The Apu Challenge - 6th August 2011
The hikers collected in the morning for their breakfast and a hiking brief. Here they all received their t-shirts, maps and a bracelet made by the children in our boarding houses. This wristband would be a good reminder for the hikers as to why they were hiking ‘Ben’ and would keep them motivated through any tricky moments during the climb.
The Apu hikers were blessed with blue skies and sunshine throughout most of the day. With the summit only clear 1 day out of 10 during an average year, the hikers were delighted to experience the incredible views of the highlands. After many litres of water and regular snacks, the group managed to reach the summit in under 4 hours. There were smiles all round from the group whilst they made the most of this very special moment. The decent also proved tricky, due to the steepness of the mountain as well as the uneven ground. Rather than cause injury, the slips and trips became a source of much entertainment, setting a great atmosphere for our descent into the valley below.
The group worked extremely well as a team. This is important if the hike is to be successful. There were lots of new faces who came to support Amantani, and within the first quarter of the hike, there were hugs all round and lots of laughing!
We hope to get all the group together again in the near future as there have clearly been some special bonds formed over the weekend. Thanks so much to all the hikers and to their supporters. As a group they managed to raise an incredible £12,000. This will cover the running costs of the new boys boarding house for a whole year - incredible!
Congratulations to Bare Foot Ben who managed to successfully complete the hike with no shoes!
What a weekend! To have a look at photos from the hike, please click here...
If you would like to join us on our next adventure, please get in touch with chris@amantani.org.uk
