UCA criminology lecturer Robert Norvell summited Mount Kilimanjaro in December 2024. UCA Magazine caught up with him to talk about his experiences.
Q: What brought you to UCA?
A: I’m originally from South Florida, Palm Beach County. I was an attorney and a part-time teacher before deciding to transition into full-time teaching. I accepted an offer at UCA because my sister lives in St. Louis, and I wanted to experience Arkansas.
Q: Why did you choose Mount Kilimanjaro?
A: I wanted an adventure and had never been to Africa. Kilimanjaro isn’t a technical climb, so it was an attainable challenge.
Q: How did UCA help with your training?
A: UCA’s HPER Center connected me with one of their personal trainers for strength training twice a week, which helped me prepare for the trip. It was essential for the summit night, which involved seven hours of climbing straight up.
Q: What is the hike up Kilimanjaro like?
A: The trip lasted seven days and six nights and took us through four different landscapes, starting in the jungle and ending with cold and snow. You have to turn your water bottles upside down because the water freezes from the top down, and when you get up there, temperatures drop into the negatives.
Q: What was the most challenging part of the journey?
A: The summit push was the hardest. It took seven hours of climbing in freezing temperatures, and it was physically and mentally exhausting.
Q: What did it feel like when you got to the summit?
A: When we first reached the peak, everyone took pictures and I realized we looked exhausted and pretty miserable. There’s the immediate agony, but then you have a moment to reflect, recognize what you’ve accomplished, and savor it a little. Honestly, it was a pretty cool thing to do.
Q: What’s next?
A: I’d like to hike to Everest Base Camp, which takes about a week and a half to reach the foot of the Himalayas. I’d also like to climb Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail, which takes about three days. I’ve always wanted to experience the historical and cultural aspects of Peru.
