AFRICA: KILIMANJARO THE TALLEST FREESTANDING MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD
The tallest peak in Africa, one of the Seven Summits, has been an achievement I’ve set my sights on for over a year. At 5,900 meters in elevation, it towers over Tanzania’s savannahs and the great Serengeti. On this journey around the world, I’ve committed myself to pushing past limitations and building deeper inner strength and resilience. A successful summit of Kilimanjaro checks all the boxes for this. I traveled north from South Africa to the city of Arusha, where I began this challenge by finding an outfitter and a team to get me to the top. After planning my route and getting my gear ready, we were off to the starting gate of the Lemosho route.
On this 70-kilometer, 9-day journey around and up the mountain, I took on the challenge to shut out the world and tune deeply into myself. To drink the medicine of the mountain and go deep within to find the strength and resilience I know I have, while letting go of the weakness and lack. To get super clear on the direction I am conducting my life in. The longer northern circuit was the perfect choice for this. We ascended the west side of the mountain to 4,000 meters, then spent 5 days hiking around the northern side, only to reach the eastern base camp and climb to the volcanic rim, all the way up to 5,600 meters. From here, I’d hike across the volcanic rim and across the top of Kilimanjaro to Uhuru Peak, the western summit, at 5,900 meters. A worthy challenge.
My team, consisting of a mountaineer, a chief, and a few porters, started the trek through the rainforest, around the base of the mountain, before reaching the alpine desert above the tree line at 4,000 meters. From here, we started on the northern circuit, far away from most other hikers who took shorter routes. Sometimes, we would trek for hours without seeing another hiker, and the views were amazing. We could see neighboring peaks and vast savannahs, sanctuaries for Africa’s animals through conservation efforts. The terrain was mostly volcanic rocks with shale and gravel. It’s safe to say I was on my butt more than once! Each evening, we would stop in a camp with other hikers, usually close to a fresh water stream, and set up for the night. Each day, we moved to a new camp, moving closer to base camp where we would attempt a successful summit.
You truly develop an intimate relationship with the mountain you climb. You practice respect for her through leaving a clean camp and setting a responsible pace to navigate the terrain. You go through hardships and challenges to earn the beauty she holds through panoramic views, vast expanses of land, clouds, and mountain ranges. You prove your worth to reach the top and stay committed no matter what. You pray for good weather but prepare to navigate the worst. You are at her mercy, yet you still choose to push on. In turn, she takes care of you in a special way. She shows you your strength and brings you to places that invoke growth. She pushes you past your limitations and brings you new resilience. In moments, she brings you into full presence with yourself, to the deepest parts of your being. She strips you naked and shows you your soul. The spirit of this is why I choose to climb mountains. The connections you form with these giants bring out the giant within you.
After a week of hiking and climbing, we finally reached base camp at 4,600 meters of elevation. We arrived mid-afternoon and would start the ascent to the summit around 11:30 p.m. I remember the excitement, anticipation, and nerves of a summit attempt like it was yesterday. It’s like the wait before playing in a championship game or preparing for a race you have trained years for. Reaching in and pulling out that full commitment necessary to accomplish everything you have worked toward. It’s extremely hard to sleep knowing what you are about to attempt, so most times, resting and hydrating is the best you can do. With not a wink of sleep and already feeling the effects of high elevation, we started out just before midnight with the moon and stars guiding us. Determined and ready to overcome the inevitable challenging moments of climbing to the top of Africa.
Hiking in the dark has its perks and drawbacks. The perks are being able to focus on the ground right in front of you and taking one step at a time, not having to see how far you still have to go, just focused on keeping your rhythm. The drawbacks are it’s very cold without the sun, well below zero, and it can be disorienting knowing you are high up on the side of a vast mountain but unable to see most of it. Still, we pushed on, climbing higher and higher. I could feel a shift when we got over 5,000 meters, with a new layer of high elevation symptoms setting in. You become dizzy and lightheaded, disoriented, thoughts are moving slower, and decision-making is impaired. Your body becomes heavier and harder to control. You get tired, weak, and feel like falling asleep while you are standing up and hiking. It’s still dark in the depths of the night, and you are freezing cold. You still have a vertical kilometer of ascent to go. You don’t even think of hiking down the mountain afterward. This is why it’s paramount to set a rock-solid resolve and your WHY factor before attempting the summit.
You will be pushed into moments where you are convinced you will quit. The true victory is not in reaching the summit, but in choosing to continue persevering forward when you feel you are about to collapse. These moments are when something fundamentally shifts inside of you. When you choose to keep going, no matter what excruciating situation you are in. You reach deep within, to another gear, a hidden store of strength hidden from you until now. In a sense, you meet your maker. You experience how humans have survived for hundreds of thousands of years. You get a glimpse of the human spirit and the sheer will to live coursing through all of us. You reach peace, you lean deep into this pocket, and you KEEP GOING.
We finally reached the volcanic rim at 5,600 meters a few hours before sunrise. I set my eyes on this gigantic crater kilometers across, a snow-filled glacier glistening with a billion sparkles in its middle. Only 3 more kilometers and 300 meters of elevation to go along the rim of this volcano to reach the highest point in Africa. Through the snow and ice, we chipped our way across in the dark, although the faintest light was beginning to appear. Every few hundred meters, I had to stop to regain my strength and oxygen levels, feeling miserable but with ironclad determination to emerge victorious. With one last push, we reached Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, the top of Africa. One of the Seven Summits. The sun greeted us over the horizon, the dawn of a new day and a new will to live rising up through me.
I complete challenges like this for the lost teenager I was. I was too depressed to get out of bed and start my day, too anxious to eat, too stressed to think about my future. The simplest tasks were a hard challenge. Wanting to quit it all and give up. I do it for him. I keep going for him. I will never quit for him. I will never give up. I show him we won, I show him we are victorious, I show him how strong we have become. That is my WHY factor.
Often, the largest mountains in our lives are not the ones everyone sees us standing on top of, but the momentous struggles within that no one sees. The mountains we don’t want to post online, the mountains we hide from everyone and are terrified of. The mountains we do not have the tools to safely climb without the support of a team cheering us on. I also complete challenges like this for anyone climbing a hidden mountain. I know how hard it is, I know how hopeless it feels. I’m here to show you how victorious you can be too. I’m here to show you the willpower and life force you have within you right now. I’m here providing the proof you can summit any mountain standing in front of you. Remember, even if you are on the brink of collapse, always choose to KEEP GOING. The dawn of a new day is coming, a glorious, amazing day.
AFRICA: A CHILDHOOD DREAM
Africa a new continent for me has been one of childhood dreams. For many years I’ve wanted to spend time in Africa but had no idea when or if id make it here. Now on this circumnavigation around the globe I couldn’t of dreamed for a better opportunity to travel through the mother continent. I’ve set out to travel to all four corners including the top. South, East, West and North Africa are on the itinerary including the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro the tallest peak on the continent and one of the seven summits. I arrived after 30 something hours of travel and four flights from Patagonia all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town was a great city to integrate and catch up on jet lag. In the first few days I’d realized how much I admire the spirit in the heart of africans, they are such a strong and prideful people! Now my sights where set on getting my first African safari’s in, for that I had my eyes on Kruger national park.
Kruger is South Africa’s largest conservation reserve home to all the animals you could imagine including the big five. I was lucky to find a very welcoming hostel run by Canadian/South Africans along the boarders of the park. The hostel was a home away from home in the bush, exactly what I’ve needed. All sorts of animals including zebras, wildebeest, kudu, impalas and warthogs among others came daily to visit the hostel for a bit of grub, so we had animals right on our doorstep! Though I must say my favourite feature of the hostel was the nightly community dinners. Every night Someone from the hostel would cook an amazing dinner. Sometimes volunteers would cook dishes from back home and share them with all of us. People from different continents speaking different languages would gather around a 30 foot long table every night and we would all share a great meal with lots of laughs and good times. Nothing like the power of sharing food to bring almost anyone together! This was the centre piece of the homie atmosphere the hostel provided, perfect for travellers like me having spent many months on the road. Now on to the animals and safaris!
A wake up call at 5 AM is how we started are all day safaris. Animals tend to be more active in the early morning and late afternoon as mid day sun is very, very hot. So getting into the park early is a great way to see the most wildlife. Thousands of impala and gazelle are sprawled all over the large conservation reserve. While driving through you will almost always see some relaxing in the shade or grazing. Along with these we were fortunate to see trumpets of over a hundred elephants! Baby elephants, adult elephants and the older wise elephants that lead and teach the trumpet how to thrive in the Savanah. Herds of zebras and wildebeest where also common place. But we where after more elusive animals like lions and wild dogs too. They proved harder to spot as we didn’t manage to see any wild dogs but early into the safari we managed to watch 2 large male lions resting in the shade no doubt digesting their breakfast. On the edge of our seats we observed a lone warthog wander into the lions den before beelining it out of there without the lions lifting a paw. One morning we even got woken up early as a white rhino had wandered within 500 meters of the hostel. We rushed out to stealthily get close to the animal and watched it for over 20 minutes from only 15-20 meters away! The safari’s weren’t the only adventures we went on. I had the opportunity to drive into Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), a small monarchy within South Africa.
The small nation was a beautiful experience with lots of green rolling hills and small mountains standing above vast expanses of farm land. We went to visit a local tribe and learned about how they live. They mostly live with livestock in houses made of earthly material and straw thatch roofing in tune with nature. There are still strong patriarchal practices and beliefs implemented where the men are in power and the women are left to tend to the house and children. More sobering beliefs they hold are for instance you have to obtain a wife through trading cows with their father. A single virgin woman is worth about 17 cows where as a non virgin with children are worth 8. When a cow is slaughtered for food women are not allowed to eat the brain, tongue or feet. It’s believed if a woman eats the brain they will become too smart, if a woman eats the tongue they will talk too much or too wisely and annoy their husband and if they eat the feet they will run away. This gave me a stark reminder of how many rights and freedoms we are grateful for in the west.
We then went to visit a lovely old grandmother who cooked us a traditional meal of chicken and grains deep in the countryside. From the farm we walked down and through a river where students where walking home and playing in the water. So different from our experiences walking home in the snow in Canada! The children seemed very happy and healthy as they played and it made me realize how peaceful and natural a childhood they have had. No less then the west just different. Different can be good. We then finished the adventure with a visit to a country school. I saw kids kicking around an American football like a soccer ball and quickly gave them a lesson on how to throw and catch properly. I also gave then a few pointers on how to pass it like a rugby ball as it’s my favourite sport and a sport that has united South Africa!
Well, summing up my time in SA and the first of my African experiences I simply love this place! I am excited and grateful to have ventured through the rest of this wonderful continent. Stay tuned for my next blog in Tanzania about summiting Kilimanjaro to the top of Africa! A nine day trekking adventure where I hiked 70 kilometres along the northern circuit of the mountain to then hike from east to west along the top of the volcanic rim all the way to Uhuru peak, the highest peak in Africa!
World Changing Antarctica
A leopard seal sunning and resting on a small iceberg In front of a huge glacier!
After grabbing my unique Antarctica jacket the expedition started off with a talk and workshop from Wim Hof a world renowned cold exposure and breath expert. He prepared us for the Polar Plunge that would soon come. Off we where across the drake passage, well known for being some of the roughest water in the world. We got to experience first hand the “drake Shake” with light 5-7 metre waves ( although they felt like 10 metres ;) I am grateful to be sturdy and well centred so I had a strong resistance to the motion of it all. Lets just say the ship was very quite for those first 36 hours.
Finally with a sacred meditation and connection ceremony under our belt the first islands of the seventh continent came into view. This stirred the sea sick hibernators out of their rooms with the excitement of “land HO” and the absence of strong waves. Soon after came our first steps on land with a major penguin colony visit. The next 3-4 days would be one landing and one zodiac cruise daily. We visited an old whaling station with heaps of century old whale bones. Had zodiac cruises with humpback whales breaching the waters surface only 10 meters away! We visited an old abandoned research and airplane refuelling station that was still fully stocked in case of emergencies. Then in a magical moment while we where in a wide channel in the main 120 metre ship we came across a pod of about 30 orca whales!!! They where breaching the surface all around the ship for about 2 hours. The captain said he hasn’t seen something like that in years while he was doing doughnuts in this channel following the Wales around! The scenery was simply breath taking everywhere you looked, truly an untouched continent. I hope it stays this wild and rugged for centuries to come.
I have to describe what the energetic container of the ship was like. Imagine powerful artists, poets and deeply impactful space holders all performing and conducting ceremonies of connection and creativity daily. On top of this a ship full of young energetic adventurers ready to dive deep and explore the internal beauties of life as much as the external wonders we where currently exploring. If this powerful container wasn’t enough now imagine this, you couldn’t leave even if you wanted to you are on a ship, its a long swim back home! So you are committed to the experience no matter what, the transformation, healing and wonderful joy of this amazing experience! The connections I’ve made on this unique expedition will surely last a lifetime. I managed to get almost 20 interviews from all the creatives and adventurers. I am aggressively editing to get them out to you all I promise!
After one last zodiac ride In the most beautiful bay of the adventure with sadness and yet deep nourishing fulfillment we started the journey back across the drake. The first day was similarly rough to the initial crossing but the second was abnormally calm. We got super lucky with a “drake lake” on the way back guiding us in to Ushuaia. Celebrating a final dance party until the early hours of the rising we finished off the journey and disembarked. A great rainbow spread itself across Ushuaia as we entered the city. This rainbow was symbolic for the deep spiritual transformations that where activated on the expedition. My new friend Matias de Stefano, a deeply dedicated spiritual leader invited me on a grand finale hike within minutes of leaving the ship. This leads to a completed 12 year cycle and a global energetic activation in the centre of earth. If you have felt this shift at the beginning of this year and are interested for more please reach out to me, we can have a deeper conversation on the topic. Maybe even a spiritual activation of your own ;)
A Hunt For The Right Antarctic Ship
The Antarctic has long been playful with my imagination. To be honest I didn’t quite know what to expect but I knew I would eventually explore Antarctica on this Seven continent global circumnavigation. While some people book their place on a ship several months in advance I arrived in Ushuaia the southern most city in the entire world only 10 days before this ship would depart with no idea how I was going to find a spot to board.
The same day I landed in Ushuaia I went to several expedition agencies trying to find my place. I gathered information on pricing, departure dates and what was included in the expedition. All with no luck. Every expedition agency said they were booked for the next month straight and all with high pricing. Slightly discouraged but still determined I called it quits for the day and started making my way back to the hostel. Only 2 blocks away from my bed for the night I came across a man that directed me to an agency I had somehow missed. Wayfinders was the name and they sure helped me find my way.
I walked in weary and tired from a day of travel and expedition searching, to an enthusiastic expedition seller named Winnie. She wasted no time in sharing with me the perfect experience better then I could hope to expect. The offering was named Artists in the Antarctic created and managed by insider expeditions. It was a ship full of well established artists, poets, musicians, creatives and successful entrepreneurs ready to perform for everyone and share their gifts. The exact energy Rise To Unite is looking for. I was expecting my fellow passengers to be elderly birdwatchers but here they where a tribe of young enthusiastic people just like myself. On top of that there was only one spot left on the ship and at almost half price! Someone had canceled and the spot was only available for a few more hours. I had a quick decision to make.
Internally I knew I had to buy the ticket but my mind still needed more convincing, I didn’t have all the information or the time to think it out. I decided to go for a short walk to process but soon as I left the expedition agency every fibre of my being told me to go back and secure my spot. Clearly the universe was ensuring I made it onto that ship. So without further a due I went back and booked the Antarctic adventure that would change my life in more ways then I could imagine.
Look out for the next blog post where I continue the story and share all the magic Artists in Antarctica had to offer!
Patagonia Wrap Up
Argentina and Chile share an exquisite region on the southern most part of South America, the famous Patagonia. This rugged landscape has vast rolling plains and breath taking snow covered mountains not to mention the beautiful coastline along the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Although a key defining characteristic of Patagonia can sometimes be the relentless wind, trekking and hiking live here in abundance. The enticing scenery and demanding hiking terrain is something I have been fortunate to experience along a few hikes including a coming famous 25 kilometre route through the Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile.
I am looking forward to the challenge of hiking 25 km in a day while taking in all the surrounding environment has to offer. I am a Canadian who’s home is in the quiet spacious countryside, so congested and bustling capital cities sometimes take their toll on me. Going on hikes like these bare the important reminder of how crucial spending ample time with mother nature is. She is a living breathing organism that supports us all in ways we realize and some ways we don’t. The wild miracle of life across the expanses of nature release something deep within the heart essential to the human experience. This is still a mystery to most and I encourage you to explore this more with a fresh adventure through some of the nature you love the most!
This has been the thing I appreciate most about Patagonia, the break from urban environments and the very apparent presence of mother nature. Exactly what my soul has needed. Did I mention Patagonia is also the main portal to the Antarctic? That may give you another hint as to why I am here ;) Stay tuned for updates on my next grand adventure!
Rise To Unite!
Kristian McCannell
The Biggest Mountain I’ve climbed
I recently climbed Mt. Chachani a volcano 6070 meters in elevation located in the southern region of Peru. To give you an idea how high that is people usually start becoming affected from the altitude around 2500 meters and the tallest peak of the North American rocky mountains is only 4400 meters. This is by far the highest elevation I have ever hiked but not the most significant summit or the biggest mountain.
The journey started with 7 of us hiking an initial four hours into base camp at around 5000 meters with all our camping/hiking gear. We quickly set up camp had dinner and tried to get some sleep as the next day would be long and intensive. Sleeping in such high altitude proved difficult as the blood in ones system tends to flow away from central organs towards the outer extremities including the brain. This elevated the blood pressure in my head and gave me a ringing headache. I didn’t learn the trick of sufficiently elevating my head to relieve this symptom until about half an hour before we had to get up thus resulting in only 30 minutes of sleep. At 2 AM we started our 8-10 hour journey to summit with 1 kilometre of vertical assent.
The stars and moon guided us the first 500 meters of draining high elevation hiking. The temperature of -10 celsius didn’t let up until we felt the first rays of sun break over the mountain and gently crash across our faces. The light and warmth greatly boosted our exhausted morale and yet we still had the hardest, steepest and highest half to go.
When committing to this challenge I made a non negotiable to myself, I would reach the summit no matter how I felt, quitting wasn’t an option. This was a personal, internal journey for me more so than a physical one. I chose to climb this mountain to break past my limitations, let go of weakness and prove to myself what I am capable of. Ultimately I wanted to materialize undeniable proof I could climb the greatest mountains within myself and rise above them.
each step we took was challenging at that elevation and yet all we could focus on was one step at a time. Each time I thought about slowing down or felt doubt creep in about making it to the top I immediately course corrected. I took a few deep breaths, resharpened my determination and remembered the commitment I made to myself, I would make it to the top no matter what. This brought me into the trance like zone of focus that would bring me to new heights, one step at a time.
eventually I looked up through the haze of high elevation and there it was, the summit. only about half an hour left. I kept thinking to myself just stay locked in, determination building. With one step at a time we made it to the summit.
I felt stone walls crumbling down within me like a great castle collapsing to rubble. The self doubt, the lack of confidence, the failure, the weakness all crumbling away. The things holding me back from my own greatness diminishing. For I had proven to myself I can do great things.
I remember the days I was too depressed to get out of bed, too anxious to eat, too stressed to leave the house having no idea how I was ever going to survive. Now here I am literally climbing mountains. I think back to that frightened young teenager and show him around the summit. The only thing I could repeatedly say is “you did it kid”.
With tears flowing now, I felt deeply proud of myself and prideful for being who I am. An experience I will never forget. I plan on committing myself to many more experiences like this one because it shows how far someone can come when they truly love themselves and go all in on changing their lives, capturing their dreams and ultimately actualizing the greatness we all have within. From the deepest valleys to the highest peaks.
with love,
Kristian McCannell
RISE TO UNITE
Bolivia Lessons and Blessings
Hello from Buenos Aries, Argentina!
I just arrived last night and can’t help but reflect on the lessons, challenges and growth I had during my stay in La Paz, Bolivia. I intended for my stay to be one of productivity and full time Spanish lessons. Instead it was one of rest, recovery and lessons of gratitude.
I took 3 busses from Arequipa, Peru for almost 24 hours to La Paz. After Climbing a 6000 meter mountain that long bus ride sent me just over the edge, and I came down with a flu that took its time to go away. A fever, sore throat, cough and upset stomach arrived the same time I did in La Paz. Thus began a week in bed!
During that time I could of been upset with the situation, lost my motivation to travel and let my spirit down but I chose to keep my chin up and embrace this experience that sometimes comes with traveling through many countries in a short timespan.
The day I finally felt much better a high pressure system of thunderstorms came through and gave me a bad migraine headache. At that point I couldn’t help but smile at the universe as I was surly being tested and taught. I naturally dropped into gratitude for the whole experience and reminded myself of how deeply blessed I am to be traveling around the world. I know not everyone has this unique opportunity I have right now so whatever I go through I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination!
I still ended up getting in 3 days of Spanish lessons where I attempted to learn how to ask interview questions for Spanish speaking people local to South America.
I encourage you to realize that no matter what situation you find yourself in you are so blessed to be alive and to find the lesson life in trying to teach you!
Have a great evening and stay tuned as I soon tell the tale of camping on and climbing a mountain over 6000 Meters!
Amazon Rainforest Adventure
I just spent the past week in the Amazon jungle and wow was it amazing! I started off in Iquitos (North Eastern Peru) on the banks of the amazon river. From there I took a 3 hour boat down river to a remote Lodge deep in the jungle. I hiked for several hours through the jungle including night time hikes. I visited a school in a small amazonian village, a local tribe living off the jungle, an animal sanctuary and found many creatures including an anaconda over 3 meters!
the diversity of the Amazon rainforest is unparalleled. There where thousands upon thousands of species all coexisting and being taken care of by the jungle. I couldn’t help but see how everything in the Amazon is so intimately connected and in the natural flow of life. I also see this in humans, we are all so connected and rely on each other in daily life. Yet often people see each other as different and disconnected fuelling the devision, fear and hatred our societies are currently plagued with.
If only we could all experience this interconnectedness and see we could be a much stronger collection of nations if we chose to build connections and truly work together. I deeply believe we can solve our huge modern issues and reach towards prosperity for all. but only together. United. This is what the Rise To Unite foundation is dedicated to uncovering and sharing all over the world! If you agree and want to support this mission please share RTU with your family, friends and consider making a donation to help make this project as successful as possible. Thank you so much for your support and have a great week ahead!
kristian,
Rise To Unite!
The Journey Has Begun!
This past week I’ve been in Houston Texas Gathering my first RTU interviews and gently easing into the backpacking lifestyle. Now the journey really begins with a deep dive into the Peruvian Amazon! By this time tomorrow I will be in the northern amazonian city of Iquitos. Located on the banks of the Amazon river I will be hopping on a boat and cruising over 70 kilometres up river to a remote eco lodge. From there I will be going on daytime and nighttime Jungle hikes, fishing in the amazon river, visiting a rare monkey sanctuary, meeting a local tribe and much more. Stay tuned for details and look out for many interesting social media posts and interviews!
The Coming Journey
In just over three weeks I will be setting out on my biggest journey so far. Circumnavigating the globe through six if not all seven continents, 25+ countries, over nine months while I document the whole process. I will be interviewing at leased 10 people from each country I travel through. The main thesis is discovering what truly has the power within human beings to overcome the challenging walls of division we are up against, while forging strong bonds of cooperation regardless of global differences. This is the path forward to a bright future. I intend to uncover this power within us all and learn how we can truly Rise to Unite!
That’s all for now, however stay tuned for more. talk soon!
In just over three weeks I will be setting out on my biggest journey so far. Circumnavigating the globe through six if not all seven continents, 25+ countries, over nine months while I document the whole process. I will be interviewing at least 10 people from each country I travel through. The main thesis is discovering what truly has the power within human beings to overcome the challenging walls of division we are up against, while forging strong bonds of cooperation regardless of global differences. This is the path forward to a bright future. I intend to uncover this power within us all and learn how we can truly Rise to Unite!
That’s all for now, however stay tuned for more. talk soon!
Welcome to the Rise to Unite Community!
It all begins with an idea.
Awesome you are here reading this! Welcome to the rise to unite community!! Here is a place you can refine yourself well being involved in a community that’s focused on creating a more cooperative, united world starting with one heart at a time. Make sure to stay in the loop through joining the email list for blogs, songs, podcasts, offerings among other interesting things!