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Update: Ellen Kraly Reaches Summit of Kilimanjaro

Sun, Sep 04, 2011

UPDATE: Scott Kraly reports that his wife, Colgate Professor Ellen Kraly, reached the 19,000-foot-plus summit of Mount Kilimajaro in Tanzania, Africa about 4 a.m. Eastern time today.

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Most days lately, a solitary figure wearing a backpack could be seen setting a steady pace up the grassy slope of the former ski hill on Colgate's campus.

Ellen Kraly has been in training again. And, once again it is to prepare to climb another mountain, to raise money for a cause and to remember some important people ... and to fight back.

Kraly, who is a Colgate professor and recently retired as director of the university's Upstate Institute, is about to climb Mount Kilamanjaro in Tanzania. The hike up the highest peak in Africa is to raise money for cancer research and to pay tribute to those who, like Kraly, survived their bout with cancer and remember those who lost that battle.

Her ascent of Kilimanjaro begins Tuesday.  

This will be the third mountain Kraly has climbed to raise funds for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. She was part of a group that climbed Mt. Baker in 2004 and climbed Mr. Ranier in 2008 with her son Jimmy and others.

Her goal, as it has been in the past, was to raise $10,000. But, thanks to the generosity of many people -- including Colgate alumni and students -- Kraly has already raised more than $15,000.

Kraly, who is on sabbatical this academic year, said the climb up the 19,298-foot KIlimanjaro -- the world's tallest free-standing mountain -- will take about six days. She said, "It's a long trek to the summit."

This will be her second African ascent. She also climbed Mt. Kenya, the second highest peak on the continent at some 16,000-feet.

Kraly's climb is guided by Alpine Ascents International, and this is how its website describes what it is like on the last day of the climb:

"Summit day! Awake at midnight and prepare gear for the ascent. We climb wearing headlamps until the predawn light is reflected off the African plains. Following a distinct ridge we approach the crater’s rim, then traverse northwest along the rim to the main summit, Uhuru Peak (19,340’). From here we view the Bismarck Towers, rock pinnacles along the rim and the hanging Rebman Glaciers. 

"As the sun rises over Africa, we are privy to a panorama of incredible views. To the north stands the second highest mountain on the continent, Mt. Kenya (17,056’/5199m), with its unique twin summits. The southern exposure reveals the sprawling plains of Tanzania and East Africa and Mowenzi Peak."

After her climb, Kraly will remain in Africa to work for about a month at the Bwindi Community Hospital in southwestern Uganda. Colgate has a working relationship with the hospital, and Kraly will assist its staff with surveys on maternal health.

More Information:

• Smithsonian Magazine article about Mt. Kilimanjaro.

• Kilimanjaro Webcam

• Tips for Climbing Kilimanjaro

• Tanzanian National Parks

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