I'm off to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa

So I leave in 5 hours for the airport to Tanzania, Africa.
Safari for a few days before, then the trek for 19,341 ft to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Who cares, right?
Well, its a big deal for me.
I got medically retired from the Air Force just a few years ago. I shattered my leg, hurt my back and neck, dislocated a rib, was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and got a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Why share this with you folks?

I attribute Jiu Jitsu to helping save my life.
Physical rehab, mental rehab...docs...fucking meds...nothing, and i mean NOTHING worked as well as Jiu Jitsu.
Working with everyone, having the ability to push myself mentally and physically again, having something to look forward to every day, thats what I got.

I enjoyed BJJ for a few months with a traditional instructor, then found the 10th Planet system. I loved it from the beginning.

Ever since then, I've been nothing but a 10PJJ advocate.

Now that I'm physically able to do it, I'm off.
I WILL be flying a patch for 10PJJ at the peak.

Big deal, for a guy like me.

I'm not a chronic smoker myself, but I will be getting high, thanks to 10th Planet.
Gonna assume here, the highest anyone in 10th Planet system has been. :)

Thanks Eddie and everyone else who brings this system all over the world.
Pics to come when I get back on the 15th.

-Kendell

I havent been high in soooooooo long. When I got high I felt like I understood the little things in life. Good luck man.

God bless you Kendell

I heard a leopard died on the top of that mountain several decades ago. Nobody could explain what he was doing up there.

Good luck to ya

Good luck my brother. I totally understand, I have PTSD, muscle and nerve damage in my low back down my entire left leg. 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu has saved me as well, people that can just go do it dont understand. We live in pain constantly but jiu jitsu frees us at least for a little bit.

Good luck, Kendell!!! Looking foward to the pics.

please be safe man. Please!

thanks guys, im in Amsterdam right now...waiting for my final flight to Tanzania.
getting more and more pumped about the upcoming event.

thanks again for all the support!
-Kendell

Thats badass. I'm not a climber enthusiast but I am jealous. That is an awesome accomplishment and experience I am sure. Be sure to let us know how it went.
Be safe.

been here in africa for just over an hour, and already lovin it.
hitting a safari first, then making the mountain my bitch.
freggin awesomeness

ohhhhhhhh nice.
i start my trek tomorrow, found out 2....count um 2!! people died on the climb yesterday, and some guy broke his leg on the way down.
awwwwwsome.

You are a warrior indeed. Be safe bro, and take care.

Crayon

MADE IT!!! Not only did I reach the summit, but I did it a full day ahead of schedule!
Pics to come, but i proudly, PROUDLY flew the 10th planet patch while doing double lotus from the highest point in all of Africa :) (now, THAT is one HIGH mofo...5895 meters at the top!)
the patch is stapled to the summit sign as well :)
Thank you for the support everyone, i really do appreciate it. more than you know.
I will upload some pictures when I get to a computer that isnt tied to a typewriter for a keyboard. haha
thanks again everyone!

Hell yes!!!! Best thread I have read in forever!!!! This is why 10th Planet owns.

Congrats on reaching your goal! My respect goes to you, Kendell!

Very cool. Mad envy. Pics?

im still in tanzania africa now, typing on a computer that looks like it is made from spare bicycle parts and milk jugs. amazed we have internet here. i get back to the states in a few days, and ill def post a few pics :)
crazy sore this morning for some strange reason...haha

have fun

Fuck yeah dude! You have a truly inspiring story, thank you very much for the 10th planet dedication, it means ALOT coming from someone that went thru the shit you've been thru :)

Congrats

i think i was still crying here. haha
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2342407_n.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kendell.Madden

i think i was still crying here. haha
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2342407_n.jpg

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Holy fuck! That's so damn bad ass! :)

Very cool man. Congrats!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddie Bravo

Holy fuck! That's so damn bad ass! :)

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i dare someone to try and hit D-Lotus with hiking boots, 3 sets of thermals, rain pants and 4 neoprene sleeve braces for your knees and ankles. haha not as easy as you would think...

wellllllllll worth it. :)

Tanzania is easily my favorite country in the whole world. Beautiful country, wonderful people, many good friends. When I was there, I wanted to go climb Ol Doinyo Lengai. Really amazing active volcano; looks like the surface of the moon at the top. Convinced a backpacker I met to go with me, but ended up contracting malaria, so we cancelled the trip. Good thing too — we had scheduled the trip for September 4, 2007. Closest I've ever come to dying.

I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Congrats on making it to the top! Hypoxia sneaks up on a lot of people on Kili.

that is a great photo