Together, AMV team members Alice and Eva decided to attempt the seven-day hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. An unprecedented sporting challenge that they told us about in detail.
Photos: Alice and Eva
The preparation
The first time we talked to them was a few days before their departure. “Alice and I always worked out together at lunchtime. When Michaël Azoulay offered to sponsor a sporting challenge, we proposed a duo trek to the top of Kilimanjaro,” explains Eva. During the weeks leading up to the event, they continued to train, with a focus on cardio. “Our friends and family reassured us that we were up for the challenge. But the real risk was getting altitude sickness,” they point out.
The big day
“We left Marseille on a Friday to start the climb on Sunday.” In their bags, they took almost everything that their guide recommended. Warm technical clothing, a pair of shorts, ski trousers, good shoes, eyewear adapted to high altitudes. “We planned to gradually add layers of clothing the higher we went, so that we could adapt to the temperatures,” they share. The Marseille brand also pitched in. “The brand gave us a small wardrobe with T-shirts, sweatshirts, leggings and beanies. Comforting clothing flocked for the occasion. We also brought some for the guide team.”
The unknown
Fuelled by a mix of excitement and fear, they started the hike in the heart of the jungle. “I started getting sick on Monday. When we arrived at the second camp, I had a fever. It was really hard,” remembers Alice, who was still sick on Tuesday morning. As the day went on, her condition improved. By Wednesday, she felt much better. “Our stomachs were upset, because of the altitude. Luckily, we ate delicious meals, prepared by one of our guides,” mentions Eva.
The surprises
What struck them the most? “The cold, definitely. We slept with lots of layers on. As soon as we arrived at the camp, we absolutely had to change our clothes and drink something hot to warm up.” On Thursday, around noon, they reached base camp, the last camp before the summit. The final climb took place at night: they ate, slept a little, ate again and then woke up at 11 p.m. It was time. “That was the hardest hike. The wind was brutal. We walked slowly, but without stopping. Everything felt hostile. It was dark out, no one was talking and, suddenly, the guides were a lot more serious. On several occasions, we passed groups of people who were crying and sick. We arrived at the top when the sun was rising on one side and the moon was setting on the other. We burst into tears, of course, and hugged each other. We had to walk 45 more minutes to reach the highest point.”
The descent
After the summit, the rest went by in a blur. The duo returned to the camp before setting off again. The way down was faster, but not easier. It was Friday. Saturday would be just as intense. “I felt like I was on automatic pilot,” emphasises Alice. When they arrived at the bottom, they had lunch with the guides before being taken to the airport. It was over already. “Between us, things went really well. It brought us much closer together. It was tough, but we laughed a lot. We were able to comfort each other because we didn’t have the same fears and anxieties. We also got encouraging messages from the AMV teams and our families,” they conclude.
1 sporting challenge = 1 tip to remember
Alice: “When you head out, you need to tell yourself that it’s a real challenge, especially when you get altitude sickness. It’s really an extraordinary experience!”
Eva: “It’s very important not to underestimate the cold. You have to be well equipped, with good warm clothing.”
Their next challenge?
Alice: “I’m going to run the Marseille-Cassis race in a few days … At any rate, this experience made me want to travel more in Africa.”
Eva: “Maybe Mount Meru, right across from Kilimanjaro!”
AMV Journal is a space dedicated to encounters, discovery and travel. Every week, explore the musts, portraits and inspirations of American Vintage and its creation studio.