Published 1/17/08

Climber summits Kilimanjaro - at age 68

by Beckye Randall

Joe Spangler spent his Christmas holiday trudging up an African mountain, a cold, wet and exhausting trek.

“It was the most fun I’ve had in many, many years,” said Spangler. And at the age of 68, Spangler has seen a few years come and go.

How does a retiree, twice the age of most climbers, reach the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro?

“You work for it,” answered Spangler.

Spangler and his wife Sheryl left their home in the midwest after coming to Seattle for Sheryl’s 40th birthday. Opening the drapes at their downtown waterfront hotel, Sheryl informed Joe, “We’re moving here.” The couple arranged for 8-week sabbaticals from their jobs and rented a furnished apartment in Seattle to give it a try.

“We couldn’t get here fast enough,” said Spangler.

Tired of working in the advertising world, Spangler also took up the carpentry trade after the move, going to work for Contractors Labor Pool (CLP). He retired from the company six years ago, at 62.

“I needed activity, something to keep me going. I’d always loved hiking and being in the mountains, so I thought I’d give climbing a try.”

Spangler hired a personal trainer to help him get into better physical condition. He developed a routine that he continues to follow, spending 2 hours at Gold’s Gym five days a week. His workout is designed to build core strength, increase his lung capacity and maintain cardiovascular health.

In fact, the 68-year-old maintains he’s in better shape now than ever before, thanks to his daily workouts and nutritional regimen.

He also started climbing, conquering Mt. Pilchuck and Mt. Si numerous times. In 2007 he decided he was ready for a bigger challenge.

“I wanted to climb Rainier,” he said, and climb it he did. As often happens, a dangerous storm kept him from reaching the summit but he reflected, “I think I could have made it.”

After the Mt. Rainier climb, arranged by International Mountain Guides (IMG), he was contacted by the company about an opportunity to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The $7000 cost was beyond the retiree’s budget, so Spangler went back to work for a few months and sold some timber off his 20-acre property in Tulalip.

On December 16 Spangler left Seattle to join a team of seven climbers and guide Ben Marshall. As they gathered at the hotel in Moshi, Spangler quickly calculated the average age of the other climbers to be about 35 years old.

“But everyone fit together well. The group dynamics were terrific,” said Spangler.

The team planned to take the Machame route to the top of the inactive volcano, a 7-day hike. The summit can be reached by following several other routes, but Machame is longer and more challenging than the alternates.

The adventure started the morning of December 19 at Machame Gate. Hiking about 6 miles through the rainforest that day, Spangler quickly found out his waterproof jacket left him as wet inside as outside. “Not enough ventilation,” he explained.

The eight climbers were supported by more than 40 local porters, cooks and helpers. When the group arrived at camp, tents were already set up and all their supplies were waiting for them. Dinner was an unexpected surprise.

“I figured we’d be served something simple, so the delicious bowl of soup was great,” said Spangler. “But then they started bringing in platters heaped with chicken, fruit and rice. The entrées were even garnished! It was incredible.”

Breakfast the next morning was equally impressive, with an array of meats, eggs, fresh fruit, cereals and juice. “You expend a lot of calories climbing, and they made sure we were replenishing our bodies with the right nutrition.”

The next few days the team climbed to heights of more than 14,000 feet, then dropped back to the 10,000-foot level for more comfortable sleeping. On the fourth day of the climb, they reached the formidable Barancco Wall.

“The wall is a ridge that goes nearly straight up, and we had to climb it on all fours part of the time,” said Spangler. The path was narrow, in some places no more than 12 inches wide, with sheer dropoffs to the side.

The steep scramble was physically challenging but enjoyable, as the climbers marveled in the rugged scenery, exotic plant life and abundant animal and bird sightings.

On the fifth day the team made it to the high camp of Barafu. At an elevation of 15,000 feet, the previous days of acclimatization were especially important for safety and comfort.

At midnight on Christmas Eve, the team was awakened to begin the ascent to the summit at Uhuru Peak. Treading in the darkness, Spangler kept his eyes on the hiking boots of guide Ben Marshall who was walking directly ahead of him.

“I tried to match him step for step,” said Spangler. The darkness made it difficult for the climbers to see beyond their headlamps and it was important for them to stay close together on the trail.

Even more critical than the physical endurance needed for the climb, Spangler relied on positive thoughts and visualization. “Climbing is only about 50 percent physical. I kept telling myself, ‘I’m a strong climber. I love to climb.’ And it worked!”

At about 8:45 a.m. on December 24, Spangler reached the peak, the first of his party to summit. Standing at 19,340 feet above sea level, with the morning sun lighting the terrain below him, Spangler felt like he was on top of the world. It was an emotional moment for all the climbers as they celebrated their victory over the mountain.

The group spent about an hour at the summit, then began the long hike back down to Mweka Camp. Going down was harder in spots than the climb, especially where fine layers of volcanic ash made the steep descent very slippery.

Ground snow and ice weren’t much of a problem on Kilimanjaro, said Spangler, and the climb didn’t require any special gear. The snow was mostly hard-packed and much of the trail was over bare rocks. They did encounter all types of weather during the 7-day hike—rain, snow, wind, sleet and hail.

Spangler’s assault on the mountain created several “firsts”: he was the first person to reach the summit; it marked the first time Marshall had taken someone Spangler’s age to the top; and it was the first time Marshall’s complete team had reached the peak.

His official certificate, signed and numbered by the Tanzania government, signifies Spangler’s achievement, but he’s not ready to rest just yet.

“I’m going back to Rainier in July,” he said, “and this time I’m going to make it to the top.”

And after that? “I’m thinking about climbing Aconcagua in Chile.” One of the seven tallest peaks from each continent, Aconcagua reaches a dizzying 22,000 feet at its summit.

“A 71-year-old holds the record as the oldest person to climb the seven peaks,” Spangler said with a smile. “I have a few years before I hit 71. Maybe I’ll give it a shot.”

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