Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Nonetheless, the process is not complicated; arduous, but not complicated. All you need to start is some idea of what to expect and what to do. This book gives these things to you in a simple format, easily read, with instructions that are straightforward.

Kilimanjaro is far away for most of us, in a country we know virtually nothing about, on a continent that is always seen by the Westerner as dark and mysterious. Altitude sickness and its more serious friends, edema, must be confronted (20,000 feet is no joke) and the weather is variable to say the least ... starting in a rain forest and ending on a frozen snowfield four miles up.

Diseases must be prepared for, as must travel and physical conditioning and numerous other details. Carmichael does a good job of laying all this out and setting you on your way.

The rest is up to you. He does say that his exersize routine involved getting his heart rate to 150 beats per minute for two hours every day; this I find extreme even for me but it gives you a sense of what lies in store for you on the roof of Africa.

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Dreary   September 13, 2003
 10 out of 15 found this review helpful

I didn't think it was possible to make Kilimanjaro sound dull, but this author has tried very hard to. The Forewords etc are excellent -- but then they are written by other people -- it's just the meat of the book that's at fault. Some more practical advice would have been useful too. I climbed Kili in June this year and while this book came with me to the summit, it remained in my backpack the whole time. Nothing beats a good (human) guide, of course, but even if you do decide you need a guidebook, there are better ones on the market than this.


Just one big ego trip wrapped up as a guidebook.   August 28, 2003
 7 out of 11 found this review helpful

Lack of practical info, badly edited, quite a few errors. . . just a big ego trip for the author. Very disappointing.


Practical Mountain Climbing   June 17, 2003
 6 out of 7 found this review helpful

Although my "mountaineering" is limited to hikes in the Canadian Rockies, I found Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro a fascinating and informative how-to on summiting this high point in Africa. The book is dense with practical tips on getting in shape, getting there, and getting to the top, with just about everything to keep you out of trouble in-between. This is not a page turner for the professional mountain climber or the extreme sport fanatic. But for the average hiker with aspirations for a sunrise at the top of Africa, it's hard to imagine a better guide. Pay special attention to the tips for staying healthy - the authors (both from the Mayo Clinic) obviously know of what they write.


Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro   October 14, 2002
 3 out of 5 found this review helpful

As a middle-aged "regular guy" this book got me into the best physical shape I have ever been in. You don't want any serious surprises on a trip like this, and "Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro" prepares you with the right equipment, clothing, energy foods and most importantly ATTITUDE. I summited Kili three weeks ago and judging from what I experienced, it pays to be prepared. Great trip - great book!