Timeline
Read from bottom to top with the most recent events at the top
See Itinerary link for dates and locations during the climb
Sep 2 and later - see Message Board for updates. (Link is on main page.)
Sep 1 Heavy Leg workout including 90# squat sets, Carpenter Son donated items to leave,
Purchased suitcase full of art supplies to leave, several last minute purchases:
Walgreens & CVS have AAA Lithium batteries (work at -40F) for head lamp
Aug 30 Hike with 42# in backpack 5.0 miles (mild foot pain in left foot only due to sock combination)
Aug 28 Hike with 40# in backpack 2.5 miles (mild foot pain at 2.0 miles different combination of socks)
Aug 26 Hike with 25# in backpack 1.5 miles (mild foot pain at 1.0 miles different combination of socks)
Aug 10 Created this website to provide easy link for people to find the blog and follow our progress
Aug 05 John, Mike, Don hike the park again. (Don can do stairs 5 times with 25 pounds in backpack, but cardio is still a weakness. No pain in knees or feet.)
Created Blog for Sue to use to communicate updates while Don is on the mountain
Lafayette Leader article appears on front page
Jul 05 Don gets visitor's visa for travel in Tanzania
Don hires personal trainer
John and Don hike again, however no pain this time, but note cardiovascular weakness after one set of park's "stairs".
Jun 05 Don has cataract surgery that also corrects vision in both eyes
Don gets passport updated
John, Mike, and Don go for a test hike using some challenging hills at Forest Park Nature Center - Don's feet are quite painful after 1.5 hours, Don has orthopedic inserts made for shoes & boots
May 05 Don gets 1st round of immunizations for Yellow Fever, hepatitus A&B, Tetnus, Typhoid, etc.
Apr 05 Don equips basement with fitness equipment
Mar 05 Don allowed to begin normal level workout intensity
John and Don begin learning Swahili using the Pimsleur method
Don orders plethora of climbing equipment and various related gadgets
Don orders sleeping bag liner the next day
Don sleeps outside in 5 degree weather to test sleeping bag
Jan 05 Don is interviewed for Lafayette Leader
2005
Christmas list contains a lot of climbing related requests... wife does quite well.
Dec 04 Don has right foot surgery, Journal and Courier article appears day of foot surgery
Oct 04 Don has left foot surgery, Interviewed for Journal and Courier article
Sep 04 Committments are made to go, Interviewed by Indy Channel 6
Jun 04 Due to excellent recovery Don returns to work after 4 weeks which is 4 weeks early
Apr 04 Don schedules knee replacement surgery for May
2004
Nov 03 John mentions their desire to climb "Kili" to Don in passing
John climbs Mt. Fuji with his son
Jul 03 Don climbs with great pain the active volcano on Hawaii and destroys what's left of his left knee cartilage
Mike originates the idea to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and suggests to John
Don meets John through a corporate reorganization
2003 Mike and John select Kiliwarriors as the outfitter, which turns out later to have been an excellent choice
2002 Don has 2nd arthroscopic surgery on his left knee
Knees begin to hurt, and rheumatoid arthritis begins to deform hands and feet
Don's fitness level begins to decline
1990 Don (Age 35) has arthroscopic surgery on both knees