Women on Top!
Jayne Mayne Summits Kilimanjaro with Asthma

Smith College graduates aren't the only ones celebrating "women on top"!

"Before canceling, I wanted to know whether I had a chance of making it to the top. I didn't want to give it my all if I had no chance." Both Sandra Braun, Director of Adventure Associates, and her asthma specialist gave her their full support in the ability to summit.

"Sandy told me I would need to take it slow, that I would likely be at the back of the group all of the time but never alone on the trail or separated when it came to nightfall. Our group would camp together every evening. She also provided a set of parameters for assessing one's hiking pace necessary for the climb."

She decided to go for it. After more exercise and experimentation with various asthma medications, we as a group were on the climb in February 2005. Jayne quickly realized that "going slow," meant "REALLY going slow" as well as stopping frequently to catch her breath. Although she was taking a series of medications for the asthma, her first day on the climb left her exhausted. Even though her daypack had only a camera, water bottle and a few personal items, she still found it too heavy to carry and that night in camp, she emptied it of all but the necessities. After the second day of "taking it slow,"the head guide stayed back to walk with her, and offered to take her pack so that all she carried was her hydration pack.

"By the 3rd day, I found that I needed to pace myself even more. The head guide asked if I was all right, and I told him that I was finally going as slow as I needed to. The climb was still very challenging, but I really learned how to listen to my body."

In camp each night, Jayne's sense of camaraderie with the other women was never broken. "The women were so neat - each one was so accomplished in their own right, and encouraged me to do my best every day."

On day five, during the 12 hour push for the summit, Jayne took her final steps to the top of Kilimanjaro lit by a full moon in the African night. The climb down was difficult, but the accomplishment of the eldest woman in this group will never be forgotten.

Jayne attributes the success of the climb to her new and now regular exercise habits. She still goes to the gym and works with her personal trainer. She is slowly decreasing the amounts of asthma medication and continues to learn about her type of stress and exercise induced asthma. She canoed part of the Lewis & Clark trail in the summer of 2005, and she says her newest adventure is dating.

"I started out the climb thinking, 'I just want to do the best I can.' My goal was not to make it to the top, but to know that I gave it my best shot."

"And," she adds, "If given the opportunity, I would do it again, for sure."

Contact Adventure Associates (888)-532-8352 or write info@adventureassociates.net for reservations for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro!

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