sits right at an] agency that takes seniors like myself to the base of Kilimanjaro,” Marquardt said. climb different mountains, and Kilimanjaro “We’re camping and staying in hostels most is one I’ve always wanted to do because I of the time. Once the climb is over, we get think going to Africa would be really cool.” to go on a safari, which I’m really excited Many facets of this group were alluring about.” to Marquardt, but their community On the Machame route to the top of involvement stuck out to her in particular. Kilimanjaro, the group will have 30 porters “What I really liked about this company helping carry larger belongings such as and what drew me in is it’s all mission-based, sleeping bags and sleeping mats, but for so a lot of the time we’re over there is spent personal belongings, Marquardt’s space will doing service work with the local schools |PHOTO SUBMITTED BY CARSON MARQUARDT be limited. and villages in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara “It all has to fit in a 100-liter duffel bag region through the nonprofit organization for three weeks — I’m only allowed to bring a small amount The Red Sweater Project,” she said. “This organization does of clothes,” she said. “They give me stuff to prevent diseases, so much good work for kids in Tanzania while also honoring stuff if I get a disease and then stuff if the disease gets worse, the tribal heritage of the Maasai tribe in the area.” so I’m really going to have a huge bag of medicine pills, Although Marquardt will be traveling with 11 other which is a little strange. The main thing they’re worried about seniors from across the country, she will remain unaware of in the area is malaria, so I have to soak some of my stuff in who her companions are until the day she leaves. this anti-insect repellent — it’s kind of gross.” “I don’t meet them until I get to the airport on July 1 in Marquardt’s mental and physical toughness will be tested Atlanta, and then we fly over together,” she said. “The travel agency’s whole thing is living in the moment. They don’t want through the rigorous demands of the hike. “The hardest part is going to be attempting to climb any pre-thoughts on people.” because Kilimanjaro is over 19,000 feet, so it’s going to be In agreement with the agency’s beliefs, none of the a real adjustment,” she said. “I’m nervous about that part travelers will have access to a phone for the duration of the physically, but I think mentally I’m really nervous about being trip as well. away from my family and friends and not being able to talk to “They take my phone when we land in Kilimanjaro, and them for that long.” then I get it back when we get back to the airport 23 days Nevertheless, Marquadt believes the trip will be gratifying later,” Marquardt said. “I’m only allowed to take a little and memorable overall. digital camera, so it’s like I’m totally MIA for three weeks — “I’m mostly excited to say that I stood on one of the no contact with anyone. I’m a little nervous about not having highest points in the whole entire world — one of the seven contact with my family and friends, but it’ll add to the full summits,” Marquardt said. “This is the time to explore new experience while I’m over there.” experiences and start to push myself out of my comfort zone To prepare herself physically, Marquardt has taken up a before I leave for college next year, and this trip is going to variety of training measures. give me the opportunity to do so.” “Before my lacrosse season started, I was going on fiveayesha khan |editor in chief