January
2003
Interims go higher
John Brocklebank,
a successful interim finance director, took up the challenge
of climbing the highest mountain in Uganda, encouraged
by Malcolm Alexander! John and Malcolm were able to contemplate
the difficult snow-capped “Mountains of the Moon” thanks
to finding an experienced mountaineer, David Hamilton,
to lead a small group.
The Mountains of the Moon, correctly known
as the Rwenzori Mountains, are on the border between
Uganda and the Congo. They were first described as the
source of the Nile as early as 500BC, but were not climbed
until 1906 when the famous Italian mountaineer, the Duke
of Abruzzi, was successful.
The challenge of the climb brought out
many of the attributes of a good interim manager, such
as needing to conquer one’s fear of heights and
to put up with difficult and uncomfortable conditions – there
was much trekking through deep bog, before reaching the
snow and ice!
The trip also brought home to us the importance
of preparation and planning – and the need to keep
fit in one’s 50s. Leadership and good teamwork
was also crucial - the team included 41 porters, a cook,
a game ranger and two local guides – all these
people needed to make it possible for seven of us to
climb to 5,000 metres over eight days!
We were successful in our venture but had
also become aware of the need for good contingency planning,
given the many unknown factors involved in visiting new
places and with potentially difficult and variable weather
conditions.
This year – in fact on 29th May – is
the Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Ascent of Everest,
so not a bad time to be thinking of high places.
David Hamilton himself successfully
reached the Peak of Everest on the 26th May 2003.
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