Mets warning won't deter R.A. Dickey assault on Kilimanjaro

Apparently, there's no stopping New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro next week.

The Mets sent him a letter, warning him that if he were injured on his climb -- which is also scheduled to include Colorado Rockies pitcher Kevin Slowey -- it could void his $4.25 million contract for 2012.

"If we thought it was a good idea, we wouldn't have sent the letter," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told the Wall Street Journal, which reported the letter on Tuesday. "Beyond that, have we tried to dissuade him from going? It seems to me that the letter is enough of an effort to dissuade him, and he intends to go on nonetheless."

Dickey, 37, and Slowey, 27, have had plans in the work for some time. Slowey was traded from the Twins to the Rockies on Dec. 6. The two were teammates on the Twins in 2009.

"R.A. and I have gotten to be good friends," Slowey told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune back in April. "This is something that if you get the chance to go do, you'd be remiss not to consider it. And it's definitely for a great cause."

The players, along with Mets bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello, will attempt to climb the world's largest free-standing mounatin as part of the Bombay Teen Challenge, a charity which supports victims of sex trafficking in Mumbai, India.

Slowey said the group will not be rope climbing. "There is no technical climbing involved, though it'll still be a very difficult physical endeavor," he said. "It's basically a 12-day hike with stops at different altitudes."

There are risks, however, particularly from altitude sickness. Tennis great Martina Navratilova reached 15,000 feet but had to be taken off the mountain during her attempt last December and was hospitalized in Kenya with pulmonary edema. According to the Wall St. Journal story, 25,000 attempt to climb the mountain each year. The African Walking Company, which will lead the Dickey-Slowey group, says about two-thirds reach the summit.

The New York Daily News reports the Dickey-Slowey party will depart Nashville, Tenn. for Tanzania on Jan. 4.

"I'm really excited about the trip," Dickey said. "Whether it's negative or positive publicity, it does shine a light on a cause I believe in."