The strong wind beneath their wings!

Feb. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Kilimanjaro, at 19,340’ is the continents tallest mountain and a prize for many mountaineers who wish to climb the highest mountain on each continent. Statistically the chance of getting to the top of the lofty volcanic mass is challenging with success rates from as low as 45% to as high as 65% according to local park officials.

Wings of Kilimanjaro, a charitable attempt to set a new world record by legally flying paraglider pilots from the summit, was organised by Australian Adrian McRae and has taken several years to initiate.

McRae had a vision of raising one million dollars for Tanzanian charitable projects and convincing the government to allow a flight from the summit as an experiment relating to Tanzanian Paragliding adventures in the future.

The team which incorporates some of the worlds leading paragliding pilots, has raised significant funds for charity projects and was remarkably successful at getting 100% of the pilots to the crater of the mountain where the pilots hoped to launch.

At crater camp, a camp not usually used by tourists because of the complexities of living at 19,340’, the team prepared for their flights on February 5th 2012. Logistics due to a porter dispute and bad weather unfortunately hampered plans to get pilots off the mountain until the very last minute. A disrupted supply chain of food and water led Canadian, Jennings-Bates to be one of the first pilots to descend the mountain later in the day although many chose to stay to attempt a flight the next day.

A local meteorological group later wrote that a complete anomaly in wind speeds had occurred at that time on the mountain with an average 4 hour wind speed of 65kph, too high for a paraglider launch even at that altitude. The wind speeds were far higher than any recorded speeds in the past ten years.

The following day, February 6th, most pilots left the mountain leaving a further 8 people on the mountain to attempt another launch. Finally after several failed attempts, Nepalese pilot and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Sano Babu Sunawar, launched with his porter as a tandem passenger had an epic flight through the clouds around the summit of Kilimanjaro, finally landing in a cow field near Moshi almost an hour later. The group later confirmed that no other pilot on the trip would have been willing to launch in those conditions, testimony to the bravery and courage of “Babu” and evidence of his National Geographic status after his similar flight off Mount Everest last year.

For Jennings-Bates, the bitter/sweet moment of descending is minimised by the impact of the fund raising the pilots have been able to achieve and the knowledge that such a large group had 100% success in terms of climbing to the crater of the mountain.

“It is always difficult to descend from a high position on the mountain when you still have a window of opportunity but the supply logistics to the high camp were starting to make the situation uncomfortable” said Jennings-Bates, adding “I am really comfortable with my decision and I am looking forward to seeing the charitable work on the ground here in Tanzania, it was a beautiful climb and rekindled a desire to be in the mountains more”

Jennings-Bates will be returning to his home town of Kelowna, British Columbia on February 11th and is looking forward to other adventures throughout the year as he continues to raise his personal goal of $4 million for Canadian charity, Rally4Life.

More information on the Canadian charity Rally4Life is available at www.Rally4Life.org


-30-

Contact

Jackie Jennings-Bates
250 317 1457


About Mark Jennings-Bates

Mark is a global philanthropic adventurer who is also an advocate for Rally4Life. He competes in endurance events and challenges around the world in order to promote and highlight the work of the charity in impoverished communities as they provide sustenance, education and safe water to families. He is also a keynote speaker.

For this expedition, Jennings-Bates has been kindly supported by Dudek, Icebreaker, Apecorp, GoPro and his beautiful wife, Jackie!
www.markjenningsbates.com

About Rally4Life

Rally4Life is a Kelowna based charitable foundation that raises funds to reduce poverty around the world through the provision of safe water, sustenance, education and shelter  to families and communities.
www.Rally4life.org


About Wings of Kilimanjaro

Wings of Kilimnajaro is a philanthropic world record attempt to see over 100 pilots fly paragliders from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the worlds tallest free standing mountain. The adventurers combined will raise over $1 million for three charities.
www.wingsofkilimanjaro.com

Hi resolution photos are available on request