Mount Kenya

The underdog’s underdog.

Hi my name is ken. I am a kikuyu tribesman. My very first memories of being alive are looking after my family’s herd of cattle in the Aberdare mountains of Kenya. For days on end I was put in charge of a herd of pretty cranky cows; my family’s only way off making an income to feed nine hungry mouths. I was 8 years old. And I had to fight Hyenas’ to protect my family’s income. It was tough.

Then my family picked up sticks and moved to the big city of Nairobi. We ended up in one of the world’s biggest shanty towns. It seemed like life changed from fighting Hyenas to fighting the whole world to stay alive. Then I discovered Mount Kenya and I found out that a good living could be made from helping crazy muzungus (white guys) trek and climb this amazing mountain. Slowly but surely my mind turned to becoming a mountain guide; to have my own crew and to help mzungu fulfil their dreams. I started as a porter carrying loads well in excess of the stipulated 20 kg. And after many years of scrapping hard I qualified as a full mountain guide and now have a crew of good friends who can cook great meals and carry big loads, and i take mzungu to the Mountain I now call home.

ROLFE:So, here’s you and me... I always thought I was an underdog. You know, the obscure guy who hangs around the crag who has the knack to spot that un-climbed route . Which I’d then bolt and top-rope the hell out off to assure that flawless ground-up first ascent. Smoothing the way to fashion and fame. And, a picture in the magazine. But then Louie Steel-fingers would come along and solo the second hardest route on the crag... the route which stood out like a dog-testicle; a route nobody could fail but be impressed by . And of-course the mag’s would begin to spin their hype; dammit, the guy even got onto U-tube and Vinemo and as always my cranking efforts dwindled into obscurity. An insignificant no-where street usually beckoned for all my hard efforts... time and again.

So last week I had a client to climb Mount Kenya. I had known Ken for a while but never realised what he was about. This guy started from way back in the stone age; literally, and made it to top. Yet no-body knows about the Kens of the world. He doesn’t talk much about his back-ground and it’s only after a couple of years of knowing him that I pieced together what he is about.

Sure my client and good friend Matt climbed Mt Kenya and nailed a hard technical route. Sure we had a great time and had our fair share of gnarly moments... And for sure, like so many Mzungus who have climbed mountains around the world we would like to score that mark on our CV’s and say we did it ourselves.

But did we really?

How would we have felt arriving at the foot of the 700m wall if we had to endure my culinary disasters, hump all the climbing and camping gear and do all the camp chores for the week leading up to that moment of glory... pretty bloody buggered I am sure.

You know I have even seen websites that proclaim a solo ascent of the world’s highest peaks... a claim that totally melted away the 5 or 6 Sherpa’s who did the job that Ken and his crew did for us on Mount Kenya. . Infact the names of the support given on those trips were soon forgotten when it came to thumping the bar and that incessant shouting off “me me me me...” begins to drown out all other noise.

So we had a great climb on Mount Kenya... we reached the top... and it felt great.

BUT you know Ken... for once and for all I need to tell you that I am only a lousy Mzungu... And that YOU are the hero in the story and although we nailed a hard route on a hard peak we would never have been able to do a thing without you!! Maximum respect to you!.