Kilimanjaro Adventure - the ascent begins

Approximately 25’000 people attempt to summit the Kilimanjaro annually, but only two thirds will be successful. The Joya founders started their ascent of 6 nights and 7 days on the so called “Whiskey Road” to the top of the Kilimanjaro!

Along the way they challenged and will still challenge several climate zones. From rainforest, moorland, alpine desert to arctic summit.

First thing to be recognized during the first 3 days is the unpredictable weather. At first the sun is shining, then you get surprised by heavy rain and thunderous wind. The clothes are wet, the path is barely visible through fog and the wind sadly doesn’t help. But the good mood and the continuous support of the guides make everything more bearable, so you slowly walk step by step higher and higher.

 

 

A trustful companion on the trip - the Joya shoe on the Active sole.

 

You hike in groups. The people who were strangers to you at the beginning, are now your everyday companions and you support, motivate and help each other, because in the end everyone has the same goal - to stand on top of Kilimanjaro at 5'895m.

The first 4’600m are done and Karl and Claudio realize - this will not be a walk in the park. But they have successfully completed the first challenges and look proud and impressed in the direction of the summit.

More to come soon…

 

Some impressions along the way:


From Säntis to Kilimanjaro

Setting a sign against poverty with sporting commitment - in the luggage health shoes and sponsorship money for a mother-child project on site. Together with a group of around 20 participants, the two shoe manufacturers from eastern Switzerland, Karl Müller and Claudio Minder, set out on their journey. The adventure from Säntis to Kilimanjaro leads Karl and Claudio to the origin of their health shoes. As early as 25 years ago, nomads from the Serengeti Savannah in northern Tanzania inspired Karl Müller III, an inventor from eastern Switzerland, to develop a shoe with a particularly rounded sole, which he christened MBT - short for Masai Barefoot Technology. His son, Karl Müller IV, explains: "The Masai, who live at the foot of the 5,895-meter-high Kilimanjaro, are nomadic people who can easily walk long distances barefoot in a very natural gait. This has been a major influence on us in the development of our health shoes." The East Swiss health shoes turn 25 years old this year, because of which the founders Joyas also want to be socially involved and set a sign against poverty. That's why they are climbing Africa's highest mountain, testing a new sole technology and collecting sponsorship money for the poorest in the region where it all began. As of today, more than CHF 280,000 has already been collected on the donation barometer. The preparations for the ascent of Kilimanjaro have been going on for the two founding friends for half a year now and they do not underestimate the physical challenge.

Read more →

From Säntis to Kilimanjaro

Setting a sign against poverty with sporting commitment - in the luggage health shoes and sponsorship money for a mother-child project on site. Together with a group of around 20 participants, the two shoe manufacturers from eastern Switzerland, Karl Müller and Claudio Minder, set out on their journey. The adventure from Säntis to Kilimanjaro leads Karl and Claudio to the origin of their health shoes. As early as 25 years ago, nomads from the Serengeti Savannah in northern Tanzania inspired Karl Müller III, an inventor from eastern Switzerland, to develop a shoe with a particularly rounded sole, which he christened MBT - short for Masai Barefoot Technology. His son, Karl Müller IV, explains: "The Masai, who live at the foot of the 5,895-meter-high Kilimanjaro, are nomadic people who can easily walk long distances barefoot in a very natural gait. This has been a major influence on us in the development of our health shoes." The East Swiss health shoes turn 25 years old this year, because of which the founders Joyas also want to be socially involved and set a sign against poverty. That's why they are climbing Africa's highest mountain, testing a new sole technology and collecting sponsorship money for the poorest in the region where it all began. As of today, more than CHF 280,000 has already been collected on the donation barometer. The preparations for the ascent of Kilimanjaro have been going on for the two founding friends for half a year now and they do not underestimate the physical challenge.

Read more →