Real Lives: Not Your Average ‘Father’s Day’

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By Kayla O’Brien 

There comes a point in everyone’s parenting journey where they search for new ways to spend quality time with their kids. For Bill McGahan, vice president of Reit Management and Research LLC, that moment came two years ago when his daughter Sara, the oldest of four children (including triplets), turned 12.

“We loved skiing together but we wanted something different,” says McGahan. “So after doing a little research, we decided that climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania would be a great way to not only spend time together but also accomplish something.”

While climbing one of the world’s seven summits isn’t the most common of father-daughter activities, the adventure was perfectly suited for this duo. In his 40s, McGahan was unhappy with his weight and eating habits so this became his opportunity to get healthy. On the other hand, says McGahan, the trip involved a great deal of shopping in preparation for the nine-day trek-a 12-year-old girl’s dream.

“People thought we were nuts,” says McGahan. “They thought, ‘why don’t you just go for a walk?’ or ‘How about an afternoon at the mall?’ But between training together and spending nine days camping together on the mountain, we really got to know each other. That’s a really big deal.”

While those around the two questioned their high ambitions, McGahan and his daughter began training rigorously. Their routines included personal training and running several miles per day.

“There was a lot of time involved with the training-it was at times painful as we were putting weight on our back and hiking,” says McGahan. “But on the other hand, I didn’t want to get near the top and not make it, or prevent Sara from making it because I couldn’t do it.”

Bill and Sara teamed up with Thompson Family Adventures to set out on the journey, recognizing the uniqueness of Sara’s age and aspiration.

After leaving behind his wife and three other children, Bill and Sara embarked on their much anticipated expedition. McGahan says, as expected, the climb was by no means “easy.” “At 19,400 feet or so, not everyone in our group made it. It’s really a climb about altitude sickness and patience-even really fit people sometimes don’t make it because they rush themselves or can’t acclimate to the high altitudes,” he explains.

According to McGahan, the climb was mainly uphill for a great majority of the trip.

“You start out at about 5,000-6,000 feet, climb up to 15,000, then come back down to acclimate to the altitude,” says McGahan. “Then you go back up and summit.”

“It was so incredibly satisfying to stand on the top with my daughter,” says McGahan “It helped me reinforce that when you set a long-term goal, it won’t necessarily happen instantaneously, but if you take steps to make it happen and don’t overdo it, you will not only get to the top, but enjoy all the residual benefits that go along with getting to the top.”

The trip down took about two days for the McGahans. “We could have come down in one day,” says McGahan, “but you really have to prepare yourself to take the pounding on your legs.”

After all of their hard planning and training, the McGahans got more than they set out for. The two plan to work their way towards the possibility of achieving all seven summits. In the meantime, (at press time) McGahan will be climbing Tennessee’s Mount LeConte, the “tallest” mountain in the Eastern U.S., Washington’s Mount Rainier with high school friends, and Europe’s Mount Elbrus, reuniting with Sara later this summer.

“It was a total blast so we’re going to be doing it again,” says McGahan. “The key to really having a good time is to hire a good guide, find a good program to train with, and really listen to the guides. At 17,000 feet, it’s not the easiest to think clearly.” RE