My name is Mital Patel and I’m a complaints and inquiry clerk in Phoenix.
You can find me training to climb mountains when I’m not on the job. I have always enjoyed outdoor activities — especially hiking. I found comfort in connecting with nature after going through some rough times in my life, so I started hiking more.
I began training for climbs in 2022, starting with the highest point in Arizona: Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff. My friend Charan became my hiking partner in 2024, and we climbed Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in 2025.
We both wanted a new challenge, so we decided on Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
We had to train hard for that.
It took us seven days to complete the climb, and after reaching base camp, it became extremely difficult. We struggled with altitude and exhaustion.
Our guides encouraged us, understood our limits and gave us the confidence to continue when we felt like giving up.
The summit night was freezing, with temperatures dropping below zero. We had to wear several layers of warm clothing and heavy jackets.
The cold, exhaustion and high altitude made the final climb even more challenging, but reaching the summit made it all worthwhile. I realized that reaching the summit was not just about physical strength but about mental determination and having someone who believed in me.
Without the help of the amazing crew, I don’t think we would have made it to the top.
Charan recently mentioned that she had a new goal for us. She didn’t say what it would be, but I know it will take two years of work to get there. I’m guessing it is Mount Everest base camp.
“Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.
