Mahe Drysdale has completed a block of altitude training for his return to rowing, but it has hardly been completed in the usual controlled environment.
The 34-year-old summited Africa's highest peak, the 5895m Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, earlier this week. He says he felt "spaced out", as if he was "having an out of body experience" when he came over the final ridge. The reward was reaching the peak 10 minutes before sunrise after six hours 20 minutes climbing through darkness. Until then the highest he'd been was catching a train near the top of the 4158m Jungfrau peak in the Swiss Alps.
Drysdale was in a trekking party which included fiancée Juliette Haigh, comedian Rhys Darby, musician Boh Runga and Herald on Sunday columnist and broadcaster Kerre McIvor. Guides, porters and chefs accompanied them.
The expedition raised money for World Vision Micro, the aid agency's microfinancing concept where loans generally in the hundreds of dollars help entrepreneurs in developing countries. Once a borrower is approved, their name, story and business idea are uploaded onto a website. From there people can choose to fund part of their loan. Most money is invested in agriculture, commerce and production.
Speaking to nzherald.co.nz, Drysdale found it bizarre how altitude affected him.
