This article is from page 76 of the 2008-07-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 76 JPG
THE drive to experience different aspects of life has seen people take on many challenges, but the need to know what high altitude felt like saw one west Clare GP go to great heights.
Kilkee town councillor and local GP Dr Tom Nolan had his curiosity well and truly quenched when he ar- rived at the summit of Kilimanjaro.
The Kilkee man was the only one in his group of four to make it to the top of the highest mountain in Africa.
Once a climber is higher than 19,000 he or she begins to feel the effects of “extreme” altitude. Kili-
manjaro stands at more than 20,000 feet high.
The amount of oxygen in the air would also be half what it would be at sea level, making the challenge all the more difficult.
Altitude sickness can manifest in insomnia, nausea, headaches and, in extreme cases, diarrhoea. The top of the mountain is also extremely cold, especially at night.
A keen hill walker, Dr Nolan said he always wanted to experience the effects of altitude.
The Kilkee doctor took the Mach- ama or Whiskey route with his three Northern Ireland companions.
They circled the mountain for five
days before Dr Nolan climbed to the summit. On the night he reached the summit the temperature dropped to minus 15 degrees.
While 40,000 people visit the mountain every year not everyone makes it to the top.
Dr Nolan received a certificate in recognition of this feat. It was marked number 32,000.
Describing the climb, Dr Nolan said, “It was anything but fun.”
‘I didn’t necessarily feel that it was a personal achievement. I just wanted to get back down. It was very cold,” he said.
‘‘T have experienced altitude. I don’t like it and I won’t be going back. I’m
going back to Kerry, the landscape is nicer. It is something I have ticked CO) Nap eeh astm
‘Fair play to anyone who does this regularly, they must be crazy,” he laughed.
The doctor learnt the importance of home comforts on the trip.
“Any creature comforts you can glean along the way go for it. I have learnt that you need a good back up group. Morale is very important,” he SHOE
“You need life experience to know when not to give up and when to give up. I won’t say that I enjoyed it but it may mean more to me when I look back in time,” he added.