Latasha Abney of Woodbridge, VA Attempts Mt. Kilimanjaro to Inspire Others

Sept. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Climbing the tallest mountain in Africa is not your average adventure. In fact, it can be life changing.  In September 2012, Latasha Abney of Woodbridge, VA will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft) on the 7-day Machame Route.

Also known as the Whiskey Route, this is the most popular route on the mountain. Although it is a more difficult route, it is also the most beautiful.  The trek is not a technical climb, but summit day is long, strenuous, and at an incredibly high elevation.  See http://adventureswithinreach.com/tanzania/kilimanjaro/overview.php?trip=7_day__Machame_Route for details about this route.

Latasha Abney is 38 and will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro accompanied by her adventurous friend, Jolleen George. Latasha and Jolleen have been hiking together since 2008. Their first hike was in Helena, MT. Since then, they have hiked on several occasions. The two of them have been trying to convince their friends to become “Lovers of the Outdoors”. It is their hope that this climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro will inspire others to get out and experience all that life and nature has to offer.

Mount Kilimanjaro, located three degrees south of the equator in northeastern Tanzania, is the tallest mountain in Africa, and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.  "Kilimanjaro is our most popular trek," says Robin Paschall, owner of Adventures Within Reach.  "Of the famous 'Seven Summits,' this is the easiest to get to and the easiest to climb.  It requires no technical climbing experience, and a moderately fit person can summit the mountain with training and perseverance.  Most people add a cultural tour like a safari after their trek.  This is really a trip of a lifetime."  See http://adventureswithinreach.com/tanzania/kilimanjaro/ for details about climbing Kilimanjaro.

Latasha will also be enjoying a safari to the famous national parks in Tanzania, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara.  She hopes to see the "big 5" (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, and leopard) as well as other amazing animals in their natural habitat.  See http://adventureswithinreach.com/tanzania/safari/ for information about safaris in Tanzania.

“I moved to Woodbridge from Queens, NY in 2000,” says Ms. Abney.  “In 2005 I moved to an area that was peaceful and completely covered with trees. I would walk my dog and enjoy the complete silence of our 30 minute journey. This is what initially inspired me to head into the woods. Unfortunately, there aren’t many African-Americans interested in hiking. It wasn’t until I met Janelle that I was able to go on my first official hike. Of course our first hike wasn’t in the DC Metro Area, but in Helena, Montana. It was unbelievable! Between the views, the animals and the workout I think we were both hooked. Since then I have done numerous hikes at my local national park (Prince William Forest Park), as well as Shenandoah, Griffith Park in LA, Mt. Sherman and Mt. Democrat in CO, just to name a few. I always knew the name Kilimanjaro, but not the significance of it. I started doing research and figured that this would be a great opportunity to take hiking, make that climbing, to the next level.  Just the thought of traveling to Africa, climbing a mountain that many have attempted, and experiencing the changes in the five ecological zones is awesome!  Not to mention that I would love to inspire my friends and family to get out and hike. I don’t believe they have to do Kili, but I would love to have group events on the trails!”

She continues, “Training has been pretty interesting. It would be great to train at a higher altitude. But, that’s not possible living in the DC Metro Area. My training has included cardio machines set to the Hill Climb option such as the elliptical, stationary bike and treadmill. When I’m on the treadmill I usually have my backpack w/ approx 20 -25 lbs in it and hiking boots on! This is a great conversation starter. I use the cardio machine 4-5 times a week for at least an hour. I also practice Yoga twice a week. I’ve also incorporate strength training into my workouts. Strength training is usually done 3 times a week. Whenever I have the chance I get out and go for a hike. The hikes are usually no less than 10 miles. Since we don’t have the altitude in this area, the focus is on distance. All of this working out makes for a really tired person. In my research and workouts I have learned that I need to take the climb one day at a time. My goal is to celebrate every day of a successful climb. Getting to the summit will be icing on the cake! The hard work will pay off. I am looking forward to the experience. “