TWO Pewsey businessmen found themselves in a 100mph gale in freezing temperatures after deciding to climb Africa's tallest mountain for a laugh.

With one of their party of four unable to go on because of a lung infection, they were left wondering whether their adventure had been such a good idea after all.

The duo, furniture designer Johnny Hawkes and commodities broker Charles de Roeper, went on a tough five day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, which at just under 20,000 feet is the world's biggest free standing peak. They were joined by two friends from London, Simon Cleaver and Gavin Phillips.

What seemed a bit of a 'men behaving badly' caper over a few drinks turned out to be a major test of endurance .

Mr Hawkes had previously climbed glaciers in Norway 20-odd years ago but said of Kilimanjaro: "It was the most inhospitable place I have ever seen."

It was Mr de Roeper, 42, who has had climbing experience in the Alps, who suggested tackling Kilimanjaro.

Father-of-three Mr Hawkes, 45 and the oldest of the four, said: "It kept getting talked up that we ought to go walking on the fells or somewhere similar. We ended up climbing the world's biggest free standing mountain."

With Mr de Roeper, who lives at Buckleaze Farm on the edge of Pewsey, as their team leader they flew to Tanzania.

Mr Hawkes, who had built up his fitness by going to the gym and cycling three miles to work from his home at Milkhouse Water, said the five-day adventure started well with high temperatures. But the higher they climbed the colder it became.

"To begin with it was fabulous because you trek up through four different climates starting on the lower slopes with tropical rain forest."

But the heat gave no indication that at the very top of the mountain they would have to contend with temperatures between 15 to 25 degrees C below zero and winds which whipped up to 100mph.

Towards the summit they had to take tablets to help their blood absorb the thin air. The only time they could climb was at night while the soft pumice slopes remained frozen providing a footing for the climbers and their guides.

"The summit push was the hardest part because you have to get up at 11 o'clock at night and start climbing at midnight," said Mr Hawkes .

Mr Cleaver developed a lung infection before the summit stretch and had to stay behind. Mr Hawkes said it was only sheer determination and the thought of a beer at the summit that kept the three climbing right to the peak and said the climb was much tougher than he had expected.

It was with disappointment they learned their support team had run out of beer and they didn't have bottle to share at the top of the mountain.

Now the four men are wondering what their next adventure will be. Mr de Roeper said: "There are volcanoes in Patagonia, Chile and Argentina which can be climbed...."

On their climb the four were led by a guide they knew only as David whose great grandfather was with the first successful Kilimanjaro climb in 1889.