Ascending Triumph: Yasmine Louz's Inspiring Journey to Kilimanjaro's Pinnacle

"Believe in your dreams, stay true to your values, seek to surpass yourself, but above all, find joy in the effort," advises Yasmine.

Yasmine Louz, a 20-year-old Moroccan, recently marked a significant milestone by reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on July 17.

Mount Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano in Tanzania, is renowned for being the highest peak in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain globally, towering at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.

Embarking on the arduous Machame route, Yasmine and her team commenced their journey on July 13. This path, usually traversed in seven days, was ambitiously condensed into a six-day odyssey. The final ascent began at midnight, confronting the team with temperatures plunging to -12 degrees Celsius during a strenuous six-hour climb.

Yasmine recounted the details of her expedition. Discussing her preparation, she revealed, "The Kilimanjaro project dates back to three years ago, just after my ascent of Toubkal, but it only materialized a year ago."

"For physical preparation, I didn’t change my habits, which were to run at least three times a week. I necessarily added some muscle strengthening sessions, but my sports routine has always been the same," she elaborated.

Yasmine underscored the pivotal role of mental fortitude, asserting, "For the mental aspect, which is, without lying to you, 90% responsible for your success or not, we can say that when you want to realize one of your biggest dreams, nothing can stop you."

Thinking of her family provided her with immense strength to surmount Kilimanjaro's numerous challenges. "Thinking about my family was my greatest strength to overcome the difficulties of Kilimanjaro," she shared.

Reflecting on the climb's most arduous phase, Yasmine noted, "Honestly, the hardest moment is the final ascent, which starts at midnight to be able to reach the summit at sunrise."

"It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s windy, and the fatigue of the last four days is felt, especially at high altitude where oxygenation is low. It’s at this moment that you question everything, and your mind takes over your body," she continued.

Despite these trials, Yasmine drew motivation from the support of loved ones and the camaraderie formed along the way. "Kilimanjaro is also about beautiful memories and sublime encounters for life," she remarked, adding, "Meeting people from all over the world, but especially exchanging with these guides and porters passionate about their job, were my most beautiful memories!"

From this experience, Yasmine gleaned invaluable insights, acknowledging that "nothing is taken for granted, but also that all work pays off."

She encourages others to "believe in your dreams, stay true to your values, seek to surpass yourself, but above all, find joy in the effort that will lead you to excellence."

Looking ahead, Yasmine intends to savor the outcomes of this achievement with humility while contemplating her next adventure. "For now, I really want to enjoy the feedback from this experience and what it has brought me with a lot of humility," she expressed, before concluding, "The fulfillment of one dream always brings another. The future will tell us what the next adventure will be!"