Shalini Verma

Pole Pole Kilimanjaro Shalini Verma

This is a story about an amateur climber's maiden mountain climb. Her husband enlisted her by adding her to the WhatsApp group of wanderlust stricken friends who were planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb started off as an irreverent adventure filled with lighthearted moments, personal quirks, team bonhomie, but unfolded into a gripping tale of human endeavour, endurance and will power. The book explores the quintessential battle of freewill and destiny, as climbers pit themselves against a daunting mountain. The climb proved to be much more than the milestone of 5,895 meters Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL). At that height, the uncluttered truth about life's simplicity and ingenuity became evident. At the critical hours of the summit climb, technique took a back seat and the mind took complete charge. The book takes you through the turbulent and blurry mind of an amateur climber combating Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS), as she made her life choices, drew motivation from within and without, and wagered almost everything to get to the summit.