In biblical context, 7 is the number of completion or perfection. Well, for the 7 chosen to explore God’s perfect creation up and down the Rwenzori mountains, the chosen word may be completion. After all completion is the whole point of mountain climbing; get to the top and get back down!
The 7 (chosen ones), left school in the company of 3 staff members on the 27th of June 2025 for Uganda and for 8 days took on the toughest mountain in Africa, that is not often climbed. On their ascent and descent they only met one other group.
So what did it take to be chosen? Everyone had to have summitted Pt Lenana of Mt Kenya with ease before being considered for the Rwenzori Expedition. They had 3 practise hikes while carrying rucksacks and also used the School climbing wall to work on their the technical skills e.g. putting on a harness, helmet and crampons, use of carabiners, jumars, prussic knots, ropes and ice axes.
Sound like Greek to you? Worry, not there’s more to Mountain climbing that is relatable to everyday life. The students summarized them as perseverance, problem solving, courage and resilience; qualities we can all benefit from exercising in everyday life.
Just life everyday life, the expedition was not without challenges. Challenge on this trip can be viewed in three ways and they are described by Mr. Martin who led the troupe.
- A situation where mental and physical abilities are put to test
“They just would not give up. No matter what the mountains threw at us, the students faced the challenge and moved ahead. Mud and rain, snow and ice, hot and cold, covid and asthma – they kept going with a determination that will make them great achievers in whatever they set their minds to in the future. Each evening the students played card games after supper and punished themselves with press ups if they uttered a negative thought.”
- Problems/Obstacles
“The biggest challenge was continuing the expedition with over half of us sick with Covid. Being sick at home where you can rest is one thing, but on the mountain, we had days as long as 15 hours in cold, wet conditions. There were no roads, airlifts or shortcuts – we just had to keep moving.”
- Challenge unforgettable memories
“At the top of Margharita glacier, one of the students tripped on her crampons and fell down a slope of 60-70 degrees. She was roped up between a guide and a teacher, both of who immediately anchored themselves with their ice axes and stopped the fall. Despite ending up upside down, I was delighted the student was safe. She righted herself, climbed back up to the route and continued to the summit with a smile on her face.”
A testament in courage, problem solving and resilience if ever there was one.
It’s safe to say that the Chosen 10, (we added 3 because being the adult/teacher in the room in a mountain-climbing situation does not spare one of the challenges) returned changed, strengthened and thankful; reminded of a verse they began the 8 day adventure with:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth”. Psalms 12:1-2
What a blessing to be chosen and to be able to literally look up, down and around the mountain. A beautiful one at that.
