A pastor from Apopka, Florida, recently challeged people to take a climb and conquer their fears. Bernie Anderson reportedly started his mountaineering experience by conquering his goal of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. These days, he encourages more to do the same.
Conquering Mountains
In a report with Spectrum News, Anderson said he first scaled the mountain back in 2018. He hopes to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro again on Sunday. Feb. 13.
The pastor started his company and plans to host treks to the mountain in 2023. He told the news outlet that people had already expressed their interest in joining him.
Anderson said these adventurers plan to tackle the mountain at least five more times.
The pastor told the news outlet that he spent months training for the trek. He explained that people had to push themselves to the limit sometimes.
Embracing Challenges
Anderson added that he loved the idea of a challenge now and then.
To prepare for the trip, Anderson prepared himself by jogging. He also had strength training and hikes at Wekiva Springs.
The pastor said that they will be some altitude changes that he needed to prepare for. He admitted that it was difficult to simulate these changes in Florida.
For him, the week-long journey was both moving and spiritual. It would give him a chance to commune with nature and with God.
Joining him are 28 other mountaineers from across the country. He said the team is composed of professors and doctors.
The pastor is glad to have a sense of community amid the pandemic. For him, mountaineering was a way to unwind while having a shared struggle.
Anderson told the news outlet that there was a huge response to the trip because people wanted to get out of isolation. They also wanted to see the world and conquer mountains.
Adventure Seeker
According to the website, the pastor is an avid runner and adventure seeker. He also seeks to conquer new challenges.
He is also the senior regional director of church engagement for the Eastern and Southeastern United States. He also pastored churches in Texas, Utah, and Florida.
On his website, he said that every journey worth taking starts with a climb. The website reports that a trek to Mount Kilimanjaro would require a six-day hike.
Where is Mount Kilimanjaro?
According to National Geographic, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain. It measures bout 5,895 meters or 19,340 feet.
The article also said that it is the largest free-standing mountain in the world. This means that it is not part of a mountain range.
German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountaineer Ludwig Purtscheller became the first people to reach the summit in 1889.
It has become a popular hiking spot for locals and tourists. The climb is considered dangerous because of the risk of altitude sickness. Despite the dangers, tens of thousands of climbers visit the mountain every year.
The park was declared a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site in 1987.
A variety of wild animals live in the area surrounding the mountain. These include the blue monkey.
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