UPDATE 2007: Cameron Dubé becomes a valued member of the Outdoor Adventure program staff as technical skills co-ordinator. See his staff profile on the Outdoor Adventure program homepage.
UPDATE: December 20. 2006 - Back home from Kilimanjaro. Read Cameron Dubé's last blog on his reflections on Africa.
December 11, 2006 - Expedition Africa: 26 of the 32 climbers made it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at approximately 1:00 this morning our time. Successful climbers included Algonquin College Outdoor Adventure graduates Ben Shillington and Cameron Dube and first-year Outdoor Adventure student Sarah Peterson.
UPDATE: Current student Sarah Peterson joined Outdoor Adventure grads Cameron Dube and Ben Shillington on the climb. Read Sarah's journals, blog #1 and blog #2, and listen to her audio clip.
December 10, 2006 - Read the latest journal (PDF) from Cameron & Ben and listen to Expedition Africa audio clips from Ben Shillington, Dec. 5 and Cameron Dube, Dec. 8.
CAMERON DUBE GOES TO AFRICA
November 2006 - It isn’t the toughest climb he’s ever done, but for Cameron Dubé, right, it is the most exciting one. The Algonquin College Outdoor Adventure graduate will climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in early December. He calls it “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Dubé, who grew up in the Ottawa Valley and became an outdoor enthusiast at a young age, considers the climb a long hike--a hike that will take him almost 20,000 feet above sea level. “There will be no ropes needed for the climb, but it will take eight long days to reach the top” says Dubé.
When he starts his journey, he will probably be wearing shorts and a tee-shirt. But when he reaches the summit of the world’s highest free-standing mountain, he will be facing temperatures that could dip to -20 Celsius overnight, may experience wind gusts of up to 80 km/hr, and will be surrounded by walls of ice that reach 80 feet into the air.
Dubé will be joining another Outdoor Adventure graduate on the Mount Kilimanjaro climb, Ben Shillington, from Barry’s Bay, Ontario. Shillington (left, in above photo) has already joined the expedition team as it travels through nine different African countries and has been recording audio clips of the team’s progress. He is no stranger to mountain climbing, having previously participated in two climbs of the world’s highest and most challenging mountain, Mount Everest in Nepal.
After graduating from the Outdoor Adventure program, Dubé worked in the field and experienced other adventures before deciding to pursue his Bachelor of Tourism Management degree at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C. Algonquin and TRU have an articulation agreement where Algonquin's adventure graduates are granted advanced standing in the Thompson Rivers University degree program. Dubé took advantage of this partnership to earn his degree and is excited to be able to participate in projects such as Expedition Africa.
Dubé and Shillington, under the direction of Ben Webster, the leader of Expedition Africa, will be assisting 25 students and friends of Elmwood School in Ottawa, who will also be taking part in the climb. The “Small World, Big Picture” African Expedition aims to engage Ontarians, particularly students, and help them more fully understand the challenges, opportunities, and realities facing the people of Africa today.
Recently, Dubé spoke to two Grade 7 classes at Our Lady of Sorrows School in Petawawa, Ontario and St. Luke Catholic School in Ottawa, about his upcoming African adventure. He told them that once the climb reaches the 8,000 foot level, your breathing is impacted. “The easiest tasks take forever and so many things are going through your mind. It’s like your head is in a vice and every step is excruciating. To keep from dehydrating, I will drink many liters of water per hour,” adds Dubé.
Through the use of advanced technology, Algonquin College has been tracking Expedition Africa on its web site. The Mount Kilimanjaro climb is part of a much larger project that will span five months. The African trek started in Egypt in September, will feature the Mount Kilimanjaro climb in December, and is expected to conclude in South Africa in early January of 2007.
You can learn more about this amazing journey and track the progress of the expedition team through audio clips, journals, and stunning photographs. Read Cameron Dubé's journals at Algonquin College - Expedition Africa and join the team as it experiences many exciting adventures from Egypt to South Africa.
Photo Dec. 8/06 - Ben Shillington at 14,000+ ft on a rest day before continuing Mt. Kilimanjaro climb.
READ MORE ABOUT ALGONQUIN'S OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAM
DIRECTLY ON THE PROGRAM WEB SITE.
