Ian Leap and Joshua Cohen at the top of Kilimanjaro
After seven months of quarantine brought on by the novel coronavirus, most people have picked up a new hobby or two. Some of us dabbled with sourdough bread. Some learned how to play guitar.
Joshua Cohen climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
Cohen, who is studying electrical and computer engineering, together with his friend Ian Leap, who is studying chemical engineering, traveled to Tanzania and began their climb from the Machame gate on September 7. They summitted the 19,341 peak – the highest point in Africa – four days later.
“The idea started because we’re both avid climbers,” Cohen said. “We really wanted a challenge.”
Because COVID-19 lockdowns have changed travel plans so often, Cohen said that the pair decided to make the trip while they still could. He also said that climate change was quickly changing the experience.
“The glaciers on the top are shrinking every year, and right after we got back a huge forest fire started blazing across the entire mountain,” he said. “We weren’t sure if we’d ever get a chance to climb again if we didn’t do it now.”
All photos courtesy Joshua Cohen.