At 3:00 a.m., feeling like she was freezing to death on the starry, pitch-black slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, it occurred to Shirley that perhaps she should have booked the ultra-deluxe hiking excursion that she had read about instead.Join Shirley on her inspirational, yet perilous journey as she prepares and trains for a hike of a lifetime. After climbing death-defying trails in California, she travels to Africa where she fears for her life after she drinks untreated water, takes terrorizing bus rides, learns to love the toilet tent, dines on unusual Tanzanian cuisine, suffers altitude sickness, and makes a summit attempt on Mount Kilimanjaro while carrying six people in her backpack. Outfitted with her backpack and a duffel bag stuffed full of determination and dreams, she sets off on what was sure to become a life-altering adventure.Tharp's debut memoir is full of details that will make you laugh out loud and shed tears of joy and sorrow right along with her. Included are tips and information on what to pack, what to wear, vaccinations and visas, weather, and climbing routes. Tips you may not have thought of, yet need to know if you embark on your own trip of a lifetime, or just dream of going, are shared in this glimpse into an actual trek on Mount Kilimanjaro.Many full-color photos included!About the Author: Shirley Dehm Tharp is the author of her first memoir, Solo to Seven Six More in the Wind: A Memoir of Kilimanjaro, where she tells the tale of what it takes to carry six people to the Rooftop of Africa. Originally from Maryland, she enjoyed living in Indiana, Virginia, Florida, Texas, and Georgia while raising her children. All six of her children are now young adults who live away from home. She has a three-year-old granddaughter and is eagerly anticipating the births of two more granddaughters, who are expected in July and September. Shirley began her hiking adventures in 2013 in Bryson City, North Carolina while vacationing for summer break. She loved North Carolina so much, she purchased a 27-foot camper and lived in it for the next five summers. While in North Carolina, she enjoyed numerous hiking, whitewater kayaking, and other recreational opportunities that could be found near the cozy, sleepy mountain campground where she lived. Her faithful canine hiking companions, Murray and Munson, are always ready to get out on the trail and eagerly anticipate the next outing with drips of doggy drool and energetic barking. Shirley currently resides with her husband in Grovetown, Georgia, where they are converting a Dodge Ram ProMaster van in expectation of part-time van living after retirement to help support their love of traveling and the outdoors.