The NAUTIZ X9 on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Rugged handheld in an ultra-rugged environment

Demanding environment, perfect for the Nautiz X9

A Kilimanjaro climb is not for the faint-hearted, but for those who are willing to take on the challenge, the rewards are incredible. Located in Tanzania, with its summit of 5,895 meters (19.341 feet), Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

Rasmus Hvorslev recently completed the tough climb and brought along his Nautiz X9 rugged Android handheld. “I’m incredibly impressed with how well the device coped with the cold climate!” he said.

The Nautiz X9 is a rugged Android handheld designed for use in the most demanding environments. That means you’ll never have to worry about interrupting your work or losing important data. It can handle high altitude, extreme temperatures, dust, rain, drops, and shocks, a perfect companion on rugged Kilimanjaro.

On the way up

A Kilimanjaro climb takes around 5-9 days, depending on your route and pace. The first few days of the climb are relatively easy, passing through forests and meadows and occasionally glimpsing monkeys and birds along the way. But as the climb progresses, and the landscape becomes more barren and rockier, you begin to feel the impact of the altitude on your body. Climbers often experience symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness. It is important to take the climb slowly, to allow the body to acclimatize to the altitude and avoid more severe complications.

“Altitude sickness is a lottery and I got it badly during the third night. Fortunately, I climbed the mountain with four doctors who were able to help me. This had a great effect and helped me and the team feel better. We also took Diamox so that the body would get some help to adapt,” commented Rasmus.

Not technical, but not easy

Climbing Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, so you don’t need specialized equipment or training other than a good fitness level. The climb is physically demanding, and you need to be prepared for long days of hiking. Summit day begins in the wee hours of the morning. This is one of the most challenging part of the climb with steep inclines and freezing temperatures. But the reward of reaching the summit and watching the sunrise over the African plains is an experience that most climbers remember forever.

“The views of the clouds at the top are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. You don’t realize how astonishingly beautiful it is until you stand there yourself,” says Rasmus.

Heading down: the toughest part

The descent from the summit is another of the more difficult parts of the climb since you feel exhausted, and the steep terrain can be treacherous. However, for Rasmus, the sense of achievement and the memories of the climb make it all worth it.

“The adventure was a fantastic lesson about mental strength and how much more you can do than you think and how much stronger you become as a team versus individually. It was extremely tough mostly because of the altitude, lack of oxygen, extreme pulse, dizziness, but also because of the extreme climate which was raw and cold with no place to warm up for six days.”

Lessons learned

Climbing Kilimanjaro is not just about the physical challenge but also about experiencing the culture and beauty of Tanzania as well as meeting other climbers from around the world and sharing the adventure.
Rasmus concludes, “You take home relationships for life. We needed to ensure that everyone felt good and we had to put the team before the individual. Early on, they told us that we should all do it together and that this was the priority. This attitude laid the foundation for an environment where we could get very close to each other in a short time.”

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an adventure of a lifetime requiring physical strength, mental toughness, and a sense of adventure. But for those who are willing to take on the challenge, the rewards are incredible.

The NAUTIZ X9 on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Demanding environment, perfect for the Nautiz X9

On the way up

Not technical, but not easy

Heading down: the toughest part

Lessons learned

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