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Continued from page 40 than climbing up, Wyatt said, because you use a different set of muscles. “Take it slow, and don’t give up — ever,” is his advice to other aspiring mountain climbers. Sunburn was a major risk, so they used lots of sun- screen, Wyatt said. They experienced all kinds of weather during their eight-day trek up and down the mountain — from d: desert to Arctic tundra to the rain forest to swamps. The temperatures were extreme: from a hot 30 degrees in the daytime to minus 20 at night. If they had made the climb in March instead of the summer as originally planned, it would have been the rainy season. Wyatt's broken leg, as the result of a football i injury, pushed the trip into the future to the ey didn’t exp much precipitation while climbing during the African winter season. “We did get wet from the moisture when we hiked up through the clouds,” Wyatt recalls. The nature lovers didn’t see any wildlife on the mountain, not even a bird. But the local father-son team made up for it by going ona five day African safari after the climb. They got up close and personal with lions, giraffes, elephants, tigers, wildebeests and beautiful exotic birds. There was even a lion prowling the savannah around their encampment one night. After 8 pm, guards with guns, and one with a bow and arrow, would escort them everywhere. “A staple at every meal was soup, which Wyatt soon tired of. Clif bars and chocolate provided quick energy, and the other main forms of sustenance were fried toast, rice and tea. “We ate mostly carbs,” Wyatt explained, “not meat, because it takes more oxygen to digest meat. I missed having chicken.” A special treat were the pizza- flavoured chips that Wyatt brought along. The group had nine days of no technology. No cell phones, no television, no internet, no music. Just cam- eras. Wyatt’s Dad took 4000 photos while Wyatt snapped about 300. “I didn’t miss it,” he said of being “unplugged.” Amazingly, Scott got two bars at the top of the moun- tain, so he was able to make an historic cell phone call! seen looming ahead in the distance. A group of young climbers hike towards Mount Kilimanjaro, Photo courtesy Wyatt Wilson To train for the climb, six months prior to their excursion, Wyatt and Scott did 10 k hikes every weekend, in Long Sault and Durham Woods. They carried their day packs with them. Wyatt is used to spending a lot of time in the great outdoors. He entered the scouting movement as a Beaver at the age of six, and worked his way up to Venturer Scout. The 1st Port Perry Venturer Company leader Wil Corneal has been involved in scouting for over 50 years, and he has served as a leader for 26 years. He explained what scouting is all about. It’s about camping and hiking, white water rafting, first aid training, building a fire, canoeing, tying ropes and travelling to jamborees. It’s about fitness, and it’s Please turn to page 53 FREE Home Value Engraving * Screen Printing Pineridge Impress 905-985-2839 135 North Port Road, Port Perry Your Name is Our Business 42 FOCUS - APRIL 2015 Assessment Go to- www.l i. Jonal: and follow the prompts Living in and Serving the Port Perry Area Since 2005 Lou & an ina McDonald vehicle lettering / wrapping regrity & mead Service ‘SIGNWORKScanada.com Call/Text: Reach eee Rd, WENDAALLEN LTo. 905 926 1446 905-985-0802