Summit Guru

Introduction

My home village is called “Nyeihanga” which means “land of Hills” in Runyankore-Rukiga (predominant language in south-western Uganda). It is located in Rwampara district which is about 320km from Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Our country home is poised at the back drop of one the hills called Kisana in this breathtaking county. It elevates to 2000m above sea level and at that is such a stunning sight.

I vividly recall we would run up and down Kisana especially during the festive season whenever we traveled to the countryside. These memories are etched somewhere deep in my mind. The rare calmness of the grassland vegetation up the hill is indeed mesmerizing. We would often take back some frail grass to our backyard kitchen and use them as floor mulches. This is partly why hiking has always had a special place in my heart.

As time went on, I started crossing paths with like minded individuals. Often, we would pack our bags, hit the road, drive off to unfamiliar territories. We would camp and hike in several places especially in western and south western Uganda.

However, with every spike of adrenaline, it seemed better to start having more planned out expeditions. The pressures of adult life and untimely engagements warranted the need to have scheduled travels to get the best out of these. As time went by, I discovered there was more to hiking than hitting trails and enjoying the scenic views, one could engage the communities impactfully. The experiences were also worth sharing to inspire people to visit these places and have their tales.

Summit gurus as a brain child of Ekigombe experiences emphasizes the belief that we can all get the most from our door expeditions like camping and hiking. Some great destinations are shared here from personal experience.

Tips

Purpose, Planning and Physique (3Ps) form a great pattern for both preparation and the inherent lessons we learn and gain from these excursions.

Purpose

Establishing the “why” one is taking time off urban life and hitting the trail is very paramount. Hiking mountains has mixed emotions involved. Not only is it challenging but equally rewarding. Whether it is to reset one’s mindset, get motivation, test physicality etcetera. Answering the why can be a great push. The memories usually stay for a lifetime, so this soul searching is very important to me personally. Meditating about this before and through the course of the expedition is essential.

Planning

Once the mindset is aligned, its time to get into the numbers. It’s important to dot the I’s and cross the Ts. A good plan is a recipe for a successfully hike. Also, quite imperative is understanding the nature of the hike and level of difficulty. This dictates how the strategy will be implemented. Being proactive by gathering information; online, colleagues and guides will come in handy. Please consider the level of difficulty, weather, type of gear, direct and indirect costs, accommodation type (considering multiple day hikes), snacks, menu options, medicals and safety, service providers and their reputation, among others. Once a solid plan is in place, grit will be lurking at the door step

Physique

We are living in a culture where everything is exaggerated. We are bombarded with several ads which portray the perfect body, or the ideal athlete, where as this cannot be disputed, physical fitness and conditioning is highly achievable. A level of physical fitness is required to have a successful hike. Cardio, leg and knee strength are pivotal since most trails have challenging terrain. Body conditioning is also vital in recovering after hikes. Activities like walking, running. swimming, cycling, cross-fit workouts, among others are good cardio and help in preparation for hikes.

The 3Ps complement each other, however they are not entirely exclusive. Hiking as activity has many life lessons of gratitude, teamwork, patience, positivity, management, humility among others. These are experienced gradually however are life long lessons, practical in all aspects of life. Summit gurus welcomes you to share these experiences and impact the ecosphere in these expeditions.