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American Morning
Disabled Climbers Scale Mount Kilimanjaro
Aired August 29, 2001 - 09:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're talking with a group of disabled climbers. Today, they are making their way up Africa's highest mountain. The seven athletes and their guides are determined to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in the East African nation of Tanzania. We told you about the Achilles climbers two weeks ago before they left on their journey.
They stopped by to visit with us before they left. We are going to catch up with them now. They are on their way up the mountain.
And joining us on the phone right now -- and I didn't catch the name -- so is it Julius?
JULIUS WILSON, DISABLED CLIMBER: Yes.
KAGAN: Julius Wilson?
WILSON: Yes, it is.
KAGAN: Great. Julius, good morning, or good afternoon, or good evening where you are.
WILSON: Good afternoon for me; good morning for you. How are you?
KAGAN: Explain to us where you are, how far you have gone up the mountain.
WILSON: Well, right now, we're about at 11,700 feet -- we're about 11,700 feet.
KAGAN: And this is the second day of climbing?
WILSON: This is the second day of climbing. This is actually one of our longest days that we'll be climbing.
KAGAN: Well, how is it going?
WILSON: Well, I mean, it's tough. It's a long day. Some of the parts are tricky coming up. And it's difficult because when the clouds are here, it's pretty cold. When is the sun is out, it's pretty hot. So you are really playing with the elements. But we've been doing pretty well. The guys have been holding out for us.
KAGAN: OK. Julius, catch your breath.
(LAUGHTER)
WILSON: I'm OK. I'm OK. I'm pretty good.
KAGAN: I want you -- OK, good.
I want you to explain to us to the folks who weren't with us when you visited with us a couple of weeks ago who is in the group, and how you are doing this with guides, and what is special challenge is.
WILSON: Well, what we have, we have four blind people, four blind athletes. We have one amputee. And we have one cancer survivor -- asthmatic and a deaf person. So it's six of us going up. And all of us have been training for quite some time to put this together.
And, actually, right now, everybody is looking good.
KAGAN: That's great.
WILSON: Which is surprising me, because I am keeping up.
(LAUGHTER)
KAGAN: So far so good.
WILSON: Yes. It's great. It's great.
KAGAN: Explain to us how you are using the guides to go up the mountain.
WILSON: Well, what I am doing, I am actually attached to the guys in their backpack. And I'm following them track to track. And they're giving me the "go right, go left, step up, step down." And I have a security guy behind me, just in case I fall backwards because some points are pretty steep. And they're really walking us through it. There's been no injuries. We're just pumping it through, trying to climb it out.
KAGAN: Well, that's fantastic. So far, how is it different than you thought it would be?
WILSON: Well, actually, I didn't think we'd be dealing with the elements like this. Like, I was thinking maybe tomorrow we'd have to deal with the cold. But we've been dealing with the cold since yesterday.
It gets cold. When the clouds come, it's very cold. When the sun comes, it's very hot. So you're peeling off layers, pulling on layers. It's the climate that gets you. But it's all fun. It's all fun. It feels great.
(LAUGHTER)
KAGAN: Maybe your version of fun, Julius.
How many more days? How much farther to the top?
WILSON: We are at 11,700 now. We are going to 19,343. So, tomorrow, we go up about 4,000. We are going to have a comfortable two-day rest to optimize ourselves and make sure that we are set mentally and physically, because, you know what, the altitude sickness or the mountain will catch you.
But, so far, there hasn't been the slightest of headaches or anything. We're all looking good.
KAGAN: Well, that's fantastic. We're so pleased for you, so proud. And you are going to keep that satellite phone with you as you go up the mountain?
WILSON: We are going to keep the satellite calling. And I hope we can get in touch with you again, without a doubt. Definitely.
KAGAN: You phone home again, OK, Julius? We would love to talk with you. And pass on our good wishes to the rest of the group.
WILSON: OK. Thank you very much.
They said good luck, fellows.
KAGAN: You did it right there. Very good.
All right. That's Julius Wilson. He's with the Achilles Track Club, one of the seven disabled climbers making their way up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. We are going to continue to follow their story.
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