TYLER, TX (KLTV) -
By Joan Hallmark - bio | email
TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Nine thousand miles away from East Texas on the continent of Africa, a group of 17 people faced a life-changing challenge. Ellen Krafve and Tom Ramey III of Tyler were among the 17, who along with their guides, climbed the famed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. The climb was designed to bring attention to "Young Life Africa", a non-profit organization helping young Africans, who as Ramey says, "are the future of Africa."
The climb took six days of six hour a day walking to reach the summit of Africa's highest mountain, over 19,000 feet above sea level.
Altitude sickness, which can be fatal, was the biggest danger. In spite of some bouts of altitude sickness, all 17 of the party and their guides reached the summit, an emotional, physical, and spiritual experience, they say, of a lifetime.
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East Texans, Hartley Flath, Ellen Krafve and Tom Ramey made the trek up Kilimanjaro.
Group camped out along the 7-day climb.
Late night climb to the summit.
Sunrise at Kilimanjaro's Uhuru peak.
Standing on the highest point in Africa. All 17 of the group made it to the top!
