These Boots Are Made for Walking

Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world. ~Marilyn Monroe

 

Want to know what the most important clothing item of your Kilimanjaro adventure is? It’s not a jacket or hiking pants, nor is it what hat you wear. It’s your boots! 

As a shoe fanatic and a shopaholic to boot (pun intended!), this was one to the parts of my trip preparation that I got really excited for. I am not one to pass up an opportunity to buy new shoes, even if they are brown hiking boots instead of cute Lilly Pulitzer sandals, sexy Antonio Melani heels, or my new favorite sparkly pink glitter TOMS.

Choosing the right hiking boot is incredibly important to a successful Kilimanjaro climb. For this purchase, I would recommend going to an outdoors outfitter to seek the advice of a professional.

Several weeks before my trip, I visited REI where I worked with a staff member from the shoe department for over an hour to find the best boot for me. After all, if I was going to wear these things up Kili I needed to make sure they fit well and provided me with the support I needed.

After trying on multiple pairs in multiple sizes and testing them by walking around and climbing on a rock display in the store, I finally had my Cinderella moment. The pair that I choose were Vasque Breeze GTX 7465. What set this hiking boot apart from the rest of the pack? A couple of key characteristics were distinguishing.

This pair is made with Gore-tex fabric so that it’s water resistant. They’re durable boots but it doesn’t feel like I have cinderblocks on my feet when I wear them. Also, they have high ankle support which helps to decrease the pressure on your ankles and the likelihood of rolling them. I have weak ankles so this was particularly important to me. 

Other items I bought to go with my new footwear were support inserts and socks. I bought support inserts because I have especially flat feet and needed the extra support beneath my arches to avoid foot pain as best possible. 

When it comes to socks, there are two types necessary: socks and sock liners. I wore SmartWool hiking socks that are moisture-wicking to keep my feet dry and comfortable in various temperatures. Beneath the SmartWool socks I wouldn’t be caught without anti-microbial wool or silk sock liners. Liners like these ones from REI will prevent any type of fungus, infection, or smell from sustained hiking or outdoors experiences. 

One mistake you do not want to make is neglecting to wear your new boots prior to your hike. Definitely take several weeks to break your boots in so that when it comes time to hike Kilimanjaro you don’t run the risk of blisters. 

Finding the perfect pair of kicks takes some time, but having the right pair on your feet for Kilimanjaro is worth it. Good luck, Cinderella!

My Vasque Breeze GTX 7465 hiking boots-wish they came in pink!

SmartWool hiking socks

Anti-microbial sock liners

My favorite Glitter Pink TOMS: they're cute & for a cause!

Adorable Lilly Pulitzer McKim Wedges in Gold I want!

Cinderella is my favorite Disney princess

Climbing Kili for a Cause

Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. ~Princess Diana 

On an ordinary day, if you see someone in need of help you stop to assist them, don’t you? Of course you do. If you could help others by hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, would you? Hopefully you will! 

On my Kilimanjaro adventure, our group chatted with a large group from the United Kingdom. We discovered that they were participating in a charity climb, which are apparently popular in the UK.

What is a charity climb, you might ask? A charity climb is where you choose a charity and fundraise for it as part of your climbing experience. You can recruit your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to sponsor you by making donations to your charity of choice in honor of your climb. 

Looking for more fundraising ideas? Hold a percent night at a favorite local restaurant or bar where a percentage of the evening’s sales are donated to your cause. Approach your company and ask if they will participate by matching the donations you receive from others with a donation from them. Talk to a local TV or radio station about covering your hike to gain publicity. Who knows what perfect stranger might be interested in helping you help your charity!

One way to do a charity climb is to go about the fundraising efforts and collecting of donations on your own. Have those donating make a check out to the charity of your choice, fundraise, and upon returning from your trek donate all of the checks at once with a letter telling your story. You like to be thanked when you donate to a cause, don’t you? Remember to send thank you notes to everyone who supports you!

The alternative to doing it all on your own is using a tour operator that offers charity climbs. I researched a couple of tour operators that specialize in Kilimanjaro charity climbs. American-based company World Expeditions offers treks up the Rongai and Shira routes of Kili and the option of fundraising for the charity of your choice. UK-based company Adventure Alternative heads to the summit of Kili via the Machame route. This company fundraises for Moving Mountains, an NGO that works in Kenya, Nepal, and Borneo to support and renovate orphanages, schools, clinics, rescue centers, community centers, as well as a hydroelectric plant mission and a forest enrichment program. Charity Challenge another UK-based company offers man treks up Kili with the freedom to choose any charity you support.

If you want to support a charity that directly benefits those involved with Kilimanjaro a great options is the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project. They are a registered Tanzanian NGO that helps to improve the working conditions of Kili porters.

Philanthropy is a huge part of my life and in particular I’m passionate about Relay for Life. I love Relay so much that I’ve fundraised over $2,000 for the American Cancer Society in my time at USC. As a sister in Phi Mu Lambda Theta chapter (LIOB to my sisters reading this!), I support our national philanthropy Children’s Miracle Network as well; FTK! If I could do this hike again and do it as a charity climb, I definitely would!

What charity would you donate to if you participated in a charity climb?

University Ambassadors at the University of South Carolina at Relay for Life 2010

The LOVELY Lambda Theta chapter of Phi Mu at the University of South Carolina

 

 

Elise, Myself, & Claire at our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital