Mid Life Crisis - Kilimanjaro 2015

Kilimanjaro – Day Six of the challenge, Summit Night – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Fri, 1 Jan 2016 01:56:00 GMT

We left at 12:20 am, in the full moon. The first hour was a tentacle climb and then we were climbing, following the paths of head torches, switching back, and back, for hours. We caught up with Carole (who had left earlier) which was nice to have the group back together again.

It was cold, you needed every part of you wrapped up, my seven layers on the top were great. The guides were superb at helping pull the draw strings tight on your gloves so no cold air could get in.

The further we went the harder it got to walk, Nelson was keeping the pace slow but it was half a foot in front of another for four hours, watching the total lunar solar eclipse unfold ahead of us. It was eerie when it went completely dark on the mountain,

It was a slog but I was doing ok, music on. Then I had a massive nosebleed. I couldn't get it to stop, we had some tea which the guides had brought and Nelson said if it doesn't stop soon you will have to go back down.

I managed to get it under control and we carried on.

5 am brought the start of the sun coming up and renewed enthusiasm. But also the realisation of how far we were still away from Stella Point, the top of the mountain as we could see it, but not the highest point.

Walking for another couple of hours, not seemingly getting any closer, was sole destroying. Sliding backwards and such small steps meant I started to wonder if we would make it.

I realised the group was splitting and I had a choice to make. I pushed myself on, keeping up with Tansher, Sarah and Nelson as we pulled slowly away from Sarah, Kat and Carole.

This really was a mental test, one that I was determined I was going to win. Watching other people coming down was not good for the morale. It was the longest couple of hours of my life but at about 830 we made it to Stella Point. The last section seemingly being a sand dune, or it felt like it. A sit down, photos for ten minutes and then we were off.

Uhuru point was only 156m higher and around the crater rim, but I think babies could have crawled faster than the speed I felt like I was going.

The feelings were split, I could see what I had come for, but it still felt like it was miles away.

The views of the glaciers and Mount Meru poking out of the clouds were stunning.

We made it to the top, and had our photos taken at the sign. Luckily I checked some of the photos, especially the one with my shirt full of sponsoring companies’ logos on. I looked like the Michelin Man. Four layers were removed and the photos retaken.

Ten minutes after arriving, we were heading back down.

The rest is history, except to say how I was physically broken, suffered more nose bleeds and it took me a good couple of months to get over the experience, not to mention the challenges of getting home to the usual family and work pressures.

Thank you for the support, I will sign off 2015 and wish you good luck in whatever challenge you undertake in 2016.

Kilimanjaro – Day Five of the challenge – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 03:35:00 GMT

Woke and I knew we were in the arctic zone; well it was obvious all night.

Today’s four hour walk to base camp at 15,300 ft. it became clear we were allot higher, the air was allot thinner, it was allot colder and the wash of clouds swept in at 30secs notice. This was also the first day the porters didn't overtake us.

I had a big nose bleed half way up, which coupled with the altitude effects ramping up, didn't make this an enjoyable day.

I was not feeling like I had a hangover, I was feeling like I had been on a stag weekend. Headache, nauseous and no appetite at all, sense of humor was waning slightly and the thoughts did cross my mind, why am I doing this again?

The empty bottle of Moet and Chandon perched on a rock at base camp generated a funny feeling. Nerves. This is what its all been about and I felt rough.

The tents were not pegged down, more tied to boulders. I have never been to the moon, but from what I have seen, I imagine it looks allot like base camp on Killi. Screed and loose rock was everywhere.

We went for an acclimatization walk and then for a sleep from 4.

We were woken for tea at 1830; it was already dark and cold. I had a real stiff neck, was sick and was not sure I wanted to even attempt the summit. Nelson said we could all make it, so get some more sleep.

I was back up at 11pm and it was a different me; this is what it was all about. I put so much clothes on I could hardly get out the tent.

The top of me had a Base layer, walking shirt, thin fleece, thick fleece, soft shell jacket, hard shell jacket. I also had my big down jacket in my bag.

Tea and jammy dodgers brought the mojo back, even if it was -10 C and only going to get colder as we went higher.

I tried to hold the nerves back, excited but also scared if I didn't make it to the top, how that would feel. I was happy that this trip was about the journey, but I was also doubting if I could make it to the top, if my body would let me.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Kilimanjaro – Day Four of the challenge – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 19:01:00 GMT

Awoke due to the cold, the frost breaking off the tent as I stuck my head out to see the sun coming over the Barranco Wall. My, my, it’s huge I thought. We weren't in a rush this morning but by the time we had had breakfast and were about to leave, people were making the top, plenty more were climbing up in in trails, like lemmings. This is the one part of climbing Killi where all the routes come together, so is always busy, busier on a full moon and even busier on a total lunar solar eclipse, given the rarity.

This was a real stop start time, not great for me as I’m not a lover of heights, this was scrambling, climbing and at times having to be helped up over ledges, hundreds of meters up the edge of a cliff, when you couldn't see the bottom.

One particular part which caused a major traffic jam, I had to put my left foot up about waist high, onto something about as big as a can of coke, climb up and reach up, where our guide’s hand was over the top to grab hold of and help me climb the lip and onto the rest of the wall.

Another favorite shout was “just kiss the wall as you inch around it”, as I shimmied around a ledge, kissing the rock as I held onto it, not wanting to look down.

Making it to the top provided some stunning group photos and a bit of a sit down, as I wasn't feeling great. The amount of people on the wall meant we made our lunch stop at 4pm.

The day continued and I was starting to flag, grateful for the training I had done, but this was getting to be hard work.

Then I saw Karanga camp, at 13,100 feet.

Yes, we were going to make it into camp when it wasn't dark, this really lifted my spirits. Yes!

And then I saw the Karanga Valley. This was between the camp and us. Something so steep and deep that you couldn't see the people at the bottom, then you had to climb back up to the camp.

I nearly cried. I would have if I had thought it would have been any use!

Getting down wasn't easy as parts of it you were slipping and sliding on your bottom, holding onto whatever you could.

Carole and Kat shared some M&M’s at the bottom (They had brought enough to feed half of the climbers on the mountain)

Then it was a real slog to the camp, half a step at a time, for ages. There really wasn't anything else but dig really deep, it was so steep.

When I made camp I couldn't even write my diary, I was broken.

I took double dose of my Diamox, the drug to help limit the effects of altitude.

I was desperate, I needed something.

Some food, a proper chat with Tracey and Ollie whilst sitting watching the sun go down onto of the clouds was something I will never forget.

Neither was getting some 3G signal and receiving a tweet from Wessex Commercial Solutions. This informed me that they had voted to forego their Christmas cards to their clients, so as to sponsor me an extra £253.07. Making my £5000 target for Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement Care, this coupled with other messages on social media of support was amazing, truly amazing.

I don't think people realised how much those actions helped me, as I settled into bed at 830.

There was a tear at that moment.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Kilimanjaro – Day three of the challenge – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 20:43:00 GMT

Did not get a lot of sleep and needed to take some pain killers in the middle of the night, but still woke feeling like I hadn't had much sleep. Watching the sun come up over Shira camp at 12,500 ft, the wind whipping through the tent with stunning views in front was good. But nothing compared to turning round to properly see some more of the mountain and the challenge which lay ahead.

Soon there was an excited buzz around the camp as more people got up, also looking forward to starting another day of this challenge.

We had a long, hot day hiking up to the Lunar Tower where we had a leisurely sit down hot lunch. This was part of our acclimatisation of climbing high (The Lunar tower was 15,300ft) and then sleeping lower.

Today was the day when I first started to struggle, the last couple of hours to the Lunar Tower was a really hard slog, headache and nausea, really draining my energy.

I had a little power nap outside the lunch tent before being rudely woken by our guide Nelson with his foot. The feeling of a bad hangover (which is what altitude sickness feels like), was not good when you were sitting and trying to eat lunch. One of our group rushed out from lunch as she felt sick.

The headache slowly dispersed as we walked further around the mountain as the path took us lower.

We hiked for nine and a half hours, covering 6.5 miles and climbed 5577ft, arriving into Barranco Wall camp, at 13,000ft at 7pm, as it was starting to get cold and was nearly dark.

A little pick me up was getting to speak to Tracey and Ollie.

The enormity of the Barranco Wall which we were due to climb tomorrow was not lost on anyone, it was huge.

Soon our tired group has had a wet wipe wash and were huddled in the mess tent, eating under candles and head torch light. Everyone was tucked up in bed by 9pm, the temperature had already dropped and the ice was forming on my tent as I was trying to take some night photos of Kibo peak, trying to capture the moon reflecting off the snow covered peak, whilst trying not to think how big Barranco Wall is.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Kilimanjaro – Day two of the challenge – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:21:00 GMT

Awoke before the alarm, as I wanted to be on the front foot. If you have followed these blogs you will know it was something I learnt on the trek prep weekend I attended, which stood me in such good stead for this trip and for my business and personal life. I didn’t want to be rushed as I had rushed to the airport, rushed on to flights, into and out of the hotel, I wanted to enjoy this.

First thought was I loved the 9cm thick mattress I rented last minute, what a godsend.

Second thought was wow, what a view of the mountain behind us which we had now really been able to see unlike before as we were in the minbus or in the forest.

Checked out the portaloo, had breakfast and filled our Camelbaks, making sure to set the flowmeter to make sure I drunk at least 4litres of water, final pack and then we were off.

We left the glades of the rain forest and continued on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, entering in the moorland zone covered with heather, where the ridge ends. The route now turned west onto a dry river gorge.

This was a real change as we left the man main forest path and we did allot of scrambling as well as hiking, for 8.5 hours. It was warm, still in shorts and a short sleeve shirt.

I was pleased to see Shira camp, despite being one of the last ones into it. I was finding it hard, but incredibly enjoyable.

Seeing our porters who had rushed ahead of us, loaded with tents on their heads and backpacks, often with a loaf of bread clipped on, with a tray of eggs on top, was the most superb sight. It made me feel emotional, emotional but driven.

We climbed a total height of 3,000ft but only covering 3 miles. Yes three miles distance, I know, I had my Garmin satellite device with me. Having our packed lunch on the large rock overlooking the moorland was something else.

I was starting to get a headache, the first signs of altitude sickness. We were at 12,500 ft.

The views we saw today were amazing, looking behind and in front. When we made camp it was buzzing, dusty, windy and I was tired. It soon turned dark, cold and more windy. We assembled in the mess tent, for a very welcome dinner of soup, beef mince and rice.

Excited talk filled the air as people felt better and warmer with food.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Kilimanjaro – The start of the adventure – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 08:02:00 GMT

It was sad to say good-bye, sad to see the tears in my wife’s face, from sheer sleep exhaustion and realising that one part of team Mattravers was going away for 13 nights. I had to stay strong, we had discussed moving the date but this was attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro on night of the total lunar solar eclipse.

Sadness as I walked to the car, after I started Tracey’s car I was in a different mindset. This was work, this was what all the preparation and planning had been for. My bag for the B&B at the airport repacked ten times over.

I stopped at the local garage to get some supplies for the morning. Came out and the car had a flat battery having not been used much. The AA quoted me an hour. My mates Stuart and Kevin were there with my jump leads in Kev’s van in five minutes and I was away.

B&B, 6am flight to Amsterdam, flight to Kilimanjaro, then drive to the hotel in Arusha. When I got there, it was 10pm and all was quiet. I was tired, a full day of travelling and not a lot of sleep. Some last minute packing and I was finished, just the alarm to set for 630.

Breakfast and met the rest of the group, three Americans Kat and Carole who were friends and Carol’s mum, Sarah. Tansher, an interesting Indian guy who had studied at St Andrews and Sarah, a Bahranian woman who lived in Dubai. Odd mix, but before we know it we were off to the Machame gate. The excitement was building, but we had a decent amount of hanging around and lunch then finally headed off about 1pm, almost the last ones left, but we were off.

We left Machame Gate, the park gate, and walked through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge, through the rain forest. It was a walk, on a man-made trail but we still saw things we had not seen before. We hiked for six hours, climbing about 3,000ft and it was dark when we made it to Machame camp. Not ideal but the excitement was there. It was good unpacking and cleaning ourselves up in the dark, knowing and practicing when we still felt good. The bowl of hot water brought to my tent for a wash was most welcomed, as was the popcorn and tea.

The temperature dropped at night, already able to see your breath when I sent to bed at 9.30pm. I could not sleep due to people talking until midnight, coupled with the excitement and being in a tent.

I chose not to take diamox (to help reduce the effects of altitude) as it was a diuretic, I was feeling great and needed sleep.

More on day 2 next week, or come to the Skittle Alley of The Camelot pub, Chapel road, South Cadbury, BA227EX Wednesday 25th November, 19:30.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Time to say thank you - Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 20:30:00 GMT

I would like to say thank you personally to as many people who have supported me as possible, so have set up a photo and chat about the Kilimanjaro challenge.

I will be talking about the preparation, challenge, highs and lows of the trip, covering agreeing a vision, planning and then working hard to make it a reality.

I would love as many people as possible to join me for a Kilimanjaro chat and a drink, Wednesday 25th November at 19:30,

The Camelot Pub, Skittle Alley, Chapel road, South Cadbury, BA227EX

Please feel free to share to any other interested parties, I am hopeful that Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement Care will be in attendance.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Kilimanjaro – There and back again – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 01:29:00 GMT

I have learnt so much that I don’t really know where to start. I have been totally touched by the amount of support I have received, blown away at the sponsorship currently standing at £5170 and shattered, absolutely shattered.

What was it like?

BRUTAL

Is the word which sprang to mind and still seems best to describe it for me.

It was an amazing experience, climbing to the roof of Africa, through five diverse climate zones and seeing the most amazing sights. Not to mention getting to experience high altitude and the effects it had on my body.

I thought I would write this summary blog and then a few more in detail in the future

No one thing led me feeling like it was an endurance event, a combination of;

Long days hiking, often getting to camp in the dark and sometimes starting the day in the dark
Not sleeping due to the cold.
Lack of sleep due to toilet trips from the amount of water I was consuming (4-5 litres a day) and Diamox (altitude drugs) which is a diuretic.
Altitude meaning I felt like having a massive hangover, headache, Nauseas, loss of appetite.
Digging deep each day, from about day three, just in order to keep going.
Nose bleeds.

And then there was summit night. What it was all for, the biggest challenge of my life so far.

This was the chance to put the dream / vision, planning / training, mental strength / focus to the test, whilst watching the total lunar solar eclipse during the nine and a half hours midnight summit night attempt, all of which was taking place at -10 degrees.

I was determined not to let you all down, not to let Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement down and not to let myself down. I was confident in my mindset and my preparation and what became more evident during the challenge, was that I was prepared. The question was would my body make it or would the effects of altitude be too powerful?

My body clearly did, despite a big nose bleed at about 4am on summit night. The effect this challenge has had, coupled with a very young family to arrive home too, means I have never been happier than being at home, in front of the fire writing this.

Being met at the airport as a surprise by Tracey with my Mum and Dad nearly brought a tear to my eye, hiding behind Tracey to collect Ollie from school and the hug he gave me did.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Success and enjoying the journey! - Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 6 Oct 2015 06:25:00 GMT

So I made it, to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and over my £5000 target for Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement Care.

I am physically and emotionally exhausted, so I am enjoying the moment but most importantly allowing some time to reflect on the journey and the sights I saw on the way. (As much as you can with a young family)

Thank you for the support, I will document some of my experiences and learning next week

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Reflection and thinking time! - Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 05:43:00 GMT

Awoke to hear that a friend who I met on the Kilimanjaro prep weekend was not allowed to attempt the Kilimanjaro summit because his oxygen saturation was 52% (which is dangerous), he also had fluid built up on his lungs, caused by the high altitude, he was at 4500m (14,850 ft).

It was early and I was sleep deprived, a few days after the birth of our daughter Ava Violet Mattravers on the 4^th September. I was gutted for him but heath is more important, there is too much to come back for, looking at our 6lb baby made this even more real.

This news sparked a period of reflection. This time made me think about what I will feel like if my body can’t take me to the top, especially as I will soon have lots of time to be thinking about this, as I am joining a scheduled group but I am travelling etc on my own.

The answer from my new found mindset, aided by this challenge was to review what has been achieved since 5^th February 2015

12,878 words written.

29 blogs.

1273 tweets.

13,492 views on the blogs.

947 miles cycled, climbing 71,759 ft

332 miles hiked, climbing 49,059 ft

£4,506.93 raised so far for Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement Care, to enable them to provide support as documented 45 seconds into this video, https://vimeo.com/137900735

The challenge is in the journey, not necessarily making the summit, but making sure I am enjoying every second.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

Baby Steps towards Tony’s Kili adventure (guest blog)

tony_mattravers — Tue, 8 Sep 2015 06:27:00 GMT

STOP PRESS: Baby Mattravers has arrived safely! Another milestone reached, pretty much on schedule…

I met Tony Mattravers about two years ago when he was in the midst of losing weight in order to go wing walking. It didn’t take long to work out that he was a practical chap, an engineer by training with a keen eye for process and procedure, and always looking to find a more efficient way to deliver the required outcome.

I’m not sure when he first mentioned his dream to climb Kilimanjaro, but I know that as soon as he did, he began mapping out the equipment he would need, investigating the best company to use, and then once he’d made the commitment, he began to plan out his training and has worked really hard to get fit for it.

His weekly blogs have enabled us to understand more about the journey he’s experiencing, and the challenges he’s faced along the way. He has, inadvertently, managed to inspire me on a dull morning to get up and out and to exercise in my own way as thoughts of his sometimes extreme physical training would pop into my mind. I had no idea he would take the training quite so far, and do believe he will find he is very well prepared for the climb, both physically and mentally.

Part way through the preparation, he was reflecting on the fact that virtually everyone else who climbs Kili does so for charity. Having already paid his own way for the climb with a commercial travel company, he came into contact with Cruse Bereavement Care and as you’ll have read in http://journals.worldnomads.com/tony_mattravers/story/134132/Tanzania/So-why-did-I-choose-to-support-Cruse-Bereavement-Care-Somerset-Kilimanjaro-Blog he decided to use the opportunity to support their work in Somerset.

So this short piece is a plea from someone who’s had the pleasure of seeing him work so very hard towards his goal of climbing the world’s highest freestanding mountain and who is only a couple of weeks away from doing it. He admitted recently that he was having a bit of a wobble, something I must admit I’d been expecting. He is only human after all and not long after booking the Kili adventure, he and his wife found out that they had a baby on the way!

I offered to write this guest blog for him, to add another voice to his plea for support for Cruse Bereavement Care. So please do help Tony to achieve his other goal of raising £5,000 whilst he climbs Kilimanjaro. Please share this blog and/or his justgiving page, to help him to #achieveandgivesomethingback.

If you’ve already supported his decision to raise funds for an excellent local charity, thank you. There is more you could do though, so please help him reach his fundraising target by sharing his https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/ donation page as widely as possible.

And of course if you’re reading this blog for the first time, please look up his other posts (http://journals.worldnomads.com/tony_mattravers/trip/53360/Kilimanjaro-Sept-2015) which should inspire you to support him in whatever way you are able so that he can raise his target of £5,000 for Cruse Bereavement Care, Somerset.

This all began with a few baby steps towards his goal of climbing Kili over a year ago now, starting with the pair of socks he was given on Father’s Day. With their second child having arrived last weekend (congratulations to you both by the way!), it is now only a matter of days before Tony heads off to Africa, and I think Baby Steps will be a good way to keep going to make sure he reaches his goal.

I’m looking forward to seeing Tony share the picture of that t-shirt with all the logos on it from the top of Kilimanjaro. Aren’t you?!

Blog post submitted by Katharine Bourke @katharinebourke.

What a difference a day makes! - Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 1 Sep 2015 18:54:00 GMT

31^st August, bank holiday, our baby’s due date. It’s not here yet so it looks like our second child will be one of the oldest in their year group, rather than being the youngest. This also means things are on tenterhooks in the Mattravers household, so it was a welcome relief to wake to an email from a former client, now a very good friend, John Stephens from Visual Business Group, http://www.thevisualbusinessgroup.co.uk/

John is a superb Digital Visualologist based in Somerset who had offered to create a short video to help my push to reach £5000 for Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset. I enjoyed filming this with him last Thursday.

The stunning results are here https://vimeo.com/137900735

What makes the video extra special and with REAL meaning is the interview with Norman. He talks about the support Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset provided to him after his wife had died and how you never hear about the good people in life, only the bad people and the emptiness he felt after her passing.

This brought a tear to my eye seeing in his eyes how much support Cruse provide to individuals in their moment of need and the difference this makes to their lives.

Sponsorship is at £3941, desperate to raise a further £59 to break the £4000 mark.

Please take the time to share this video link and help me to help Cruse to reach out to more people like Norman in their hour of need.

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

So what is it going to be like? - Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 05:56:00 GMT

8 days until the baby’s due date and 28 days until I leave for Kilimanjaro. I have been doing a lot of reading, so I thought I would share.

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest peak standing in at 19,340 which also classifies it as the world’s highest freestanding mountain. Three volcanoes make up the structure of the range: Shira, Mawenzi, and Uhuru

The journey up the slopes of Kilimanjaro takes on a climatic world tour from the tropics to the arctic. The grassy cultivated lower slopes turn into lush rain forest inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo and antelope. Higher still, heath and moorland covered with giant heathers become a surreal alpine desert and finally, ice, snow and the magnificent beauty at the top of Africa’s highest mountain.

Definitions of altitude

High – 8,000 – 12,000 ft

Very High – 12,000 – 18,000 ft

Extremely high 18,000ft +

This means I will pass from high altitude on the first day all the way through to extreme high at the summit 5 days later, with no idea how my body will react.

As I ascend (or as I ascend through the atmosphere the barometric pressure decreases) the temperature drops. The effects of these changes are a decrease in the density of the air. Essentially there is less air to breathe in, hence the term “Thin Air”. The percentage of oxygen remains constant at 21%, but there is simply less oxygen molecules for a given volume of air that is breathed it.

My body will use up to three times as much water compared to normal altitude, meaning I need to be drinking 4-6 litres of water every day.

My basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases with altitude so at 14,000ft this can be as much as 27%, meaning although I won’t feel like eating, my body will need the fuel.

Day one - Trek through the cultivation and Forest to the Heath and Machame Camp, 5-7 hours, 10,600 ft high. Climate will be cooling with mist and fog.

Day two - Trek though the heath and moorland following the shira ridge, to 12,500 ft. Climate will be frosty with intense sunshine.

Day three - Climb to lava tower to test acclimatization with a trek to the base of Lava Tower. I will be descending to the enormous Senecio forest, passing waterfalls that will usher us in the Barranco Camp, which is set in the shadow of the massive Barranco wall at 13,000ft. Climate will have huge daily temperature fluctuations making it summer every day and winter every night, with evenings being below freezing and daytime being 35 degrees.

Day four – Climb the face of the incredible Barranco wall, which is worth going just to see it! Temperature will be noticeably cooler as we head to Barafu camp at 13,200ft as I will be entering the arctic zone

Day five - Twilight start, this will be my greatest challenge, switch backs up the face of Kili, and making sure I am focussing on breathing until I reach Stella Point. Hopefully there will be spectacular views coupled with the sunrise which will warm the soul and strengthen the spirit as the iconic Uhuru Peak will now be in my sights. This six hour night hike will be in arctic conditions, freezing cold during the day and burning sun during the day. Oxygen levels are nearly half, which is why this will test my mental and physical strength.

A fully detailed video is shown here http://www.climbkili.com/3d-routes/7-day-machame/

Sponsorship is on £3851, 77% of target. A donation of £30 will provide six calls for people in their hour of need, a donation of £60 will provide crucial information leaflets for 5 people (families) who’ve been bereaved, a donation of £81 will provide for a series of 3 bereavement counselling sessions, a donation of £162 will provide for a series of 6 bereavement counselling sessions.

Please go to https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/ to donate.

Wibble, wobble, Wibble - I’m not going to Kilimanjaro- Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 04:32:00 GMT

So it’s happened! I’ve wobbled over the sheer enormousness of the challenge I have ahead of me and more importantly, the fact I will be leaving my wife, son (as he goes to school) and couple of week old baby, for 12 nights. Lots of things added up to make this happen, Tracey is huge and we are now talking of due dates in weeks, we are now in August which means the baby is now “this month” and Kilimanjaro is now “next month” in any conversations.

We also agreed baby names between us (which will stay a secret) and Tracey’s finished work. Nesting is happening in the Mattravers household.

I’m still struggling with time to fit in as much training as I can; this wobble has meant it has been hard to motivate myself. A few things motivate me, including the drive to make sure I get to the summit, sponsorship is a massive motivator (which has been fairly flat over the last few weeks) and wanting to do the best I possible can for all of you lovely people who have sponsored me.

I dragged myself out on my bike on Wednesday lunchtime for my now weekly fitness test around the local hills against the clock. It was hard work and I was not enjoying it, not motivated and the wobble was getting bigger. I realised I was in danger of undoing all this good training if I let myself go now, so I pushed on. Rushing around and really pushing myself on, but I didn’t feel I was doing too well. Hard to tell on the time as I had to stop and wait for a flock of sheep to pass me on the road! When I got back I found I was within seconds of the fastest time I had ever done, three minutes faster than the week before.

The MOJO was back. Add something else to the list of things that motivates me. Proving that I CAN do this

Sponsorship is on £3640, 72% of target. A donation of £30 will provide six calls for people in their hour of need, a donation of £60 will provide crucial information leaflets for 5 people (families) who’ve been bereaved, a donation of £81 will provide for a series of 3 bereavement counselling sessions, a donation of £162 will provide for a series of 6 bereavement counselling sessions.

Please go to https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/ to donate.

What it takes for this Somerset Man to be prepared for Kilimanjaro! - Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 05:12:00 GMT

Three weeks to go until the due date of our second child, seven weeks to go until I head off to climb the tallest free standing mountain in the world.

I have been asked a lot of questions about my training, about how I fit it all in. Most people I talk to have met someone who has been to the summit of Kilimanjaro without any training.

Personally I prefer to be overly prepared for everything.

So I thought I would share my preparation from last week

Daily –

Twice a day wipe my feet with surgical spirit (Lots) to try to harden the skin up.
Twice a day, three different types of leg stretches, to try to help cope with the shortness I have in my left hamstring and the issues it caused.

Monday – Walk, five mile with an 8kg rucksack, after my wife and son went to bed.

Tuesday – Lunch – Bike ride against the clock, 12 miles and 1000ft climbing in 49 mins.

Tuesday Evening – Badminton for 90 minutes, with my elevation mask, was simulating playing at 12000ft.

Wednesday – Bike ride after work, 20 miles, 1200ft climbed in an hour and a half, home in time for bedtime stories.

Thursday – Day off exercise, two and a half minute plank.

Friday – My wife went out, two minute plank and packing.

Saturday – Left at 4.30am, drove 110 miles to Bude. It has the most severe section of the south west coast path. 6.45am bus from Bude to Hartland, walked for an hour from Hartland to the start of the section at Hartland Quay arriving at 8.15 to start.

Hiked 18 miles, climbing 4,000ft in seven hours with a 12kg rucksack and it was a tad warm.

MASSIVE ice-cream and drove home in time for tea.

Sunday – Day off with the family.

In between this comes fundraising, blog writing and raising awareness of this challenge on social media, not to mention my full time work commitments! I have started designing the T-shirt with all the sponsoring company logos on.

If you have been meaning to sponsor me, there is still time for me to include your business logo, but please do send the logos to tonymattravers@live.co.uk by 21st August please.

After the baby comes at the end of August (ish) I may well run out of time for the T-shirts etc so will be trying to sort it all out by 28^th August and have them all made ready .

https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/

The ONE person I could not do this without – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 4 Aug 2015 16:56:00 GMT

I may be walking up Kilimanjaro on my own, but there is one person in my life that has helped to make all this possible.

During our lives we all meet amazing people, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for a few weeks, sometimes for longer and sometimes if we are incredibly luckily, forever,

I met one and asked her for a date on 22nd April 2007. She was the sister of my neighbour Karen and my friend Stuart, so it was a worrying time, as I didn’t want to mess up those relationships either. This proved to be the BEST decision I have ever made.

I have lived a busy life, with constant change, as I sought out what I wanted, and most importantly NEEDED to make me happy. Last week’s blog talked about how thanks to the Motivational Maps tool I have now begun to fully understood what I need from a work point of view. My personal and romantic life was never this simple.

My life has been rocky. I have learnt a lot. I have learnt a lot about what doesn’t make me happy and this is how I am able to write this blog, which many people have said I needed to write.

Having the right person supporting you makes all the difference!

That date is the woman who became my wife! Tracey has supported me FULLY through everything. From having pneumonia when our son was only three months old, (having just come back from Las Vegas on business) to coping when, on my first day back at work, I came home and said I wanted to leave and take voluntary redundancy.

I took voluntary redundancy and a few weeks afterwards when we were on holiday, she supported me when I had two phone interviews, followed by a formal interview in Bristol. On the train on the way home, I was offered that permanent job as well as another job, a higher risk contracting job, which she knew was the one I really wanted. So I did that, with her blessing.

The heath visitor came recently, which means that there are now only four weeks to go until our baby arrives. I can’t help feeling that I have not yet acknowledged how important her support has been. This wonderful woman, a deputy sister of a trauma ward, a fantastic mum, the best wife, has constantly juggled friends and family to make sure I can fit training in, etc.

This is the woman who has always supported me. When I was signing up for Kilimanjaro we discussed the training, the costs and the effects this would have on our family. Given my drive to make sure I am overly (or absolutely) prepared, means that the effects on my family have been HUGE.

Having these few days on holiday has really confirmed how magnificent this lady really is. It has also reminded me that whoever we are, without someone telling us we can do it, most of us won’t achieve the things we are capable of.

We probably would not do it without the support that is all too easy to take for granted.

If, and I mean if, I reach the summit, I owe it to my amazing wife, Tracey.

I probably won’t phone her up though as she will be at home with our couple of weeks old baby (hopefully), our four year old and her mother.

But maybe I will risk it, because those who don’t take risks like asking her out, don’t get ….

We all need the support of those around us. Especially at times of challenge. There is nothing more challenging than losing someone which is why I am doing this walk in aid of Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset.

There is now seven weeks to go and I am 28% away from my sponsorship target of £5,000. If you have been meaning to sponsor me or share this, to enable me to #achieveandgivesomethingback, I would be most grateful, as would all at Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset, https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/.

Oh you have changed – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 04:54:00 GMT

YES I have

It is my first day of holiday after finishing working for Oxford Innovation on the GrowthAccelerator service and I am out the door at 615am for a conversation with a business connection!

Ouch you may think, but I am loving it and enjoying the sunshine as we have a walk. So glad I got up early.

So whilst waiting for this connection I thought, I am loving life. So I drafted this.

Doing things differently means what may have been a boring coffee shop meeting has turned into a walk to a local landmark (Ham Hill) and looking for 30 miles in three directions.

I am often meeting friends, family and contacts who are always saying, "oh you have changed"

YES I have. I have changed during my last two years more than I can ever have imagined. I learnt so much from the GrowthAccelerator role, I realised how lucky I was to be constantly in contact with people who challenged me, coaches, colleagues, clients.

I think I have changed more over the last two years than any other time that I can remember.

I have a purpose to my life, I have the most wonderful and supportive wife (Tracey) and family, but I have grown in knowing what I want, knowing what makes me happy.

A massive point in this understanding was realising what motivates me. I have had my fair share of psychometric profiling, but this tool called Motivational Maps, enlightened me about 12 months ago. So much so it took me three months to understand the outcomes. I was so impressed that I and now a fully qualified and certified practitioner. It made me realise why I had left certain roles in the past, but it also helps me inform my future and review options that come along, if they are what I "REALLY" want.

I am a searcher, who wants to make a difference, with a free spirit so I like to be in charge of my own activities, able to prioritise to make sure I deliver but immensely proud of my personal business reputation and I want it to keep growing for the better.

When I look at what is happening in my life, I owe a lot to what I understood about myself in my last role and I am passionate about making a difference for the local area, currently focused and working so hard on helping Somerset Cruse Bereavement Care but also within the thriving business community.

Hence why I am fundraising for Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement Care, climbing a mountain and focusing on my consultancy business, working with local businesses to help make sure they think about the future, have the vision and also the processes to be able to cope with the growth I aim to help them achieve.

My main aim is to make sure they are challenged; understanding themselves, loving it and I am able to support them towards their end game, whatever that is.

So, if you have already supported me, and would like to do more, please share this blog with your connections who may wish to support a Somerset man who wants to #achieveandgivesomethingback. And of course if you have been meaning to help me to help Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset, https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/.

Saying Goodbye - Kilimanjaro blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 06:05:00 GMT

As I walk down the platform of the train station, day bag on my back, heading off for a full weekend of hiking along the south west coast path planned, I feel a sense of sadness. Sadness at missing my family for two and a bit days, missing my wife and playing football with my son

As I am going away for a few days, to do something I want and need to do for my training and am returning in time for a week off with them, it makes this bearable

It brings me to think about all the people who aren't this lucky, the people who will never see their loved ones again, how they won't be able to look forward to walking in the door. This brings memories back and I can't imagine that feeling of loss when it happens to your family and how you overcome that.

That is where getting the right support, having people around those bereaved, those people who have not been as luckily as allot of us, to come to terms with grief

It also makes me think about how I will feel in 9 weeks time, when I walk out the door, leaving my wife, four year old son and a baby less than a couple of weeks old.

It's going to be emotional, very emotional.

The positivity in me currently, means I will channel this into thinking about the benefits recently bereaved people will receive from Somerset area cruse by me completing this big challenge.

Knowing that make it to the summit or not, I should be coming home to my loved ones in 12 days and knowing that I have this many people supporting and sponsoring me will keep me focused.

Sponsorship has raised £3500, which is TRULY stunning. Thank you very much indeedI am currently 37% away from my sponsorship target, if you would like to support Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset help people who have been affected by traumatic bereavement, please visit, https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/.

Oh and I hiked 52 miles, climbing 11000ft feet from Minehead to Woolacombe in 48 hours.

So why did I choose to support Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset- Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 7 Jul 2015 06:05:00 GMT

13 years ago on Friday 3^rd May 2002, I had finished for the day and was working in the garage on my Triumph Herald. My friend and housemate in my first house, Darren (Daz) came into the garage and said he was going to West Bay on his motorbike, a Honda Fire blade and asked if I wanted to come. He was excited as it was only three weeks until he moved into his first house.

However I was busy so I declined and we agreed to go for beers in our local at 20:00 (Military time) when he got back. Something we did most Friday nights as many lads in their twenties did.

We squeezed the Blade past the Triumph, as we did most weeks. Off he went with a cheery wave and agreement that it was his round as I had beaten him at badminton on the Monday (something which didn’t happen very often, as he played badminton for the Royal Navy)

I enjoyed my time working in the garage, had my tea and was ready to go out but he hadn’t returned. The longer I waited for him, the darker it got. And the more worried I got as I knew he didn’t like riding his bike in the dark.

As this was the generation before mobile phones were always with us, all I could do was to wait…

So I waited. At 21:30 the home phone rang. I knew something was wrong as our home phone never rang that late.

But it wasn’t Daz. It was the police. There had been an accident. My heart sank, I had known Daz for about seven years and he had an infectious enthusiasm for life. Was he ok? Which hospital? Can I go and see him? I asked lots of questions very quickly.

The response I received from the police is still in my mind! Hence why this is probably the hardest thing I have EVER written “we are trying to contact Darren’s next of kin”.

BANG.

I don’t remember the rest of the call, but I clearly gave his next of kin details as 10 minutes later I was talking to Daz’s parents.

An hour later I was telling his girlfriend, a lovely lady who I knew from badminton.

Did I seek support from Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset or similar? No, of course not, I was in my early twenties and invincible. You don’t need to ask if I regret not seeking support for this bereavement, as it was this experience which inspired me to raise awareness for and funds to support Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset.

I am currently 37% away from my sponsorship target, if you would like to support Cruse Bereavement Care Somerset help people who have been affected by traumatic bereavement, please visit, https://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Mattravers/.

It is all my adventure now – Kilimanjaro Blog

tony_mattravers — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 19:26:00 GMT

I had confirmation this week about something I had guessed, that a friend of mine who had chosen to join my trip, has now decided not to complete the challenge.

This stirred the emotions up inside me, is it better or worse on my own? As someone who is more than happy in my own company, I found myself feeling even more focused, more driven and most importantly of all, determined to make the most of this with the realisation that this is now exclusively MY adventure. But, I will miss having that ’buddy’ with me on the trek. Sure I’ll be walking with other people, but no one that I know from home, who can relate to the Somerset man that is taking on this challenge to hike up the highest freestanding mountain in the world, as well as the challenge of raising £5000 for Somerset Area Cruse Bereavement Care.

I now know why the business owners I work with take so much benefit from working with a business coach. It is a lonely hard place running a business, I am lucky to have the support of everyone reading this, family, friends, colleagues, business contacts, who are supporting what is now my solo challenge.

Last week’s blog ended with my sharing that I was going to focus on three things, those things which I can influence.

TRAINING - I have found it easier to want to do the additional training now that I know I’m on my own. Somehow the response in me has been that as I’m going to be doing this challenge on my own, I have to make sure that I’m the best possible shape.

Training was a total of 36 miles on my bike, included a fitness test around a 12 mile hilly route, which I managed to get my fastest time on this bike. Most encouraging is each time I do this, ever few weeks, I am getting faster. I maybe more willing to do the training, but time is still an issue, as I only managed a four mile walk.

HOUSE SELLING - I have continued to work hard to ensure that the house is ready for viewings at all times (none yet which is a surprise and a bit disappointing), but I am relatively at ease with it as I have done everything that is in my control so now it’s down to the estate agents.

FUNDRAISING - And I have continued to use social media to try to encourage people to support me to raise funds for a charity that provides such excellent support at such difficult times. And in relation to the fundraising, I am delighted to let you know that my fundraising now stands at £3,130, which is 62% of the target.