When Joe Fenech, 65, set his sights on Mount Kilimanjaro, he had one goal in mind: to win. As a former hockey player, Spartan racer, and trekker who has traversed many other locations around the world, he categorizes this feat as simply “the next thing in life.”

Follow along his day-to-day journey as he climbed to the top in July 2025.

DAY 1
On my way, finally! After a year of prep, training, and constant thought, the day is finally here! I’m ready for the trek to 20,000 feet up Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa. Everything is unknown, including the team of seven that I will be trekking to the summit with. I’m ready, waiting at Memphis International for the long journey ahead.

DAY 4
I arrived at base camp today, but the actual hike starts tomorrow. I feel great today as I had a chance to rest yesterday. Right now, I’m ready for bed in a huge tent with modern amenities. My backpack is small and weighs about 20 lbs. fully packed. I’m looking forward to this!

DAY 5
Here we go, slowly but surely, following each other like a pack of elephants. After a three-hour hike, we arrived at the first base camp. We had tea, dinner, and laughed with my new friends. The altitude is about 8,000 feet at this level. I’m ready to get into my sleeping bag for the night. The others are all taking malaria medicine and Diamox for altitude sickness. I’m feeling confident enough that I can do all of this naturally.

DAY 6
I had no sleep at all last night. I still have energy for some reason and am ready to go. Today’s hike was six hours long, uphill over rocky terrain. The sun was powerful. We are on the equator after all. I’m really drained, so I fall into a deep sleep. In the morning, it’s freezing cold!

DAY 8
Last night I was very sick with nausea, a headache, and no appetite. My oxygen level fell to 72%. We were at 15,500 feet, and the lead guide asked if I wanted to be med-evacuated out. I told him that was not an option; I had to finish. I woke up the next morning feeling better. I think carrying 20 lbs. at high altitude was not a good idea, no matter how much I trained like that in Memphis. I made it through another day, and I am beginning to get used to the lack of oxygen, showers, and toilets. I wear three layers of clothes to bed. I will use the same clothes to hike tomorrow.

DAY 9
I’m handling the altitude relatively well. Our base camp today had a panoramic view of the valley below. I’ve never seen anything like this before in all my travels. Today was the most challenging hike so far, with lots of volcanic and glacier rocks. I’m glad to make it through another day. The group is becoming close and looking out for each other. It was very cold last night; I had frost inside the tent and ice in my water bottles. I’m starting to think of my warm bed and my first hot shower.

DAY 10
We will depart at 3 a.m. for the summit. I look horrible! My hair and body have only been cleaned with a basin of hot water that is brought to my tent in the morning. My lips and skin are burned by the sun and wind. I am feeling confident that nothing will stop me from completing the remaining 4,500 feet. I’m craving a shower and a warm bed! This journey is not for everyone. Every 1,500 feet of elevation is a helicopter landing pad to rescue trekkers and transport them to local hospitals. I pray, get in my sleeping bag, and center my mind for a 16-hour hike tomorrow to the summit.

DAY 11
Top of the world! I made it! With the clouds under me and the last remaining bit of a glacier in Africa behind me, I was standing on the roof of Africa. It was about two degrees, but that didn’t stop me from removing my shirts and jacket and jumping frantically in exhilaration! It turns out, others from different groups were being carried down. I tried not to look. For others, helicopters were waiting. I told a porter who came to meet us to prepare some hot water for my feet and a chair near my tent. This is what exhaustion feels like! I crave level ground at altitude.

DAY 12
We are descending quickly and starting to see life again — birds, monkeys, etc. We proceeded to the lodge, and I took my two-hour shower. I sat on the soft bed, turned on the news, and noticed that the world was still the same; I didn’t miss a thing. I feel accomplished as I head back to the heat of Memphis with this great story to share with others. I envision lounging by the pool at my gym and thawing like an ice cube. I will miss my new friends and the great people of Tanzania who are happy and peaceful with so little.

Until my next adventure…

By Amanda Tompkins
Photo by Tindall Stephens