Trail: Haute Randonnee Pyreneenne     Goal: 497 Miles

Dates: Jul 25 2017 - Sep 13 2017

In 2016, I started my first ever long hike - the Te Araroa trail. Before doing this, I hadn't even done an overnight hike, let alone attempt something that would take several months to complete. As the start date drew nearer, my emotions were ... more

In 2016, I started my first ever long hike - the Te Araroa trail. Before doing this, I hadn't even done an overnight hike, let alone attempt something that would take several months to complete. As the start date drew nearer, my emotions were spinning, bouncing from excitement to fear, to anticipation; I wondered, why am I wanting to put myself through this? But, as I began, through the aches and pains, and blisters, I quickly fell in love with this idea - to just walk. To be out in nature, experiencing it in an entire different way; you notice things that would never have even caught your eye, and appreciate things that previously wouldn't have even been granted a second glimpse. With this newfound wanderlust for hiking, I have decided to (attempt) to walk the Haute Randonée Pyrénéenne, which is a trail that runs the length of the Pyrenees mountains. Like the more well-known GR10 and GR11, the trail goes from coast to coast, but tends to stick to the highest walk-able route where possible. It is also less maintained as a trail, and is considered more an 'idea' where people can navigate their way through often unmarked areas, to try and make their way through to the opposite side. The charity which I have chosen for my cause is charity:water, as the work which they are putting in has changed countless lives, and provides a service which would not otherwise come to the people which are in desperate need. Having clean water is one of the key resources we, as humans, should all have access to, and one that all too many are living without. With the changes in climate which are occurring, these problems are being exacerbated, and if more help isn't given, more and more people will become at risk. The people at charity:water have made it their mission to help fight this problem, and have adopted several methods to provide the service required for bringing the water to where it is needed. You can find out more about them and their cause on their website: https://www.charitywater.org/ less