Father and son climb Mount Kilimanjaro

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Photo submitted by Larry and Brad Barnett

For Kenya

Barrington Noon Rotary Club

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Updated: November 15, 2011 8:37AM

A father/son duo with ties to Barrington and Lake Zurich have successfully climbed 19,340 feet to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania, Africa while raising funds to dig new drinking wells in Kenya.

Larry Barnett, a member of the Rotary Club of Barrington (noon), and his son Brad, a Lake Zurich High School class of 2003 graduate, spent six days on the mountain. The inactive volcano is the highest point in Africa. The Barnetts began the climb Sept. 9, reached the summit on Sept. 13 and were back down at the bottom of the mountain Sept. 14.

Brad first visited Kenya in 2007 and Larry became interested in funding wells to provide drinking water for the citizens after hearing of Brad’s experience. Brad put together a video and shared it with his father’s Rotary Club. Larry has worked with Rotary clubs and the international organization to fund five wells and with his church, the Village Church of Barrington, to fund two wells — all in the Usonga area of Kenya.

“The reason we climbed was to raise money for drilling wells in Kenya,” said Larry, 59, of unincorporated Lake County.

The two have raised $21,000 so far, and have a goal of raising $50,000. Each well costs about $12,500 and provides much safer drinking water than the hand dug wells the area is accustomed to. By reducing illnesses and the time it takes to get clean water, the citizens can focus more on education and economic growth.

Brad’s interest in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro began when the president of Olivet Nazarene University, where Brad studied TV broadcasting, climbed the mountain in 2005 at age 57. Brad interviewed President John C. Bowling before and after his adventure.

To prepare for the climb, Brad, 26, who lives in Los Angeles, spent lots of time hiking and working out at least three days each week. He also climbed Mount Baldy, east of Los Angeles, shortly before leaving to meet his father for the Kilimanjaro climb.

“It didn’t really compare at all, but it gave me something, a little step,” he said.
Around February, Larry began climbing the stairs in his office building. Since the building is only two stories, it was a lot of up and down. He also walked around Geneva Lake, which is more than 20 miles. Beginning about a month before the climb, Larry would also walk the seven miles home from work.

“Really we had no idea what we were getting in to,” Brad said. The duo took the Machame Route, commonly known as the Whiskey Route, which is one of the more difficult up the mountain.

For the first couple of days, the two climbed for six hours each day, climbing through five different climate zones. On summit day, which is the day climbers reach the top of the mountain, the two climbed for 14 hours.

“The best way to describe the climb, I think, is slowly putting one foot in front of the other for six days,” Brad said.

The days were simple: hike, eat, sleep, repeat. Each had a pack with whatever supplies they would need for the day, like water, snacks, sunscreen, rain gear and gloves, while a porter was responsible for carrying the tent, food, cooking supplies and up to 30 pounds of other personal gear, like sleeping gear and clothes.

Dangers of the climb include the changing climates and high altitudes. Most of the days were so cold that the two wore all the clothes they brought with them, multiple layers of pants and shirts, as well as coats, hats and gloves. They also experienced altitude sickness one night, most likely from changing altitudes too quickly while climbing. While Brad had a headache, nausea and leg cramping, Larry experienced headache and exhaustion. The two rested all night and were ready to resume climbing the next day. The bout with altitude sickness served as a reminder to slow down climbing, as advised by their guides. Climbers must ascend at a slow pace to allow their bodies to acclimate to the altitudes.

Reaching the top of the mountain was the culmination of months of work by the two.

“After starting at 2 a.m. when it’s pitch black and you’re walking up the mountain with just a head lamp... it was incredible to get to the top, incredible to see the views and all that work you had done finally paid off,” Brad said.

“It was just really exciting because you knew it was the culmination of all the hard work and training,” Larry added. “There was an exhilaration of being there and making it and knowing not everyone makes it to the top, but we did.”

The two had seen multiple statistics, but estimate that only between 40- and 45-percent of people who attempt the climb make it to the top.

“The hike itself is really boring because you’re looking at your feet the entire time,” Larry said, adding Brad often reminded him to stop and take in the view.

Brad took several hundred photos and videos and enjoyed when they were able to stop and look around.

“I got to the point where I had to focus all of my energy on taking the next step,” Larry said.

Spending time together as father and son was an added bonus for the two. With Brad living 3,000 miles away, they don’t always get quality time together. Brad spent a lot of the trip looking back at his dad and laughing at the fact he had convinced his father to make the climb with him. Larry made it clear, while laughing, that the climb was not his idea, but that it was good to spend time together.

All of the money donated will go to fund the new wells and none of the money was used to pay for expenses related to the climb.

To make a donation for the wells, log on to www.forkenya.ning.com, or mail a check to Barrington Rotary Charities, attn. Climb for Water, P.O. Box 42, Barrington, 60011.