Climbing on the Banting Wagon

I can’t emphasise how important your meals are during your climb up the highest freestanding mountain in the world.  I didn’t really know what to expect from the meals on the mountain but they all serve the same menu.  Eggs and sausages fried in oil with toast and tomatoes in the morning.  Lunch is soup, saucy veg and fruit.  Dinner is saucy veg, soup and either chicken or beef in more sauce.  Every meal was variations of the same foods.  There is always a fruit of some kind and now and then popcorn as a snack.  It was delicious.  Each and every bite.  I forced myself to have a tea before a meal and a milo after a meal, even if I didn’t feel like anything more.  I was, however, starving during the summit.  They give you dinner before you go to bed and when you get up at 23:00 and start walking at 24:00 you only get sugary biscuits and tea.  I would have loved 4 boiled eggs for the road and would have even had canned viennas.

For snacks on the road, I took a few things from home.  Nut mix that we made ourselves… it included raisins, peanuts, seeds, dried berries and pecan nuts.  I also took small Bar Ones (chocolate bars) and Wine Gums (glucose sweets) for each day.  Super Cs (energy sweets) also did the trick.  My mother was awesome and sent Droeë Wors along and that definitely saved my hunger pains during the summit.  (Droeë Wors is a South African speciality).  The one essential thing for me was a Rehidrat Sport in the morning and in the evening.  This is a powder mixed with water that sportsmen and women drink to rehydrate after physical activity.  It replenishes the minerals used during activity.  So they say…

I can’t help but think that we would have done even better if we followed the Banting diet, which is a ketogenic diet with high fat and no carbs.  I realised this only recently after reading about the diet and watching endless YouTube Videos.  It seems that fat keeps you full for longer and that the slow release of energy is beneficial during a climb at altitude.

Watch this lecture by Tim Noakes, South Africa’s Dr Oz of the nutrition world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0GSSSE4l8U

It will be difficult to explain to mountain chefs that you want a ketogenic menu but ask them not to take up bread or sugar.  Ask them to make eggs and bacon in butter – not oil.  They might still do what they have been trained to do so it will be up to YOU not to eat bread or sugar. 

Your snacks should be Biltong with fat (Beef Jerky) – South African Biltong is the best in the world by the way… include Droeë Wors (if you can’t find it take Italian sausages) and try not to take any sweets.  You won’t need it.  Focus on Almonds, Macadamia Nuts, Pecan Nuts, Pine Nuts and Pumpkin Seeds.  Unfortunately travelling with fresh produce is problematic so vacuum seal EVERYTHING.  Sniffer dogs are very sharp at the airport in Johannesburg!

I’m certainly not a nutrition expert and suggested the diet to my diabetic father.  He has been following a normal “healthy” diet since he had a stroke in 1991.  This consisted of low-fat everything, margarine, diet coke, brown bread, brown rice and no fat.  His diabetes caused him to lose a toe and now has a permanent swollen lower leg at the age of 69.  He did not really want to change his habits but watched a few videos and decided to cut out starch completely.  He had already cut out sugar since learning of his diabetes a few years prior.  On day 2 of his no starch diet, he saw an improvement in his energy levels.  He wasn’t tired after breakfast and he didn’t feel like snacking during the day.  Now he needs to up his fat intake!  Butter butter butter!!  Tim Noakes refers to a “chop” in his video… a Lamb Chop is the ultimate barbeque treat, especially with the fatty part.  For years we have been taught that the fat is BAD.  Now, at last, we can have as much of it as we want!  It will take time for us to get used to the high-fat diet as we have been brainwashed for years that fat will cause death.  What can we lose… according to the experts, we are all dying anyway, this may cause us to live a bit longer and to enjoy the food we cook… we don’t have to settle for low-fat anything!

Read more about the diet on www.realmealrevolution.com

Droeë Wors:  http://www.biltongmakers.com/biltong20_drywors.html

Biltong:  http://braaiandbiltong.co.za/2011/03/traditional-biltong-recipe/

Bar One:  http://www.nestle.co.za/brands/chocolatesandconfectionery/barone

Wine Gums:  http://www.toffeecrumble.com/jellies.html

Super C:  http://www.satooz.com/products/SUPER-C-STRAWBERRY.html

Rehidtrat Sport:  http://www.makro.co.za/sports-and-outdoor/rehidrat-500g-sport-powder-260699EA

These boots are made for walking

Hiking boots are probably the most important thing during your climb up Mount Kilimanjaro.  In South Africa, we don't really get a wide range of snow boots.  Our weather is pretty mild in comparison with the Northern Hemisphere.

When I started preparation for this adventure, I tried on ONLY 2 pairs of boots.  I don't know why... I mean there are so many boots on sale and I just looked at 2 different ones.

Firstly I believe that the boot needs to be high.  It protects your ankles (the last thing you need is a sprain or strain on the highest free-standing mountain in the world) and it keeps you warm.  Secondly, the shoe needs to be waterproof.  Not water resistant, WATERPROOF.  The other thing you don't want is a boot soaked in water.  They don't dry out - even in normal weather let alone freezing temperatures. Thirdly they should have soles that are tough and can grip successfully.  You will spend 6 to 8 days on your feet so the soles need to be strong enough for you not to feel each and every small rock after 2 hours.  Gripping is important especially on the way down. Finally, I believe that boots need to be light weight.  Each kilogramme you have to lift feels like ten at low altitude.

Cape Union Mart had a few options to choose from however at the moment (Dec 2014/Jan 2015) they only have 1 men's boot that may be able to do the job.  And not even the staff is convinced.  Let's hold thumbs that their new stock will arrive soon!

I went for this one.  The Salomon COSMIC 4D 2 GTX®

This is the men's version and I took a size larger than I usually wear.  You don't need to wear these in like in the old days.  If you buy them the day before you start your climb you will be able to climb without issues.  This make of shoe is small.  So if you have a wide foot or high bridge it is not for you.  That's why you need to try on a few.

They did a really good job.  This is them after the climb. I replaced the laces with elastic laces.  Too many people spoke of fingers not being able to lace boots because of cold so I went for an elastic. My feet were so ice cold during the summit.  So I don't think this boot will do in colder temperatures.

I think if it rained then I would have had wet shoes.  They say that they are waterproof but I am not convinced.  I didn't test water on them though...  I did not have any blisters and only my toes were a bit sore on the last day.  My socks were too tight.

In future, I may think about Keen boots.  They are wider and warmer.

I am sure there are many boot options to go for. Just try them all on and think about them being warm and waterproof.  It is a pity you can't take them back if you test them in water :)

www.africanreignsafaris.com

Are Hiking Poles Really Necessary?

I didn't read too much about hiking poles before we left other than looking at prices online.  The marketers that sell tours and get kick backs from certain famous shops like to try and punt all the unnecessary gear... And I thought poles were a bit overkill.

I saw pics of people hiking with just one pole which had a handle much the same as a normal walking stick or cane.  I had a look at the different ones available in stores and they all seemed the same.  Retractable shaft and wrist straps were standard.  All had protective rubbers on their ends and most had a little round "thingy" that I didn't know much about.  OK, I didn't know anything about it.

Turns out I left my job for a new one and the farewell gift were 2 K-Way Kilimanjaro Hiking poles from Cape Union Mart.  Yeah! Something I thought I didn't really need which I got as a gift.

My hiking buddies said: "you need to practice with those". So, off I went, hiking poles ready.  Man what an effort.  They are either in the way or too long or the terrain is too rocky... so I decided to take them to Tanzania with me and NOT to practice with them.

Unknown to most the rubber is not meant for rocky terrain but to protect the inside of your bags during the flight.  They fit into the duffel bag easily and I held thumbs that the airline staff would not force my bag into a funny position for them to be destroyed!  On arrival, they were fine and so was my bag...

On day one I had them ready.  I even fixed a GoPro to the handle in case I only wanted to use it as a monopod or extension pole.  I found out that even a GoPro is heavy and I had to swap sides every day.

On day one the climb was already a challenge.  Thank goodness for these poles!  When walking they take off around 7 kg off your feet.  You get to lean forward when it really gets tough and they help you up the uphill parts when your legs can't do the work anymore.

I have to say the hiking poles are a must!  And even if you decide not to walk with them from day one, you will definitely need them on summit night.  That's when I leaned on them the most!

A tip is to adjust them once to the desired length and keep them that way.  They may freeze if you retract them before summit... Mine were quite long as I am tall so that I could pull my feet off the ground.

Even on the downhill, they helped a lot.  The ground is slippery at times and a hiking pole can assist when there are no branches or trees to grab onto.

Yes they make you walk slower and yes at times they are in the way but you walk slowly on Kili anyway...

If you plan to climb just one mountain, get the cheaper hiking poles.  Be aware though, they may not last the trip...