Virginia Student Scales 19,000 Feet to Reach the Top of Africa’s Tallest Mountain

For most people, scaling 19000 feet high to reach the peak of Africa’s tallest mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro may seem intimidating. However, it was a bucket list thing 24-year-old Jackson Sargent always wished to check off, after spending one semester in Tanzania, to study wildlife conservation and political ecology in the Fall of 2023.

Spending four months in a new country is an experience enough for many, but Jackson had his own plans. He stayed back after the semester to climb the mountain, keeping the family tradition intact. Hailing from a family of mountaineers, he was eager to stand on the peak and hold a St Mike jersey. Let’s find out how he pulled off the final goal of his trip and conquered the obstacles on his way.

19000 feet high is where Jackson belongs

The idea of hiking the tallest mountain in Africa was not a sudden burst of emotion. His experience of climbing mountains with his family ignited the desire to climb the 19,000-foot-tall mountain. His father is a mountaineering guide in Vermont and served in the Army for over 20 years.

He scaled over 19000 feet with his family when he was just 13, and Mt. Kilimanjaro was nothing but an adventure for him. The 24-year-old Saint Michael’s College student climbed the mountain with a team of five people. A government-mandated guide and four porters, made for excellent company. They also found great comfort in the St Mike’s sweatshirt that he so proudly hung on top of the peak.

It took them four days to complete the journey, with three days to reach the peak. Apart from experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue, the climb was stress free. When asked what his advice to anyone wishing to climb mountains was, he said never underestimate the mountains. There is always something that you don’t know about them, said the experienced mountaineer.

2024’s hotspot is Mount Kilimanjaro

It seems the tallest mountain in Africa is becoming a hotspot for people this year. Just a few days earlier, in a tale of inspiration and determination, two faculty members from Farmor’s School in England declared their plan to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro. Headteacher Matthew Evans and assistant headteacher Roger Eckersley have made the decision to raise funds for upgrading the school’s boiler system.

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Their brave decision comes after the Department of Education refused to allocate funds to replace the age-old boilers, as peak winters hit the city.

As for Jackson Sargent, his journey of scaling peaks is only just starting. He now plans to head back home and scale Denali next, the tallest mountain in North America. A true image of resilience and passion, Jackson has truly embraced the grand adventure that is life.

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