From New Jersey to the very roof of Africa

Local family makes the climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro SPARTA — As they slowly climbed in the dark through 17,000 feet on their way to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Joe Quigley, eldest of the six-member family team, looked at the other climbers and thought, I must be crazy, what am I doing up here? It was 4 o’clock in the morning, the temperature was 23 degrees, the sun was not yet even a highlight on the eastern horizon, the climbers had already been climbing for four hours and they had almost four more hours before they would reach the summit. The challenge Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 feet, is the highest point in Africa and one of the famed seven summits, the highest points on each continent. Climbing to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania had been a topic of discussion for years by the Quigley family. Dad Joe had long instilled a spirit of adventure and love of the outdoors in his family and had led family trips hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, exploring red rock canyons of Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks and climbing to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. In June 2003, he and his eldest daughter Erin hiked the 24-mile long Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. The family Erin, a 1996 graduate of Sparta High, seized on the spirit of adventure and after graduating college became a volunteer in the Peace Corps teaching in Benin, Africa. It was there she met her husband Chris Wheelock, another Peace Corps volunteer and outdoor adventurer who has climbed Mt. Ranier three times. Erin and Chris had long wanted to return to Africa and climb its fabled mountain before the slowly melting glaciers completely disappeared. Youngest daughter Annie, a 2002 graduate of Sparta High has also spent time as a volunteer in Africa, after her graduation from NYU, spending the past two summers directing theater with Invisible Children Organization’s Teacher Exchange Program in Uganda. Her plan was to meet the family in Tanzania after her work was complete. Brian Quigley, another Sparta High graduate was eager to join the group for the climb. An Eagle Scout from Troop 82, where his father has long served as an adult leader specializing in high adventure activities, Brian has trekked the Rockies at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, hiked and rafted the Grand Canyon and canyoneered slot canyons of Utah. Rounding out the group was Jake Schmehl of Hopatcong, the Quigleys’ cousin. Of the several possible routes up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Quigleys chose the Machame Route, a 62-mile trek that would take them six days. Their ascent began at the Machame Gate at an elevation of 5700 feet. Along the way their guide Bruce Lyimo constantly reminded them: Apole-pole — Swahili for slowly, slowly. Their slow pace was needed both to conserve energy and help acclimate to the rigors of high altitude. Finally on day three, now hiking above the clouds in a barren landscape, the summit presented itself. Everyone paused to take in the view of the peak that loomed 9,000’ above. On day four the crew made it to Barafu Base camp, elevation 15,200. Getting to the top The group awoke just before midnight to a clear sky teeming with stars. Already other climbers were beginning their final ascent. Small pools of light from their headlamps stretched up the mountain trail. They soon joined the others on the trail and began the slow climb to the top. Erin Quigley said, “With the cold, dark and lack of oxygen at the high altitude, everyone was nearing exhaustion. But at about 6:30 a.m., we were treated to a spectacular sunrise and now warmed by the sun’s rays, everyone’s spirits soared.” Brian Quigley added, “I was worried about Dad making it to the top but he kept plodding forward and at about 7 a.m. we all finally reached the lip of the crater and celebrated.” From that point it took them another 45 minutes to hike the final two miles to Uhuru Peak, the official summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was time for celebrating, taking photos and enjoying the spectacular view from the Roof of Africa.