Ann Curry, ‘Today’ Show Host, Turned Back From Kilimanjaro Summit

November 20, 2008

Today show host Ann Curry has been turned back from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro after getting within striking distance. Her decision to pull back from the final summit push, which was scheduled for tomorrow, came after the team started suffering from the effects of acute altitude sickness.

She said in yesterday’s broadcast report that, even if they didn’t summit, they accomplished what they set out to do by showing the visual evidence of how far the glaciers and snow fields have retreated from the mountain because of climate change with 80 percent of the glaciers having disappeared in 20 years. The report made no claim as to whether the climate change is man-made or occurring naturally. (From The Examiner)

Ann Curry had been sent to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and one of the famed Seven Summits, to report on the effects of climate change. This was part of a ‘Today’ show series highlighting climate change around the globe. Her other co-hosts were dispatched to places like Iceland, Belize, and Australia and are still reporting on location.

Curry’s final altitude before retreating was 15,700 feet, or about 3,500 feet from the top. Not bad for someone who found out they were going less than three weeks ago. Ann Curry has had no formal mountain climbing experience before this trip to Kilimanjaro. That is still a pretty good feat and she should be proud of her attempt. Half the battle in mountain climbing is knowing when to say when-Good job, Ann!

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