By Sean Moriarty

A Gneeveguilla man realised a life-long ambition by scaling Mount Kilimanjaro in East Africa.

Pat Brosnan retired from his teaching post at Lissivigeen Nnational School in February last year.

Since then he has devoted his new found free time to prepare for the ascent of the highest mountains in Africa.

At 5,895 metres, the fabled mountain is almost six times the height of Carrauntoohil.

The 59-year-old made the summit of Kilimanjaro on February 2 after eight days of climbing and almost one year to the day after he left his teaching career.

He joined a seven-person team that included three Americans and three Canadians, and such were the demands of the ascent only five of the party made it to the top.

An experienced guide helped each day and a separate group of Sherpas transported their camping gear and clothing to each night’s camp site.

“Our guide climbed Kilimanjaro over two hundred times so he knew what he was talking about,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

Altitude sickness was common amongst members of the group and while Pat did admit to suffering some headaches he said his pre-event preparation helped him cope with the demands of the climb.

“One man was throwing up regularly. Another had to abandon over severe hypothermia,” he said.

He regularly climbed local mountains like Mangerton, Carrauntoohil and Brandon, but the bulk of his training was done in the Glanageenty outdoor amenity near Tralee.

“It was a bucket list dream for me,” he added.

While it took the team eight days to scale the mountain, it took just two to come back down. Each day they went so far up the mountain to get used to the new altitude before dropping back down to camp each night.

“We had no phone coverage for 10 days, it helped us focus on the mountain,” he said.

The last day of the climb was the hardest. They started at 11pm and arrived at the top just before daybreak.

The group had less than 10 minutes to enjoy the sunrise before they started their descent.

Pat thanked his family and friends, especially his wife Mary, for all the support and encouragement over the last 12 months.