How I conquered my period on Mount Kilimanjaro!

Posted by Kellie on February 1, 2020

Tough times don't last, but tough women do.

In 2015, I was sick of being overweight, unhappy, and miserable. I quit my job which was causing unnecessary stress, joined a gym, and began my journey to wellness. However, It was not a straight shot to the ultimate healthy version of myself. At first, most of my fitness was trial and error -- but I eventually built a routine that worked for me and began to set goals for exactly what I wanted to accomplish with this new healthy lifestyle.

Fast forward four years and 65 pounds less, I have a healthy relationship with exercise, food, and my current job. I have spent the last four years accumulating a mountain of knowledge about my health, ability, and strength. Now, I am ready to tackle a literal mountain - Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania - the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. I know that mental strength is 50% of the battle for this next challenge; I am ready to prove to myself that I can master this mountain. Like any workout, it’s time to plan and prepare my knowledge of what my body is capable of and then push it to succeed.

Kilimanjaro Training

I spent four months leading up to my trip preparing myself - mentally and physically for my trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. After much research online, I came to two main conclusions.

• One: the better physical condition you are in before reaching the mountain, the easier your hike will be.
  
  
• Two: the mental game of thinking positively is just as important as training your body for this excursion.
  
  

I split my training into two main areas - lifting weights and cardio. The more in shape and toned you are - the more likely you are to succeed on Kilimanjaro. A leaner physique means carrying less weight up the mountain and therefore you have a higher chance of summiting. In addition, the healthier your heart is, the easier the feat will be. Cardio is a great way to create a healthy heart, so I made a plan to integrate cardio into my workout routine.

For these cardio sessions, it was simple. I focused mainly on walking hills in my hiking boots. Every mountaineering expert states how vital well-worn hiking boots are to achieving success.

New boots can cause a multitude of problems while hiking. The most painful being multiple blisters on your heels and toes. In my earlier days of hiking, I had made the mistake of hiking in a pair of brand new boots. I tackled Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains, located east of Los Angeles. I came away from that experience in tears, pain, and with multiple blisters all over my feet. I had learned my lesson, never hike in new boots.

For my cardio training, I aimed for walking 2-3 miles -- at least 3 days a week to break my boots in. The mental aspect of training also came into play during my cardio sessions. Cardiovascular health is important for hiking in high altitudes because as you ascend the mountain the amount of available oxygen decreases. This lack of oxygen is what can cause you to get altitude sickness and prevent you from continuing to climb the mountain. Cardio is important because it directly correlates to the ability of your heart to pump blood throughout your body. Having a strong heart will make the lower oxygen levels easier on your body; further, it will decrease your chance of altitude sickness. By increasing my cardio endurance - I pushed myself mentally and physically to perform.

I am not a runner. In fact, I loathe running. Stand on hot coals and do the Macarena? You got it. Swim in freezing water with sharks? Sure, why not? Run a mile in my neighborhood? You have got to be kidding me... I knew that adding running into my training routine would be beneficial to my mental stamina. If I can succeed in one of the most difficult mental challenges I have (running), I KNOW success on the mountain can be in my grasp.. I started off running one mile, which eventually became two miles. Within the four months leading up to Kilimanjaro, I built up to completing my first half marathon (13.1 miles) a couple of weeks before I left for Tanzania.

The mental aspect of accomplishing this run was the most important part of my training. I learned to push through pain that should have stopped me by thinking positively and relying on my knowledge of my past training and how it would support me through this hardship. The guides on Kilimanjaro will tell you every day to think positively or to repeat a positive mantra. Our group decided on ‘Nguvu Kama Simba’ - ‘strong like a lion..’ One thing I was positive about when I stepped on that airplane to Tanzania - I was going to summit that mountain because I knew I was prepared to do so.

The Climb

I had chosen to take the Machame Route up to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. There is an option for a 6 or 7 day journey. I opted for the seven day option which allows for one extra day of acclimatization before attempting to summit. The trek started off very strong, I was feeling confident and excited. It’s very reassuring when the guides share their knowledge of climbing and the mountain with you.

Every night after dinner, the guide would come and do health checks for every person in our party. They check two vitals - your heart rate and your oxygen level. This information is recorded on a form and then they ask you to fill out a questionnaire for how you are feeling that day, rating your current experience on a 1-10 scale, and to provide a list of any medicine you are taking.

From the beginning, my heart rate was one of the highest in our group and my oxygen level was one of the lowest. On the first night, my heart rate was 96 bpm and my oxygen level percentage was 89%. This caused a lot of anxiety for me, even though the guide reassured me that everything was well and normal. Still, I began to become nervous of my summit success.

The Sucker Punch

During my fourth night on the mountain, the night before our summit attempt, I was awakened by a rude visitor.

My period had decided to come 5 days early (which never happens to me). The cramps woke me up in the middle of the night and I scrambled through my pack to grab my tylenol and tampons. The restrooms on Mount Kilimanjaro are called long drops. That is, individual stalls with holes in the ground (unless you pay the extra money for your porter team to carry a private toilet to all the camps). Aiming as a lady is not easy to begin with, now I had the added component of following the ‘leave no trace’ rule and packing my used tampons with me while on the rest of my hike.

Apparently, my body thought I could handle the extra challenge of having my period while attempting to summit the roof of Africa. Side note: after research when I got home, I learned that high altitude can affect a woman’s cycle and cause your period to come early.

Now, I’m not only worried about my dropping oxygen level and elevated heart rate; I’m also worried about my period cramps causing me pain as I attempt the summit. I remember what the guides said about thinking positively and try to go back to sleep.

The next morning, I didn’t want my period to hinder me or my party, so I decided to speak with my guides about it. Women have been taught to hide their periods and go about their business in secret, but I didn’t let this taboo topic deter me from speaking to our guides about my health. It is the guides’ job to keep me safe and healthy while on the mountain - in order to do so they need all of the facts. I let them know that I had started my period and that I would tell them if any issues arose. They were very understanding, which was reassuring.

As I prepare for my summit attempt, I reflect on all of my training and preparation to remember why I began this journey. I am not going to let my period ruin my dream.

The Summit

On summit night, I left Barafu campsite at midnight. The guides had informed me that we would be hiking in increments. We were shooting for 1 ½ hours without stopping before our first break. The guides are fantastic optimists who will stretch the truth to keep you in a positive mindset throughout the night. They say, ‘We will hike for 1 ½ hours.” In reality, they stretch that 1 ½ hours to more than 2 in order to cover more ground and get to the summit quicker.

The beginning portion of the summit hike was grueling. It was difficult to keep a positive mindset when you are traveling up switchback after switchback through a trail that feels like you are hiking straight uphill, all of it in the pitch black of midnight. Multiple groups are attempting to summit at the same time - I heard tears, songs, and encouragement all along the way.

My cramps had subsided thanks to trusty tylenol. About four hours into our hike, I needed to switch my tampon. So, I’m on this mountain and duck behind a boulder to squat and take care of business just a few feet away from the rest of my group. I didn’t care, it was what needed to be done. Tanzania has a new law in effect which bans the use of plastic bags; instead, I used reusable silicone bags to carry my new and used period supplies. Carrying your used period supplies is not glamorous, but it does protect the environment. After seeing the waste which others had left behind, I was proud to do my part to ensure I follow the leave-no-trace rule.

After 6 hours of hiking, I reached Stella Point where we took a quick break for some hot tea and to enjoy the magnificent sunrise. The guides told us that it was another 45 minutes to Uhuru Peak - the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was at this point that I knew I had made it. I could push through another 45 minutes and claim my goal.

I persevered for 7 grueling hours and made it to the roof of Africa, all while on my period and fighting cramps. I set a goal and believed in myself - I didn’t let an unforeseen obstacle stop me - I accomplished the goal I had set out to achieve. I showed myself to be a strong woman who can set goals, face adversity, and beat the odds.

In Summary

Just as I did, you too can set goals and achieve them. All it takes is starting with a small goal in mind and understanding that the plan you have set for yourself won’t go perfectly. There will be obstacles (some in your control and others not) and you will get to choose how you face them. The most important part is that you have the power to handle adversity. Your resilience will propel you towards your goal.

I believe you can do hard things. How do I know this is true? I once thought I was incapable of being healthy or losing weight. Yet there I stood on top of the tallest free standing mountain, on my period, and smiling because I had accomplished the goal I had set for myself.

You can do hard things, and you can show courage in the face of strife.

One Note: When on the face of a mountain, you don’t have access to the standard niceties of life.. you need to be prepared in order to succeed. After much research, these 5 products have proven to be extremely helpful while being a female in the wilderness! Check them out below.

How to handle your period while hiking:

You absolutely want to follow the “leave no trace” rule of being in nature. This means anything you take with you on Mount Kilimanjaro should be carried out of Mount Kilimanjaro as well. There are yearly crews and volunteers that climb and clean up Mount Kilimanjaro. Help make their job easier by packing your own trash out of the park.

Menstrual cup vs tampons:

In order to save on space, you will want to ditch the pads (if you can) and opt for packing tampons or a menstrual cup.

Menstrual cup

Pros:

• One: This cup is reusable, so you only have to pack one! You won’t have to pack multiple bulky tampons or pads.
  
• Two: It is more environmentally friendly than tampons, as there is no waste to discard.
  
• Three: Last for up to 12 hours and won’t need to be changed as often as other applicators.
  

Cons:

• One: It takes practice to use this cup. Try using it before you go on your hiking trip to practice inserting and removing it.
  
• Two: Some people think it is messy and with a limited supply of soap and water on the mountain, this can deter some from using a cup.
  

Tampons

Pros:

• One: You have used these previously and understand how to use them in a harsh environment.
  
• Two: They are small and therefore easy to pack.
  
• Three: You can choose a variety that come without an applicator to save on waste and space.
  

Cons:

• One: They take up space in your pack, more than other alternatives.
  
• Two: You have to pack out every single component of the used tampons, including the applicators. This means you must also carry a bag to hold used tampons in.
  
• Three: They don’t last as long and need to be changed often.
  

Tanzania Plastic Bag Rule

As of June 2019, Tanzania has banned bringing plastic bags into the country. If you bring one in your luggage, you could be fined.

In order to prepare for your period, think about bringing reusable silicone bags which you could use to store your used period supplies in. Check out these ones on Amazon.com: