Rebecca Wade

GOAL ACHIEVED. NEW GOALS SET. That’s the only way I know how to live.
Climbing Kilimanjaro tested me in ways the stage never did — and I enjoyed those steps, as hard as some of them were. But this is home. The weights, the process, the build. Easing back in with a lean build to reconnect with where I’m at physically. A show might be in my future… or it might not. Either way, I’m here for the journey.
I’d love to know — what are you curious about when it comes to this process? The training? The nutrition? What it actually feels like to switch gears from a mountain summit back to building muscle? The mental side of it all?
Drop your questions below — nothing is off limits. 👇

Day 6 – Part 2 | The Descent & The Decision

Coming down the mountain was its own challenge.

The descent back to Kosovo Camp was fast, steep, and demanding on legs that had already done a lot. By the time I got back, I went straight into my tent and fell asleep almost instantly. That kind of deep, full-body exhaustion that comes after pushing yourself.

When I woke up, a few of us gathered in the mess tent. We sat, talked, and reflected on what we had just done. Everyone processing it in their own way.

Then the weather changed.

Clear skies turned quickly into wind, rain, and hail. We knew the teams still coming down were facing much tougher conditions, and it shifted the energy of the day.

Our original plan was to continue down the mountain, but we took a moment to reassess as a group.

All twelve of us had made it to the summit. That mattered.

So we made the decision to come off the mountain that day.

It wasn’t about cutting anything short. It was about making a smart call based on how we were feeling and what the conditions were giving us.

Looking back at the mountain as we left, it felt surreal.
Exhausted, soaked, and proud of what we had just done.

Fifteen started. Twelve summited. Twelve came down.

No regrets.

Day 6 – Part 1 | The Summit

Midnight at Kosovo Camp.

While some of the group had already set off, the three of us sat down to what felt like the strangest breakfast of our lives. Quiet, focused, knowing what was ahead.

When we stepped outside, the storm had cleared.

After hours of wind and noise through the night, the sky opened up. Moonlight, snow underfoot, and a clear path ahead. It felt like a small window, and we took it.

From there, it was simple in theory, but not easy in practice. One step at a time. Slow, steady, and deliberate.

Looking back, all you could see were headlamps stretching down the mountain behind us. A reminder that we were all in it together, just moving at our own pace.

The final stretch up to Stella’s Point was the toughest part. Steep, demanding, and at altitude, every step takes effort. But we kept moving.

After hours in the dark, the sky began to shift. And not long after, we reached the summit.

There was no sunrise waiting for us. The fog had rolled in.

But it didn’t matter.

Standing there, after everything it took to get to that point, was enough.

Jodi and I climbed it together.
Six hours up. Step by step.

And we made it.

Day 5 – Karanga Camp to Kosovo Camp

Day 5 felt like a pause, but a very intentional one.

We left Karanga Camp and made our way past Barafu, where most climbers stop before summit night. Instead, we pushed on for another hour to Kosovo Camp at 15,900 ft.

The goal was simple. Reduce the time we would need to climb in the dark. Small decisions like that matter up here.

The day itself was one of the best we had. Clear skies, warmth, and a chance to sit, dry out our gear, and take in where we were. After a few tougher days, it felt like a reset.

That afternoon, we went over the plan with our guides. Two groups, staggered starts, and for the first time, one guide per person. Everything was set.

And then the mountain shifted.

The calm turned into wind and snow. The tents didn’t stop moving, and sleep was minimal. You could hear the first group leave into the dark, and it made everything feel very real.

Fifteen started this journey. Twelve made it here.

And that night, we went for the top.

Day 4 – Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Day 4 started with one of the most incredible views of the entire climb.

Clear skies, no clouds, and a full view of the summit ahead. It felt both exciting and very real at the same time.

And then came the Barranco Wall.

This isn’t a hike - it’s a climb. You’re using your hands and feet, following your guides closely, and staying completely focused on every movement. There are no ropes or railings - just trust in the process and the people around you.

It took us a couple of hours to make our way up, and reaching the top was one of the most satisfying moments of the trip so far.

What stood out most was watching everyone in the group push through something completely new. No one had done anything like that before, and every single person showed up for it.

From there, we continued through the Alpine Desert - a much harsher, more exposed environment that really reminds you how high you are.

By the time we reached Karanga Camp, we were tired but feeling strong. The group energy was high, and there was a real sense of momentum building.

Still twelve. Still moving forward.

Day 3 - Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Day 3 felt like a turning point.

After two days of rain, the mountain gave us a glimpse of something different - sunshine, open skies, and our first real view of the summit above the clouds. That moment made everything feel a little more real.

But it also came with a shift in the group.

We started as 15, and by the time we were moving, we were down to 12. Three of our teammates made the incredibly tough decision to turn back. It was a quiet reminder that this climb isn’t just physically demanding — it requires constant awareness of how your body is responding.

We climbed up to Lava Tower at 15,100 ft, our highest point so far. The goal here isn’t to stay - it’s to expose your body to altitude, then descend to recover. It’s a slow and intentional process of adaptation.

I felt my first signs of altitude that day, with a mild headache, but overall my energy was good.

The descent into Barranco Camp brought a completely different challenge - more technical terrain, loose footing, and a different kind of focus on the way down.

For me, this was a really satisfying day.
Clear skies, solid energy, and a growing sense that I was settling into the climb.

Day 2 was where the climb really began to ask more of us.

We gained over 3,000 feet in elevation, and the shift in both landscape and effort was noticeable. The forest gave way to open terrain, and with that came longer climbs, more exposure, and a different level of focus.

The rain stayed with us the entire day.
Not heavy enough to stop us, but constant enough to make every step more deliberate.

We crossed rivers, climbed wet rock, and navigated sections that required full attention. It wasn’t about pushing harder — it was about moving well and staying steady.

What stood out most to me was the group.

UGOIMPACT brought together an incredible team of people, and this was the day that really showed. Everyone supported each other, checked in, and made sure we all kept moving forward together. The porters were also a huge part of that - experienced, calm, and always there when it mattered.

It took us seven hours to reach Shira Camp.

We arrived soaked, tired, and genuinely proud - not just of getting through the day, but of how we did it.

This was the day the mountain started to feel real.

Day 1 – Machame Gate to Machame Camp

It’s been a month since I got home from what truly was the trip of a lifetime…
and I’m finally sitting down to share it properly.

This is the first post in a series walking you through the Kilimanjaro climb - day by day.

Day 1 started at 5AM.

There’s something electric about that pre-climb energy…
strangers becoming teammates, nerves masked by laughter, bags being stuffed and restuffed.

UGOIMPACT brought together an incredible group for this trek - and you could feel it from the very start. Supportive, positive, and all in it together.

We started climbing at 1pm. The trail didn’t ease us in - mud, rain, and a long first climb.
And I’ll be honest, I felt it. I was still recovering from being sick and running low.

But the energy of the group carried us forward.
Step by step, we kept going.

7.5 hours later, we reached camp - wet, tired, but proud.

Day 1 done.
And we were just getting started.

I did it. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro ⛰️

And honestly… it wasn’t quite like anything I had imagined.

Rainy season hit early.
The mountain had more rain than it has in decades.
There were literal rivers & waterfalls where there’s normally dry land.

Then came snow, ice, hail… even a thunder-and-lightning snowstorm on summit night.

By the time I reached the top, it was foggy. I could barely see the sign.

Not quite the sunrise view I had hoped for.
But still one of the most powerful moments of my life.

Because this climb was never just about the view.

It was about resilience.
It was about adapting when things don’t go to plan.
It was about trusting your preparation and taking it step by step… “pole pole.”

I’ve been home a couple of weeks now and I’m still processing everything this experience gave me.

I’ll be sharing more soon — the volunteer work in Tanzania, the climb day by day, all of it.

But for now… just this:

You can do hard things.
Even when it’s messy.
Even when it doesn’t look how you expected.

✨Client Spotlight ✨

I’m excited to spotlight one of my athletes today, Christa Moluchi 💛 .b443

Her journey is a great reminder of what showing up consistently can do 🙌!

Just over a year ago, she started where a lot of women do, unsure, building from the ground up, and just hoping she could get stronger. Fast forward to now… and she’s become an absolute force.

→ Squat: from struggling with lighter loads to confidently repping 135+ lbs
→ Deadlift: now pulling 195 lbs
→ Bench: building up to 115 lbs
→ Hip Thrust: a massive 360 lbs

And the numbers only tell part of the story. She trains out of her garage, shows up no matter what’s going on in life, and has built this through pure consistency, no shortcuts, no quitting when it gets hard. Even through busy seasons, stress, being sick, or family demands… she keeps going.

What really stands out is her mindset. She’s learned how to stay consistent without being perfect, how to enjoy her life while still honoring her goals, and how to keep moving forward even when the scale isn’t always cooperating.

And now, she’s taking it even further with her first photoshoot this June with Paul Bu**ta, which is going to be such an incredible way to showcase all the work she’s put in.

She’s proof that you don’t need perfect conditions - just commitment, patience, and a willingness to keep showing up.”

Strong. Consistent. Resilient. 💪

Squat:
Current 145lbs x 3 vs. 1 year ago: 70lbs x8

Hip Thrusts:
Current: 360lbs x5 vs. 1 year ago: 190lbs x 10