After months of deliberation since finishing the PCT in October last year, I have decided to hike another long trail - the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). I start hiking ~May 1st.
This year I am hiking for a charity - the Kaikoura Health Facility Charitable Trust. The trust was set up to raise money for a new hospital badly needed in my hometown of Kaikoura. Last year the New Zealand government pledged $10 million toward the new hospital leaving a $3.4 million shortfall that needs to be raised by the Kaikoura District Council, i.e. the Kaikoura Community. There are ~3,600 people in the Kaikoura district, and out of this less than half of the working population earn over $20,000 a year. The Kaikoura Community does not have the disposable income to build this hospital alone. Considerable fundraising is needed to build this hospital.
The CDT, like the PCT, runs from Mexico to Canada but is considered to be the hardest of the big three long distance trails in the USA (including the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalacian Trail) beacuse of the longer distance (5,000km), steeper climbs, extended periods of solitude, and sections of route finding. A popular slogan for the CDT is "EMBRACE THE BRUTALITY". Of course there are many benefits of doing the CDT, the main one for me being the challenge - because it is harder and more remote than other trails. I will also get to see more wildlife and scenery than many people will ever see in thier lifetime. The well known guide book writer and triple crown hiker (completed all 3 big trails) Yogi has described it as "the Phd of backpacking".
Last year when i was walking the PCT i felt like it was about myself - it was my first long distance hike and I didint know what was in stall for me physically or mentally. At times i had an unpleasant experience, and at times it felt was in eutopia. I was the most amazing experience of my life and now I want to give back.
You can help by clicking on the donate link below or at the top of my blog. Any donation will help and all money goes directly to the trust to help build new hospital facilities.
- Donate to Hike for a Hospital -
Join me on my adventure. It will be fun.
