Monday, May 16, 2011
Posted: 10:20 p.m.
By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com
Chad Lewis and the NFLs Mount Kilimanjaro climbing party are now six days into the ascent of Africas highest mountain. Theyve hiked from four to seven hours per day and by the time Tuesdays five-hour hike from Karango Camp to Barafu Camp is finished, the group will be at 15,100 feet over sea levelthe highest Lewis has ever climbed.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Lewis, a three-time Pro Bowl tight end with the Eagles and an experienced climber going back to his days as a kid in Utah, is part of an NFL-sponsored group raising awareness of the Wounded Warriors Project, which supports seriously injured military veterans once theyve left the service and returned home.
Four wounded warriors are making the week-long climb along with Lewis, former Eagles defensive coordinator and Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi and close to 50 porters and guides.
I wish everyone in America could see our troops rocking up this very steep ridge3,000 feet straight up, Lewis said in a video posted at www.believeinheroes.orgclimb. It was totally impressive. Its amazing to see these guys with their legsprosthetic legsclimb up. Totally incredible.
Weather permitting, the group is now two days from reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet.
Hiking with some of the most amazing dudes in the whole world, Lewis said. This is something else.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com