Stuart Trugman in February 2025 heading to Crater Camp (18,000 ft.) on Kilimanjaro. Courtesy/Mountaineers 

By WILLIAM PRIEDHORSKY
Los Alamos Mountaineers

The Feb. 24 meeting of Los Alamos Mountaineers will feature a talk by Toni Taylor on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with her husband, Stuart Trugman, as part of a supported group in February 2025.

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, rising to 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level and about 4,900 m (16,100 ft) above its plateau base. Their nine-day journey via the Northern Circuit route traverses the mountain, providing a less crowded experience and more time to enjoy the scenery and acclimate to the altitude.

In addition to photos and a description of the route and climb, Taylor will offer helpful tips for those considering a Kilimanjaro ascent. She will also briefly describe their post-climb safari, with images of the remarkable wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park.

Taylor lives in Los Alamos, where she retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory. She enjoys hiking, climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering, cross-country skiing, and backpacking.

In addition to Kilimanjaro, Taylor has climbed high peaks in Wyoming, Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Nepal, as well as the Centennial Peaks (highest 101) in Colorado. She has been active in leadership of the Los Alamos Mountaineers (LAM) for several years, serving as Secretary, Vice President, President, and Past President, and most recently as coordinator for the LAM climbing school.

We welcome all to this Mountaineers’ meeting on the regular fourth Tuesday of the month. The social hour, with cookies, begins at 6:45 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. The presentation will be in person at the Los Alamos Nature Center; the slides will be live streamed on Zoom.

Registration is required for Zoom and recommended for in-person attendance — we would love to see your smiling face. Registration details are available here.