Athlone man's amazing Mount Kilimanjaro trek

Athlone native Kevin Naughton has completed a "once in a lifetime" experience, to the summit of the highest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro was the culmination of a six-day journey for Kevin and 19 members of the Mullingar Hiking Group who completed the 5,895 metre hike earlier this month.

Climbing the African mountain has always been as aspiration of the Iona Park resident and when the opportunity presented itself he was adamant that he was going to take on the challenge.

"I had been considering the climb for a number of years, but when I heard that the Mullingar Hiking Group were planning to travel to Mount Kilimanjaro, it seemed the right time to complete the trek where collective support would be constant," Kevin said.

The group travelled to Kilimanjaro via Doha in mid-February and after an overnight stay in Moshi, Tanzania, started their six-day climb of the mountain.

"We were accompanied by 78 tour guides over the course of the trek. They carry your gear, prepare your food and set up your tent for you at the various trek stops on the way to the summit of the mountain," Kevin said.

Trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is a seven-day expedition but the group decided on a six-day duration for their journey, hiking for 13 hours on one particular section of the mountain.

"Conditions were tough on days two and three of the climb with a lot of sleet and snow and temperatures at 15 degrees below freezing, but we persevered," Kevin added.

The group had little altitude training and Kevin said it was a "struggle at times to get oxygen into your lungs". He also said the thinner atmosphere impacted his sleeping pattern with "as little as three hours sleep" over the duration of the trek.

"I took diamox tablets to help me cope with the altitude sickness but at times the thin air was a lot to endure on the climb," Kevin stated.

The group reached Kibo base camp in temperatures 20 degrees below freezing after four days and following a brief respite they climbed for an additional seven and a half hours before reaching the Mount Kilimanjaro summit just after sunrise.

As weather conditions were "ice cold" at the summit, the group spent a mere 30 minutes "savouring the achievement" and taking photographs to "capture the moment".

The trek down to the foot of the mountain "was not as difficult" and following an overnight stay in Moshi, Kevin started his journey for home.

Over two weeks since his Mount Kilimanjaro, Kevin's body is still adjusting from the rigours of the climb with fatigue still prevalent.

"The climb was tougher than I expected it to be, but wow, what an amazing experience, certainly one which will live in my mind for quite a long time," Kevin said.