What mountain are you trying to climb in life?
For many people, this question will probably sound figurative. For Dr. Art Urine, it’s also literal.
This month, Uren, a former obstetrician and gynecologist, made history by becoming the oldest person to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain and the world’s highest free-standing mountain at 19,000 feet. He reached the summit on July 13, his 90th birthday, embarking on a 15-day trek in partnership with CareScout, a company that helps seniors and their families overcome aging.
Uren says his motivation for climbing Kilimanjaro was two-fold. On the one hand, he wanted to do it for himself. But I also wanted to show people that even at the end of life, there is still potential.
“People ask, ‘So why are you doing this?’ And for me, mountains have become a metaphor for life. Mountains have peaks and valleys. So does life. There are ups and downs,” he says. “If you’re not willing to climb mountains, you’re missing out on a lot of your potential.”
How a 90-year-old man climbed Kilimanjaro
Uren previously climbed Kilimanjaro with his wife when he was 75 and she 72. This time they climbed in a group and took special care considering their advanced age. All in all, the journey took 15 days. It took 11 and a half days to go up and 4 days to come down.
“Frankly, my legs weren’t going any faster, so I had to slow down,” Uren says. “We brought in a chair, and they pulled it out for me every hour. I sat down and spent five to 10 minutes just recovering.”
No matter how difficult the climb became, Uren says he kept reminding himself that all he had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other. That’s how he overcame many obstacles in his life.
“People ask me, ‘How do you climb Kilimanjaro?’ The answer is one step at a time,” he says. “Put your left foot in front of you, then your right foot in front of your left. Repeat this about 50,000 times.”
Kilimanjaro is not an easy walk. Contains rugged and rocky terrain. Uren says the most difficult part was when he had to lift himself up on a large rock.
It was also difficult to get down the mountain. This was because I had to descend the mountain in a controlled manner to avoid falling.
But what awaited him at the top was a birthday he’ll never forget.
“I collapsed at the top,” he says. “We had a birthday party at the top. We ate cake with icing on it. We sang and danced.”
What his Kilimanjaro climb really means
So, what will Uren do next after climbing Kilimanjaro at the age of 90? Well, he now wants to focus on going under Mountains, especially skiing. He has already purchased a season ski pass to Deer Valley, Utah, and plans to take lessons from an 80-year-old instructor.
He also wants to continue to inspire people to live the best they can, no matter their age.
“To be clear, I’m not saying all older people should climb Mount Kilimanjaro,” he says. “What I tell them is, find your mountain. Maybe it’s something in life that’s holding you back. Maybe it’s something on your bucket list, something you’ve always had to do. Give it a try.”
It is the spirit that led Uren to the top of Kilimanjaro and will guide him for the rest of his days.
“I want to be in perfect health until I die,” he says. “When I die, I want people to say, ‘Why did he die? Yesterday was so wonderful!'”
