I learnt never to use the phrase ‘conquer a mountain': Vidya Singh on summiting Mt Kilimanjaro

Earlier this year, Chennai’s Vidya Gajapathi Raju Singh became the oldest Indian woman to summit Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro, at 72. At 5,895m above sea level, it is one of the seven summits of the world and on the bucket list of every avid mountaineer and trekker.

The septuagenarian, who believes age is just a number, speaks to us about her experience summiting Kili, staying fit at her age, and more.OF STRICT GUIDES, DIVERSE TOPOGRAPHY AND EXOTIC PLANTSKili, she informs, was an eight-day trek. “You begin with a long flight – Chennai to Mumbai and then to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) – and then drive to Moshi, a little town at the foothills of the mountain in Tanzania,” she says. The party comprised six Chennaiites, one from Hyderabad, and two people of Indian origin from Australia and a couple of Germans.

“It was fun being with a mixed group of people. Our guides were very strict and insisted that the whole group stayed together. We kept a very steady pace and walked from camp to camp and enjoyed the different topography (rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, fields with moraines, etc.) and the exotic-looking plants,” she says.THE JOURNEY TO THE TOP

For Vidya, who always goes on treks with a personal guide, braving the cold was not an issue compared to battling altitude sickness.

“We went on two to three small treks just to get used to the altitude. You are not allowed to rest, and because the climb takes so many days, you’re actually acclimatising as you climb. We also take medication to prevent altitude sickness,” she states.Still, despite the precautions, the group was affected by altitude sickness, she reveals. “On Day 6, one lady got dizzy and had to be sent back. About one-third of the way up, one of the members became completely disoriented and was sent back as well,” she says.It took six days to reach the first of the two summits — Stella Point. “We reached the point at daybreak, and the view was incredible. You could see the entire horizon. It was magical,” she says. The main summit, Uhuru Peak, about 45 minutes away, has a temperature around -15 degrees Celsius. “You get to see the valleys in the region, the glaciers, savour the view, take photographs and immediately climb down!” says Vidya.THE TOUGHEST LEG OF THE TREK

But climbing down was tougher than climbing up, shares Vidya. “Since it’s so steep, many of us slipped and fell. I fell backwards three or four times, and twice somebody had to pick me up. Of the two other girls who also fell, one broke her hand,” she says, explaining the dangers involved in the adventure.“We were completely exhausted after the trek; I couldn’t even go to the washroom, for I was so tired and my legs were shaking.

We collected our certificates and went to bed immediately,” she recalls.She says this trek taught her two lessons. “One, to leave my ego behind when climbing a mountain since each one is different and another is never to use the phrase ‘conquer a mountain’. You go with the greatest respect, pray to the mountain Gods and come back safe,” signs off Vidya, who plans to summit Mt Elbrus (Russia) and Mt Fuji (Japan) next.‘TM Krishna got me into trekking’Interestingly, this descendant of the Vijayanagaram royals started trekking only at age 59! “Around 12 years ago, singer T M Krishna invited me on a trek to Ladakh. The trek lasted three weeks, and it was my first time sleeping in a tent; even the toilet was very basic (a hole in the ground with a tent around it!)”, recalls Vidya, who has done 19 treks since then!On being fit at her age...“In our country, once people cross 50 years of age, they age rapidly because we don’t have an exercise culture. There’s no alternative to eating right and exercising. There’s never been a time in my life when I have not exercised. At my age, I need recovery time. So, I try not to overdo anything and also take supplements with my food. If you are able to stay healthy and fit and don’t get injured, your good days will last long. Staying healthy is the biggest gift,” says Vidya.Written By: Praveen Kumar S