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Thank you all for participating in the Experience
of a Lifetime Challenge and showing your
support to Save the Children
Although we did not achieve our fundraising goal of $31,500,
RB will still donate the full amount to Save the Children.
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Garnik

Garnik

29 years, World Vision Employee from Armenia

"Keeping in mind that this challenge is not only for me, but also for Save the Children I intend on raising many funds and it motivates me to be better prepared for the journey."

My name is Garnik, I’m from Armenia and currently working at World Vision, which is a humanitarian organization. I’m working to try and create lasting changes in the lives of children, families and communities living in poverty. For me an interesting life is a challenging life, I love travelling, meeting new cultures, new friends and learn new things.

From the experiences offered by RB I decided to choose Kilimanjaro. The reasoning behind my choice was due to the challenging nature of the climb full of extreme conditions. I will be climbing up more than 5.890 meters, facing extreme temperature changes and, once I reach the summit, being on the highest point of Africa. This is what I consider a real Experience of a Lifetime and I’m really excited. But, keeping in mind that this challenge is not only for me, but also for Save the Children I intend on raising many funds and it motivates me to be better prepared for the journey.

To climb Kilmanjaro I need to be physically ready, that’s one of the main things I’m trying to find time for in order to not have difficulties on the way. The other part of the preparation is the support from my friends, as I will need them to reach my charity goal.

In October you can follow my movement on this website and through a blog which I’m going to update on daily basis.

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Experience ended

It was an eventful experience for the participant! Discovering untouched wildness as well as traffic metropolis enabled the candidate to broaden his/her horizon and to encounter interesting people who were willing to support Garnik with releasing donations for SAVE THE CHILDREN.

Blog Roll

Final Day !! Conquering Mt. Kilimanjaro 5895m!!

12/11/2012  13:17

Finally, after staying one day in Kibo, the last hut, and acclimatizing, the group took a day sleep in order to start ascending to Gilman's point 5685m at 11 P.M.

The night came. We woke up at 10 and started preparing , with warm cloth, gloves, etc,.

It was -25 outside and 16km/h wind on top of Kili, so needed to be really good prepared.

At 10:45 P.M we lined up with head torches on and started moving up slowly, with the speed of 3 meters per minute. Porters were with singing and supporting whole the way up. The path was very difficult, we could see only the back of the person in front of us, in my case the back of the guide, Sinai.

At 5:30 we reached the top, Gilman's point and after 5 minutes we evidenced the unbelievable beautiful sunrise. After taking some rest and photos part of the group continued to Uhuru peak, the highest point of Africa  5895m. It took around 2 hours from me to get from Gilman's point to Uhuru. Was very windy and cold, but reached there finally. Top of Africa, here I'm !!

After a very difficult and challenging FINISH we started descending and already at 9:30 AM I was back to the HUT, were we took couple hours sleep and continued descending to Horombo Hut for overnight.

 

 

 

From Horombo to Kibo

06/11/2012  07:10

Here we go!!! Moving towards the last Hut, Kibo Hut, which is located at the altitude of 4750 m.



The whole way was through a desert, with Kili view in front of us all the way. It took around 8 hours to get to Kibo Hut and we walker around 12km.

Got to Kibo already very tired, dropped our day packs and continued ascending to 5000 m and then came down to sleep in Kibo Hut with 10 people in each room.
We are going to stay one day here to acclimatize and start ascending to top.



 

Zebra Rock

04/11/2012  07:09

Today is acclimatization day, we are going to walk 4 hours to Zebra Rock and back to Horombo Hut.

The day started with very beautiful and shiny morning, with no cloud. As we are going to have a short walk we started at 9AM. The road was a bit harder then previously, as it was full of rocks and was steep .

After 2-3 hours of walk we got to Zebra Rock, and had an amazing view in front of us, Mt. Mawenzi on right side with no cloud covering the view and Zebra Rock on the left side, which was a huge rock with zebra strips on it.
After reaching to Zebra Rock and having a bit of rest, taking photos with started to climb the hill , which was the way back road for us.

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Horombo hut

22/10/2012  17:03

At last we started the real adventures of Kilimanjaro. At 6:30 we had a breakfast, which included tea, honey, hot chocolate, ..... After the breakfast we started trekking to the next Hut, which is Horombo, located on the altitude of around 3500m. We were told that in rain forest we can see blue monkeys, which are very typical for Kilimanjaro mountain, but unfortunately the monkeys were not there and we left the forest with hope to see on the way back. The day started with sun and clear sky without mist and we finally could enjoy the real beauty of African rain forest and savannah.
At the second part of the day the rain and mist joined us with a slight wind. After 8hours thirty minutes of walk we got to Horombo Hut very tired and hungry, walking in total of 12km. In the Hut porters already had a hot soup ready for us, but not a dinner time yet. We dropped our day-bags into our huts and continued ascending another 200 meters in order to acclimatise and make body feel better, as we reached to 3800 meters but are going to sleep in 3500 meters, which is a big comfort for body. Finally we got back to Horombo Hut and started the long expected dinner. After dinner the whole group went to sleep as tomorrow is the day for acclimatisation and new adventures, hopefully with a clear day...!!!

 

1st day of trekking from Marangu Gate

21/10/2012  16:04

Trekking started from Marangu gate. The day was rainy and chilly. After registration we started our trek to 1st Hut. 1st day we walked 8km for 4.5 hour going through a rain forest. After 4.5 hour we reached to Mandara Hut, where after a hot soup and dinner we went to sleep to continue trekking early in the morning of net day.

From London to Kili

20/10/2012  18:29

The day started in London Heathrow where all the trekkers met to fly to Kilimanjaro. The team consisted of 2 Bosnian ladies, one Irish guy, one Scottish guy, one Armenian (me), 3 Welsh and 25 Brits. The flight took 7:30 from London to Nairobi and around an hour from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro International airport. We have been taken to hotel in Moshi directly from airport and started our trekking in the morning.

The trip to Kili starts

20/10/2012  18:03

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a challenge to say the least and is one of the mountains almost every trekker and mountaineer in the world wants to conquer. Kilimanjaro is more or less 24 miles wide and 49 miles long; it is more ecosystem than mountain. It dwarfs other regional landmarks like Mt. Meru and Mt. Kenya and dominates the savannah of East Africa. We take 7 days to reach the summit and descend, staying in huts along the way.

Day 1: Overnight flight from London to Nairobi.

Day 2: The way from Nairobi to Tanzania is planned. After reaching the hotel, a relaxing afternoon will be spent where the group is able to prepare for the challenge ahead.

Day3: After completing the necessary formalities the travellers will be transferred to the Park entrance at Marangu Gat where they will start the ascent. An incredible variety of towering trees, giant ferns and wild forest flowers adorn the way.

Day 4: Doing the long trek along an uphill trail to the Horombo Hut will be the goal of the day. The trekking group will pass through the cloud level.

Day 5: An acclimatisation trek of approximately 5 hours to “Zebra Rock” at 4,000m is planned. The group will continue walking to an observation point at 4200m for some spectacular views of Kibo Hut before they will return to Horombo Hut.

Day 6: The lower rout to Kibo Hut through spectacular mountain flora and fauna will be taken in order to reach Kibo Saddle, where a picnic is planned. This part of the route leads to a last water hole before the participant and his companion enter the ‘desert’ zone.

Day 7: The route leads to William’s Point at 5000m approx where the rest of the day will be spent to acclimatise to the high altitude.

Day 8: An ascent up the steepest and most difficult part of the challenge to Gilman’s Point at an altitude of 5685m needs to get achieved. Afterwards the group will perch on the crater rim where it is the perfect location to watch the sun begin to rise. On a clear day it’s even possible to see Mount Kenya. Descend to Horombo Hut will follow.

Day 9: During the decent the travellers will pass Mandara Hut again before the finale descent to Marangu Park Gate will be done. After the transfer back to the hotel, a proper meal and toast to the achievement will be enjoyed.

Day 10 & 11: Some relaxing hours will be spent in order to have a recovering rest before the journey back home begins. During the 11th day the participant will step on English soil again, with great memories from an EL 2 in mind.

 
How Does
It Work?
 
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FACEBOOK COMPETITION 2011

In 2011, RB offered students and those in their early careers an Experience of a Lifetime contest. All they had to do was sign up on the RB Facebook page, chose a trip and explain their support for Save the Children, collect as many votes as possible - and win!

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WINNERS ON TOUR

Now in 2012, RB are sending the winners on their chosen Experience. These include: Trekking the Inca Trail, East Coast India Cycle, Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Hiking the Great Wall of China.

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CHARITY GOAL

To top it off, each participant has a fundraising goal of $ 6,300 USD for RBs long term partner Save the Children. On their Experience of a Lifetime stage 2, RB will release a $ 1 USD donation every time a photo or point of contact is upload by YOU!

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SPOT OR SUPPORT THE WINNER
& DONATE

You are on this page as you have encountered one of RB's EoLT winner. All you need to do now is upload their picture which you have taken of them during their trip. RB will then release a donation of $ 1 USD towards the winner's Save the Children target.

Alternatively if you want to show your support but haven’t come across the winners, simply upload a photo of you while jumping on the spot and holding a poster which can be hand written or printed that reads ‘In spirit with xxx (EoLT winner’s name) for Save the Children’ to release donations for Save the Children!

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TRACKING THE EXPERIENCE

All winners will document their Experience of a Lifetime stage 2 via blogging, taking pictures and little videos they make along the way. Additionally they will carry a GPS tracker so you can get real time coverage of their journey on the website’s map.

 
  View the current Experience  
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Garnik Garnik
29 years, World Vision Employee from Armenia

"Keeping in mind that this challenge is not only for me, but also for Save the Children I intend on raising many funds and it motivates me to be better prepared for the journey."

  Read More  

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Garnik managed to raise $234 against his charity target of $6,300. RB will donate $234 on his behalf to Save the Children.