Man, son climb Kilimanjaro

A 75-year-old Evans man and his 46-year-old son returned recently from Africa, where they went on a safari and climbed the continent's highest peak.

//

Jim Holder and his son Jeff, also from Evans, reached the icy cap of Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro at dawn Jan. 27 after a six-day climb. Jim said it was an awesome feeling to see the sunrise from atop the 19,335-foot stratovolcano's summit.

"You can see so far, you seem so insignificant," Jim said. "It really puts the world in perspective."

They took part in the expedition with three friends, about 15 porters and a cook.

The trip was arranged by a family friend from California, and the Holders prepared for the rugged hike by stepping up their exercise regimen and walking 25 miles a week.

Jim hiked California's White Mountain last year to be sure he was ready for the trip.

Jeff said the trip was special because of the time it allowed him to spend with his father. He said he would like to take the rest of his family to Africa one day.

"We've done a lot of things together, and this was a chance we had to be together where we were pushing ourselves both physically and mentally and that was the unique aspect of it," Jeff said.