Karuna is the Tibetan word for compassion. My Buddhist friend and mentor, Susan, once had a router. She named it Karuna so it would beam out its name sixty-times a second. She liked the image of compassion being sent out into the neighbourhood so frequently. On my own Buddhist path, compassion has been a key part of the journey and something I want to nurture in others and myself.

I am also a fan of alliteration. While searching for a focus for this climb, I liked the how “Kili Karuna” sounded as it rolled off my tongue. Suddenly, I knew I had found my intention for this climb: to train and climb with compassion in every step. For the first time, on a seven summits climb, friends will join me. I look forward to guiding them on their high altitude journeys and sharing some of the tricks I’ve learned for surviving the inevitable suffering of low oxygen environments.

The climb is scheduled for June 2008. I will blog weekly during the months leading up to the climb. Please visit this site often for updates and pictures!