Bucks County father-and-son duo attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro

Damon C. Williams, Bucks County Courier Times
Updated ·4 min read

When Michael Valliere reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro more than a decade ago, he swore then that he would never attempt the hike again.

But, watching his 12-year-old son Pierce grow and endure certain hardships was enough to convince Valliere to once again hike Africa's tallest freestanding mountain, this time with Pierce, to make sure he — and they — have the experience.

The Bucks County father-and-son duo will attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in January. It could help Pierce become the 18th youngest person to ever summit the epic mountain in Tanzania.

Michael also hopes this adventure strengthens their father-son bond and empowers his son with a one-in-a-lifetime accomplishment.

"I lost my dad when I was young to a motorcycle accident, and being a good and present dad has always been of utmost importance to me," the elder Valliere said. "In addition, Pierce has anxiety, and growing up I have seen him struggle with confidence issues.

"My hope for Pierce is that if he can get to the top he will have a lifelong memory with dad and it will alter his self-image to a higher status within and give him more confidence as he enters the challenging teenage years."

The Vallieres have lived in Furlong for the past six years, and Pierce is currently a Holicong Middle School student who will attend CB East next year.

The father-and-sone duo of Michael Valliere, right, and son Pierce, will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. In doing so, Pierce will become the 18th youngest person to successfully summit the mountain.
The father-and-sone duo of Michael Valliere, right, and son Pierce, will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. In doing so, Pierce will become the 18th youngest person to successfully summit the mountain.

Michael said he and his son are currently training for the arduous adventure.

"We have done several hikes together in the Poconos to train and prepare," Michael said. "We both ride a Peloton to improve our cardiovascular endurance, and over the summer, we did a lot of bike rides and a lot of body weight training."

Michael, having completed the hike years ago, said he wouldn't be going if it weren't for Pierce.

"I did it 15 years and ten surgeries ago, and I was much younger then," Michael said. "I beat myself up with lots of orthopedic injuries; this is definitely going to be more challenging this time."

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Pierce, a member of a youth hockey league, said the stamina he has built up in that sport should help him reach Kilimanjaro's summit alongside his dad.

The father-and-son duo of Michael Valliere, left, and son Pierce, will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. In doing so, Pierce will become the 18th youngest person to successfully summit the mountain.
The father-and-son duo of Michael Valliere, left, and son Pierce, will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. In doing so, Pierce will become the 18th youngest person to successfully summit the mountain.

"Hockey is a very big part of my life, and I think it will help," Pierce said. "It's been great preparing with my dad. He has really taught me how fortunate I am to go on this trip, and how much sacrifices my parents make day in and day out.

"He has unlocked a new level of understanding inside of me, and I hope I can get to know my dad as even more of a best friend rather than just a nagging old dad.

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain, reaching heights of 5,895 meters, or 19,340 feet.

According to the Kilimanjaro National Park website, there are a handful of Kilamanjaro summit trails, with varying degrees of difficulty.

The Machame route is used by half of all hikers and is the longest, taking roughly seven days to complete.

"On summit night, you get a couple hours of sleep, then start hiking at midnight," Michael said. "It's the steepest part by far, and very cold. So you're very cold, very sleepy and with very little oxygen, and you have to hike like that for six hours.

"The reason you do that is to get to the summit by 6 a.m., in order to see this just majestic sunrise over Africa," Michael added. "And the more Pierce learned about it, the more he wanted to do it."

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Pierce said although he is hiking alongside his dad who has completed the summit, he still has a few concerns.

"I am most concerned about altitude sickness," Pierce said, echoing a concern his father has. "I am not one to get sick but when it rains, it pours there. Plus, This is unlike anything I've even dreamed about before, so I don't know what to expect all the way up there.

"I think I am going to learn how persistent I really am," Pierce added. "This mountain is hard to climb up."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County father-and-son pair attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro