We love to adventure with people, and we love to hear (and share) their stories, as well. So we have a series of posts called “Sharing Our Embark Stories.”

This time, the adventurer is Lou Radja; here is his Embark Story.

When you hear his story, you have no doubt that Lou Radja’s fate was to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

First, he was born on June 30, Congo’s independence day. So the bond with his home nation and continent was strong. Then, at age 11, his geography teacher told him that Kilimanjaro was “the roof of Africa.”

“That messed with my 11-year-old brain,” says Radja, who was born in Boston, grew up in Congo, and now lives in Portland, Oregon. “I thought it was awesome that this entire, amazing continent has a roof! He also said it was the closest place to heaven on the entire continent, and that also got my attention. I’ve always been fascinated by Africa, so to have this presented to me in this way, it was really cool.”

Years later, at age 40, Radja says it “was a good time to do some crazy things and take my life to another level.” And that is when he met a fellow Portlander named Donovan Pacholl, founder of Embark Exploration Co. “When Donovan told me what he does for a living,” Radja says, “I said to myself, the universe is inspiring!”

He made the commitment to climb Kili – and he made it publicly, “so I wouldn’t turn chicken and back out of it,” he says. “And then, of course, when you turn on that blinker, people respond, and they want to go, too.”

Friends from the Portland Pearl Rotary signed up, and one, Paul Thompson, became his hiking coach, leading walks every Tuesday. Then Thompson’s parents from Montana signed up. Pretty soon there was “a crew of six awesome people,” all striving to get as close to heaven as Africa would allow.

“Paul looked at me, and I thought, ‘Wow, I am out of shape,’ ” he says. “And I was. So Paul just kept saying, ‘We’ll see what happens.’ We started weekly hikes around town, then headed for the mountains.

“I started from scratch and had no experience. I was huffing and puffing, but I was excited.”

Radja’s first hike was in April; they left for Kilimanjaro in October.

What was the most inspiring moment of your trip?

Uhuru! Freedom! Nothing like it!

Freedom is why I went on that mountain in the first place. From 1884 to 1960, Congo was Belgium’s private little property, and they could do whatever they wanted with us. In fact, my grandfather took his own life because of Belgian colonialism. Knowing that, and how important my ancestors are to me, and what they had to go through for me to be who I am and have a shot at life … A flood of emotions overtook me and I cried like a baby! To stand on the roof of my beloved Africa and to think about where I, and we, have come from … Simply amazing.

What’s the biggest challenge you overcame, and how did that feel?

Fatigue, altitude sickness, loss of appetite … this was by far the most challenging thing I’ve ever done physically, emotionally and mentally. So the fact that I pushed through it gave me a stronger self-respect and self-esteem!

When you have a chance to do something that is out of your comfort zone, and grueling, it’s an opportunity to take that on in a very real physical and tangible way. There were four areas I went to Kili for: relationships, time, money, and purpose. Every day I would journal, and I would think about those things, and that’s part of reason I was crying when I got to the top. I didn’t even know where some of those emotions were coming from! We’re always wearing masks and trying to look good, trying to suppress our real feelings, so to be exposed and vulnerable and raw like that, it opens you up. And I am talking ugly-snot-shaking-whaling type of crying!

What did you learn about the place you visited and the people there?

Tanzania is a beautiful country, and even more amazing are her people! I am eternally grateful to all the amazing guides and porters for helping us get to the top; they are true professionals and great people.

I love the story about the “Uhuru Torch” that was carried to the top of Kilimanjaro on the eve of Tanzania independence to inspire the entire continent of Africa. Tanzania’s former President, Julius Nyerere said, “We, the people of Tanganyika, would like to light a candle and put it on top of Mount Kilimanjaro which would shine beyond our borders, giving hope where there was despair, love where there was hate, and dignity where there was before only humiliation.”

How did Embark help make your trip a success?

Donovan and his tribe at Embark helped crystallize what was a dream for me. The best gift I got from Donovan was “borrowed faith”! He helped me believe I could do it. Embark prepared us well every step of the way. Carrie, the “Logistic Whisperer,” helped us tremendously. And our post-climb safari was amazing, thanks to Robin! All of it was matched by the hospitality and professionalism we received once we got to Tanzania!

And the guides … I wouldn’t have made it without those guys. I was going super slow, really struggling, and those guys are part guide, part psychologist. When I got close to Uhuru and the emotional flood gates opened, the guy walking with me was halfway between, “This is so awesome” and “Are you okay?” But he stayed right there with me.

Where do you want to go next, and why?

Camino de Santiago in Spain (amazing pilgrimage) and/or Machu Picchu in Peru. I always was curious about it. Why? Well, as Nelson Mandela said, “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

Would you like to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with Embark?