What does Vertical Sky mean to me?

For years my career revolved around money. Managing it, making it. It’s been a good career: I’ve done well, I’ve done badly, and I’ve rebuilt myself more than once. Overall, the peaks have outweighed the troughs. My family is healthy and we’ve enjoyed the fruits of my labour.

Over time, and I think this comes with age, material things have mattered less and experiences have mattered more. Time with family, travel, and simply being at peace in nature. That’s when I started climbing.

As a child and young adult, when money was tight, I spent most weekends outside and as high up as I could get in the Welsh highlands, chasing views, sunrises and sunsets. I lost that for many years when life got in the way. “Life happens when you’re doing other things,” as they say. Fast forward to nearly fifty, and every chance I get I’m either with my kids or hiking somewhere. And that’s how it all began.

Did I ever think I’d create a Kilimanjaro company with someone from Tanzania? Invest my life savings in safari trucks? Buy hundreds of acres to grow coffee? Never in a million years. Am I proud and happy that we did it? Absolutely. It has changed my life. The fulfilment I’ve found is incredible, and the friendships I’ve forged will last a lifetime.

It’s not just about profit, though profitable businesses can do more. It’s about changing lives and giving back to communities that need it most.

This is a request for help from those who share the same passion and values: think before you book. If a trip sounds too cheap, it probably is. Climbing a mountain isn’t just about you; it’s a whole team that makes your summit possible. Many people only realise that when they come down. If you can’t afford to pay for a company that protects, respects, and fairly pays its team, wait a year, save, and do it properly, with people who truly care.

What’s often overlooked is the base price of a trip. Authorities take a large, nonnegotiable share of the cost. If your trip is cheap, the people really paying the price are the porters and guides.

If you truly want to climb Kilimanjaro, talk to us. We’ll walk you through the whole process and explain our initiatives. The more people we get to climb, the more lives we can help.

Let’s get on the mountain, make some memories, and feel the reward of changing lives. That’s what Vertical Sky means to me.

The Wannabe Adventurer.