The Three Key Internal Factors Affecting Summit Success
Priority Order: Altitude Sickness > Physical Fitness > Mindset
Part 3
The following content is more of a personal ramble, with limited practical advice—just my way of preserving memories.
❗ The 3 Most Important Things ❗
1️⃣ **Breathing, breathing, breathing!** Be mindful of your breath at all times! Aim for a “perfect score” with every breath! There are many tutorials on deep/abdominal breathing, but the key is finding your own rhythm and learning to fine-tune it for different terrains and difficulties (Pro tip: When breathing through your mouth, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth).
2️⃣ **One step at a time:** Don’t ask how much farther you have to go. Every step forward is a small victory. Stay present, listen to your body, and focus on each step—that’s what matters most.
3️⃣ **Be your own cheerleader**, and make sure your guide provides emotional support too.
✅ Walking toward your dream every day is an incredibly joyful thing!
✅ Every second of seeing Kilimanjaro’s breathtaking views felt like an adrenaline boost! Especially on the second day when I reached the camp first, feeling light and confident—it made me trust my body even more!
📣 **Guide’s words:** “Very few guests can still laugh heartily above 4,000 meters! I wish every guest could smile.”
📣 **Guide also said:** “You are the Queen of the Mountain!”
🎤 **And then,** just a few dozen meters from Stella Point (the toughest stretch before the summit), the guide started singing a hiking chant. I joined in with a few shouts—felt absolutely amazing!
The starting point of climbing is knowing yourself, believing in yourself, and then surrendering yourself to the mountain, to nature—listening to their feedback, accepting their arrangements.
I was lucky—the weather was perfect throughout, a merciful version of Kilimanjaro. The night before summiting, I asked myself how confident I was. Ninety percent was self-assurance, and the remaining ten percent was openness to whatever the mountain might bring.
At the end of the day, climbing is your own journey. And when it’s your own, there’s no need for comparison or forcing anything—your own happiness matters most!
