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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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