VIDEO + PICTURES: Watch as Kilimanjaro climbers complete incredible charity adventure at the summit of Africa’s highest mountain
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Two intrepid climbers from Inverness have completed an unforgettable trek to the top of Africa’s highest mountain.
James McIlwraith (50) and Michele Galleitch (47) took their love of the hills and the great outdoors to new heights last month on a guided climb of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro.
In doing so, James raised £2,551 for Inverness Ice Centre and Highland Hospice, while Michele, from Bunchrew, collected £1380 for SNAP and Culloden Academy Support Department.
Avid walkers and climbers who are currently ticking off Scotland’s Munros together, they have also previously enjoyed mountainous challenges in Europe.
Plans for the Kilimanjaro adventure were hatched last year as they discussed what thrills and feats they would like to have experienced before their 50th birthdays.
A dormant volcano, Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest single free-standing mountain above sea level, rising to 5,895m and about 4,900m above its plateau base.
It proved every bit as memorable as the pair could have hoped and imagined.
James, a foreman Welder at DMH Blacksmiths in Inverness, said: “We both had an amazing experience in Tanzania, making lots of new friends on the climb.
“Adjusting to the altitude was the biggest challenge.
“El Niño threw a bit of a spanner into the works with the weather but it all added to the experience - and made it feel a little bit like home in the Highlands!
“The summit night, leaving at midnight and summiting at 7.45am on January 9, was an amazingly challenging day at the altitude of over 5000 metres.
“But it was just a breathtaking experience catching the sunrise from the roof of Africa.
“It’s still all settling in now we are back in Scotland after what was a massive build up and planning process to turn the dream into reality.
“We’re just thrilled to have completed the challenge and raised some cash for our charities.”
Explaining his choice of charities, James added: "I have a background in ice hockey having played for the amateur teams at Inverness since the late '80s and coached with the junior club for many years as my own children passed through the system.
"Michele is a former team GB judo player and the real athlete of the two of us, but she inspires me to keep pushing the fitness at my tender age.
"Highland Hospice is a charity extremely close to my heart and the care they showed to my late father was truly amazing."
Michele, who works in the support department at Culloden Academy, is passionate about facilitating opportunities for the pupils to take part in sport, whether in school or at events organised by Highland Disability Sport.
In the school holidays, she also works at SNAP (Special Needs Action Project).
Michele had been climbing Munros for many years, but James only began to join her during the pandemic, quickly catching the bug.
He recalled: “I've been Climbing Munros since just after lockdown when I did our local Ben Wyvis with my son Jack.
“It was just a case of ‘let’s get out of the house and do something'.
“I then started climbing with Michele, who I had known for many years and was great friends with and our love of the hills and adventure brought us together.
“Michele was the more experienced hiker having climbed Mount Fuji when she was teaching in Japan on her many travels.
“Our highest hike together, prior to Kilimanjaro, was San Michele at 1444m on the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy with very favourable weather conditions.
“We had also previously done Puig de Massanella in Mallorca at 1364m and were starting to look at other challenges further afield.
“The altitude and cold of Kilimanjaro, with the effects of reduced oxygen, was a shock as we start to climb above 3000m and, in tackling the Lemosho route over seven days, we climbed through five climatic zones from equatorial rainforest to the Arctic on the summit.”
Camping out under the stars, supported by a group of tour company porters and guides, the final push saw them setting off at midnight in sub-zero temperatures, climbing the last 1300m in the dark.
The sunrise over the surrounding African plains was simply spectacular.
Now the pair will regroup and discuss what their next adventure will be, but both are thrilled with the response to their fundraising.
Michele said: “I wanted to raise money for both of my places of work – SNAP (Special Needs Action Project) and Culloden Academy Support Department.
“As a child, I was fortunate to have the support of my parents, volunteers and coaches who gave up their free time to nurture and develop my passion for judo.
“With their support, I was able to gain my black belt and become a member of both the Scottish and British Judo Team.
“Participating in sport gave me confidence, built my self-esteem, taught me independence and discipline while enabling me to make lifelong friends.
“Realising the positive impact that sports participation had on my life, I try hard to provide opportunities for our pupils at Culloden to gain experiences outwith the classroom.
“SNAP was created to provide a place and time for fun, for children, youths and young adults in a nurturing and supportive environment.
“They are supported by a team of fantastic staff and volunteers, but every year they must raise over £500,000 a year to run their services, so all donations are vital.”
The couple's fundraising pages are below:
