Silicon Valley partners Michael Spencer and Bryan Schader weren’t surprised to learn their close friend Erich’s 2022 birthday celebration would bring them to Tanzania.
“Erich told us he wanted to do it,” Michael said. “That’s when we went from doing a few fun hikes and bike rides around California to planning a trip to challenge ourselves in an entirely different country.”
Michael, Bryan, and Erich spent plenty of time together since meeting as church volunteers, but Erich’s 50th birthday would bring their get-togethers and outdoor recreation to new levels.
The three, with Erich’s brother Bryan Hoelzer and several other friends, tackled their most strenuous adventure—summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
Adapting for What’s Ahead
Celebrating Erich’s birthday in February at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro meant more than 10 days away during one of the year's busiest seasons. Fortunately, their career advisors were supportive.
“It shows what kind of leadership we have,” says Michael. “They acknowledged it wasn’t the best timing, but they encouraged us to do it because we’d never have this opportunity with the same people again.”
While Michael and Bryan worked hard with their teams to settle as much work as possible before the trip, they also prepared their bodies with six months of hikes, cardio, and other physical training.
However, what they couldn’t prepare alarmed them the most. “We worried about elevation sickness,” Bryan said. “Another partner at the firm, an experienced climber in fantastic shape, attempted a mountain climb and had to turn around because his body couldn’t take the elevation. You never know what will happen when you’re that high up.”
Despite their fears—and a late COVID-19 diagnosis that nearly derailed Michael’s chance to participate—both partners joined Erich and the rest of the group on a flight toward their adventure on the other side of the world.
Trekking Beyond Fear
Local guides led the crew through their seven-day, six-night journey up Mount Kilimanjaro. On the first day of the climb, a member of the group suffered altitude sickness and food poisoning. He was guided to the mountain's base, which brought home the impact of elevation on the body.
“I felt like I was in great shape,” Bryan said. “We started climbing at 12,000 feet, the highest I’ve ever been outside of a plane, and I took maybe four quick steps to climb a rock for a photo. Suddenly, I was out of breath.”
In addition to guides, paid porters assisted the group in administering medical needs, carrying equipment, and assembling base camp. Throughout the morning hikes, each group member’s oxygen levels and fluid intake was monitored, but the cold atmosphere only heightened the challenge and made hydrating unpleasant.
Three days into their daily uphill climb, Michael also suffered the effects of the altitude. “I had a headache and some dizziness, and I think we all had a cough at night. There were a few nights when my oxygen was low. It was super cold, and then one day, it was raining. We had to keep hiking through it, and I remember having doubts. I couldn’t help but wonder if I would make it.”
Michael pauses. “Then, on our last night, Bryan got sick.”