PAIGE HUDSON, FORMER TEACHER AT SHALIMAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RECENTLY SUMMITED AFRICAS HIGHEST PEAK, MT. KILIMANJARO IN TANZANIA. People didnt need to know #PaigeHudson’s name to know her story. For people trekking up #MtKilimanjaro “that #woman from #Florida” had become the stuff of legend. Guides, #porters, other hikers all wanted to know if the 52-year-old former elementary school teacher had finally made it to the top on her third try. “It was so funny,” #Hudson said Monday afternoon, only days after returning from #Tanzania. “I know I was there three times, but I don’t like to count the second because I was sick when I got there.” Hudson first tackled the #mountain last #December, but stopped just shy of the top. In June, she flew overseas again with the intent to reach the highest peak, but three days in, strep throat and a sinus infection forced her to turn back. On Oct. 3, she started again and told her guide, Simon, only one of two outcomes could play out this time: death or success. During the eight-day adventure, Hudson thought about turning about back – even asked about it – but Simon made good on his promise. They’d stop for one-minute standing breaks or three-minute sitting ones and then continue. On average they walked five hours a day. The day they reached #StellaPoint, the place she’d stopped on her first trip, her legs ached, the wind was freezing cold and she was gasping with each breath. “This is the first time I really said, ‘I’m not quitting,’ ” she said. With Simon, and a porter named Amiry who been a witness to all her #adventures, at her side, she reached the top. “I did cry, just a little bit,” Hudson said. “Cause you think about it, and you go, ‘I just really can’t believe I actually did it.’ ” They stayed for about 10 minutes and then started on the trip down. “It was grueling,” Hudson said. “The summit night was just a suffer night of epic proportions.” At the time, she swore it was her last trip up the #summit. Three days after returning the States, Hudson said she doesnt have a concrete plan for her next adventure, but it’s clearly coming. Maybe even another peak in the Mt. #KilimanjaroNationalPark. #ZaraTours zaratours, zaratoursadventures zaraproperties Email zara@zaratours “Next time,” Hudson said. “I’ll wear mittens.” Source: Northwest Florida Daily News nwfdailynews/local/that-woman-from-florida-tackles-a-mountain-of-a-goal-photos-1.389396
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 07:29:05 +0000
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