Kilimanjaro: On the Mountain

After a long journey across continents, Steve Baskis and the climbing team arrive in Tanzania to begin their ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. What follows is a raw, immersive look at life on the mountain—where weather, altitude, illness, and exhaustion test every member of the team.

Through field recordings captured along the trail, listeners experience the climb step by step. From the logistics at the national park gate to the muddy trails, cold camps, and long days of hiking at altitude, the mountain quickly reminds the team that reaching the summit will require resilience, trust, and teamwork.

Along the way, the expedition brings together an extraordinary group of climbers, including fellow blinded veterans Lonnie Bedwell and Aaron Hale. Aaron, who is both blind and deaf, approaches the mountain with remarkable determination after completing an ultra-distance run across Tanzania to reach the base of the climb.

For Steve, the mountain is also an opportunity to document what adventure sounds like when experienced without sight. Through conversations, environmental sounds, and candid moments from the trail, listeners hear the rhythm of the climb—the rain on the trail, the voices guiding each step, the laughter among teammates, and the songs of the Tanzanian porters who call Kilimanjaro home.

But as the team pushes higher, the mountain begins to take its toll. Weather slows progress, the trail becomes slick and unpredictable, and illness spreads among the climbers. At high camp, exhausted but determined, the team prepares for the most difficult part of the journey: the midnight summit push.

In the next episode, the climbers step into the darkness to attempt the summit of Kilimanjaro.

To explore the full Kilimanjaro Story Project—including the Endeavor Journal blog posts, the full three-part podcast series, and additional media from the expedition—visit: https://blindendeavors.org/on-the-mountain-to-tell-the-story-a-blind-endeavors-foundation-mission-to-kilimanjaro/