I want to climb mountains, literally.

I just finished reading Into Thin Air by Jack Krakaur (about the Mt Everest disaster in '96), and I so totally want to climb mountains now. I used to say I wanted to climb Everest, but now I realize (and I guess I always did), that climbing Everest is not so realistic for me. I think the cost is upwards of $60,000. I mean, that's pocket change, right? I do think it would be cool to go to Nepal and walk through all the little villages up towards base camp, though. It sounds georgous with the huge mountains looming above, and walking on little footbridges that span deep valleys.

But anyways, if I can't summit the tallest mountain in the world I'd like to summit a few of the smaller ones. Say maybe Timpanogos, or Mt Nebo. :) I haven't climbed to the top of a mountain since back in college, so this is way overdue. Jack and I are planning on Timp this Saturday, and I'm not sure when/if we'll do Nebo. But hopefully this fall before the first snowfall. Then I'd like to move on to the likes of, say, Mt Kilimanjaro. What do you think? At 28,250 feet, it's the tallest mountain in Africa but completely walk-able. I don't think you have to do any sort of rock or ice climbing, so I'd venture to say that I could tackle it. Plus, I just Google'd it, and it's only $305/person for a 5-night expedition. And even better, I referenced my handy dandy Traveler's Atlas and found out Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania which borders Zambia, so I could group a Kilimanjaro expedition in with my Africa safari/Victoria Falls adventure. I am so going to see the world, one day. But first, Mt Timpanogos.