Feature Story: Five NDLS Alumni Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
Think you have what it takes to climb and conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro? Five NDLS alumni were up for the challenge and embarked on a six-day trek to the roof of Africa. Jean Scholl Berg, J.D. ’82, Bruce Boivin, J.D. ’82, Maria Morinigo, J.D. ‘97, Katie Pamenter, J.D. ‘92, and Dave Pusateri, J.D. ‘81, recently made the ascent as part of the Notre Dame Alumni Travel Program’s first-ever “Kili” climb. The trip took place September 16 – 23, 2007, and graduates of NDLS had the largest representation of any “school” within the University at this event.
The opportunity to “Travel the World with Notre Dame” is always open to all Notre Dame alumni, their families and friends. In total, the climbers on this trip ranged in ages from 24 to 57 with nine men and six women. “It was quite a mix,” said Scholl Berg. “Everyone made the summit, which is remarkable, as Kili has a success rate of around 60-65 percent.”
In addition, Father Paul Kollman of Notre Dame was one of the nine men and offered Mass on the mountain. “His sermons were inspirational and gave us pause, causing us to reflect on what we were doing, not just on the mountain, but in life,” Scholl Berg said.
A team of professional Tanzanian mountain guides and porters, led by the owner of Northwest Voyageurs, Andy Nachman, N.D. ’97, supported the team of lawyers on their journey. Pusateri wasn’t afraid to show his Irish pride along the way. “He taught Mussa, one of our guides, the Notre Dame fight song,” Scholl Berg said. “Mussa led the porters in a spirited rendition as we left camp on our last day on the mountain. Cheers of ‘Go ND’ could be heard all the way up the mountain from the guides.”
After reaching the top, everyone only had time to take a quick picture or two and have a brief look around before having to start the decent. “It’s hard to catch your breath,” Scholl Berg said. “Your head pounds and your legs ache, but you are at the summit and literally on top of the world – or at least the African continent.”
Some of those on the trip expressed an interest in attempting another climb. Nachman is leading a second alumni climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro scheduled for September 6-13, 2008. Although Scholl Berg doesn’t plan to climb Kili a second time, she and her husband have plans to go trekking in the Himalayas this fall. “Climbing Kili again could only take away from that unforgettable first time,” she said. “It was an adventure of a lifetime.”
