Soon after Dr. Art Ulene reached the top of Kilimanjaro on his 90th birthday, he applied to Guinness World Records to check whether he was the oldest person to conquer the mountain.
He had already received recognition from the Tanzania National Park Service. However, he wanted to know if the title was official.
“I didn’t do the climb with an award in mind,” he told Business Insider. “But it would be nice to have it — at least until someone beats it.”
The retired OB/GYN, who reached the summit, 19,341 feet above sea level, on July 13, was presented with a celebratory cake by his guide and 22-person support team.
“If I close my eyes, I can still see myself standing on top of the mountain looking down at the roof of the clouds,” he said. “The view was stunning.”
I took him 15 days
He said his entourage made for joyful company during the 15-day trek, singing and dancing as he slowly but surely made his way from one camp to the next.
The group, which carried a foldable chair so he could sit and take breaks, respectfully and affectionally called him “Babu,” the Swahili word for grandfather.
Ulene’s achievement, in partnership with CareScout, which helps older adults and families navigate aging, marked his third summit of the peak in 15 years.
He turned back at 17,000 feet during a previous attempt at age 85, saying, “I didn’t feel well and was not going to let my ego get in the way of my health.”
The former TODAY show medical correspondent said his recent ascent of Kilimanjaro would be his last. Still, the experience would help him tackle the challenges other seniors may face.
“I’m not telling them to climb Kilimanjaro, I’m urging them to climb ‘Mount Metaphor,'” he said. “The peaks and valleys apply to life.”
Here are three of Ulene’s longevity tips for getting the most out of your later years.
Prioritize exercise, sleep, and nutrition
The father of three, born in 1936, said that he smoked until the age of 33 and only started to exercise seriously at 50.
However, he has more than made up for it by going to the gym three or four times a week, where he uses strength training machines.
He developed the leg strength and stamina for Kilimanjaro by climbing 50 flights of stairs in his hiking boots.
“I don’t like exercise when I’m doing it, but love the way I feel afterward, ” he said. “I never remember the exertion, much as I’ve pretty well forgotten the pain of the climb.”
He combines physical activity with good nutrition — mostly by eating plant-based foods and “watching fats.”
Getting enough sleep is another key factor. “I never slept so well as I did in my tent on the mountain,” he added.
Appreciate your worth
“People talk about natural resources, saying, ‘we’re trying to mine them now,’ but the world’s greatest resource is above the ground,” Ulene said.
“It’s the intelligence, the experience, the knowledge, and wisdom of tens of millions of older people.”
He said that business and industry often ignore the benefits of having mature adults in the workplace and buy into the notion that they’re in decline.
It’s a myth, he said, and those of advanced age should take pride in themselves, adding. “If you internalize the stereotype, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. My new motto is to live up to your potential, not your age.”
Keep socially active
Ulene said the last thing he wanted to do in his advanced years was sit in an armchair and isolate himself.
“The aging period should be a time of growth,” he said, questioning the narrative that it’s when you can rest on your laurels.
He referenced his wife, Priscilla, three years his junior. She is on a monthlong solo tour of contemporary and modern art museums across America.
Meanwhile, he said that it’s important for him to mix with younger people. “My support team on Kilimanjaro consisted of young men,” he said. “They were like family to me.
“I have seven grandchildren here in the US, but I have two sets of grandchildren. I have American ones and Tanzanian ones.”
As for the future, Ulene is planning a December return with his youngest grandchildren — age 15 and 13 — to Tanzania.
They hope to camp in the foothills of Kilimanjaro and join a safari.
“I’ve traveled all over the world with my kids and grandkids,” Ulene said. And he doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon.
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