Bern was bored …. He needed some adventure in his life as well as resolution to a family matter.

After a few jokes about being carried up Kilimanjaro and a few conversations over rugby games, Bern decided that maybe it was possible for him to experience the “Roof of Africa” but was determined to do this with his own steam.

Planning started and sponsors came forward making his dream possible.

Weeks of planning, team selection, training and designing a chair led up to the big event.

On Saturday XX October 2003, Bern and his team arrived at JIA nervous and excited, ready for  their adventure.

Day 1 was a tough start to the expedition. Bern faced tough territory through the rain forest, a long and challenging day.

Day 2 and 3 went better once he had gathered his rhythm and his stamina seemed to pick up although the blisters and muscle pains set in.

Trip feedback on Monday 13 October 2003 (Day 9)
Bern, Rodney and Chester had a bad night. Cold and the start of altitude sickness kept thermal awake and they only managed 2 hours sleep before setting off at 4h00 on their ascent to Gillman's point (5680 m). They called in at about 10h30 this morning when they reached Gillman's. Bern said that he wasn't feeling so strong but that there was only 200m to go, to get to the summit - Uhuru so he and his team are going to push through today instead of camping another night in the freezing conditions.

It will take them about 4 hours from Gillman's to Uhuru - a distance of 2000m so.......... We were eagerly awaiting news from Bern to say that he is "standing" at the highest point in Africa.

Well at 12h00 (Tanzanian Time) - we have just heard that Bern has made it - HE IS SITTING ON UHURU PEAK - he has made the summit.

Not feeling too strong and suffering from an incredible headache, Bern did not stay too long before heading down to seek some relief from the symptoms of low oxygen intake. We spoke to him when he arrived back at Gillman's; he was ecstatic (in fact I don't know how to explain just how excited he sounded even though he was out of breath)

It was a tough trip and he did mention what a relief it was going to be when they reached a lower altitude with warmer weather. On the summit, they measured the temperature to be with the wind chill factor (this was at about 11h00)

This seems to have been an incredible climb as they had planned that it would take them 11 days to summit but in fact took him only 9. Their plans now were to reach sleep at Kibo on Monday night, Horombo Tuesday, Mandara on Wednesday night and to be back at the hotel on Thursday night for a good bath etc.