Hike for Sudan

Tensions rising, violence against innocents

chriso — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:12:49 +0000

The military buildup continues in Sudan, with northern and southern forces massing, and raids continuing throughout central Sudan in the Abyei area as well as in Darfur. In the south, fierce tribal violence has broken out in Mapuordit, where the hospital and parts of other initiatives helped by H4S is located. The Satellite Sentinel Project is helping to focus world attention and monitoring on Sudan, especially the disputed Abyei and Darfur areas.

http://www.satsentinel.org/

H4S building board, preparing for non-profit application, and focusing on monitoring the post-referendum process

chriso — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:04:13 +0000

After being in the planning stages for 6 months, Hike for Sudan is moving forward with the non-profit incorporation process, and the future planning stages in order to lay the groundwork for a viable, self- sustaining organization that can continue in its mission of support of the people of Sudan, and of educating people around the world about this beautiful area that has seen so much strife and suffering yet holds such promise and potential.

These preparations come at a time of great excitement and great turmoil in Sudan. Southern Sudan has voted overwhelmingly for secession, social unrest is simmering in the north, and the Abyei region located on boundary between north and south remains very controversial and holds the potential to spark new conflict. Darfur remains tense as well, with attacks and skirmishes being reported almost daily.

As part of the incorporation process, The Hike for Sudan website is being revamped and additional information will be added in order to help monitor the various problem areas in Sudan. Our own sources as well as third party sources will help to provide monitoring of the dynamic nature on the ground, and potentially help to avoid mass casualties.

Nominations and applications for our new Board of Directors are now being accepted. This is a voluntary position with the commitment of a few hours per month to help shape and guide the direction of H4S, to include working to complete the process of non-profit incorporation.

Please utilize the contact form to receive more information or to apply and nominate.

Thanks for your continuing support!

Chris and the Hike for Sudan team

Hike For Sudan Expansion

Charlotte — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:06:44 +0000

Hike For Sudan is expanding to the public! West Morris Mendham High School in Mendham, NJ is organizing a student branch of H4S. The plans are progressing, with over 20 students signed up after the first interest meeting. A student planning committee has taken charge of the logistics with Chris’s help.

The hiking will be kicked off on the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail in April. A projected thirty students will be hiking. The hiking and fundraising will continue into the late spring and summer with shorter weekend trips.

To generate interest and support, Mendham Hike For Sudan will be hosting a Sudan Week in the spring. “The Lost Boys of Sudan” films will be shown during lunch, leading up to a speaker, acclaimed for their work in Sudan.

Local advertising has already started.

The Mendham students expect to donate over $1500 to the initiatives and educate their peers about the current crisis in Sudan.

To support these students, use the contact form on the home page.

Finished!

chriso — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:05:00 +0000

On August 12th, I climbed Mt. Katahdin. The first Hike for Sudan is finished!

Now, you may wonder why it has taken so long for me to actually post this, if i finished two weeks ago. Truth is, I simply was tired. My team of friends who has helped me along the way was also tired. Several of them actually made the rocky journey up Katahdin with me, and what a journey it was. Prior to the climb, I flew through the hundred mile wilderness in less than 72 hours, completing the last 117 miles in about 65 hours. It was a frenetic finish to a long journey, and I really enjoyed and relished every minute of it.

I spent the last two days thinking back over all that has happened in the past six months, both in Sudan and on my hike, as well as all of the interactions I have had with people. It is difficult to summarize what the hike has accomplished, or what is in store (more on that later – there are great plans in the works). Nevertheless, for now, we have finished, and I must think all that have contributed to this effort. From CESAR Onlus in Italy, to the Diocese of Rumbek and Bishop Mazzolari in Sudan, to all of my friends and family in the US, it has been a fantastic journey for all of us, and hopefully, in a small way, we have been able to contribute in a small way to the journey of the people of Sudan towards peace.

What remains now is to continue the journey. In the next few months, we will unveil plans for the future for Hike for Sudan, and they are very, very exciting. In the mean time, we will be posting photos of the hike, as well as the projects in Sudan. Also, more and more information will be available from Catholic Relief Services on the upcoming referendum. In less than 6 months, the referendum on secession will be conducted by the people of the south, ushering in a whole new era for the history of Sudan.

Thanks again for all of the support. We did it!

Chris and the Hike for Sudan Team.

100 Mile Wilderness

chriso — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:21:55 +0000

After searching for internet fruitlessly, I was finally able to get a quick five minutes. I am currently in Monson, Maine, getting ready to leave on the final leg of my trip. The 100 Mile Wilderness isn’t really a wilderness, but there aren’t a lot of road crossings either. I plan on getting to the base of Katahdin Wednesday night, and climbing Thursday morning. My legs are tired, but other than that, I am ready to go! 117 miles to Katahdin…

Almost there…

chriso — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:52:34 +0000

I am quickly checking in from Stratton, Maine, 187.8 miles from Katahdin. I am two days behind schedule, due to the delayed start and a couple other issues, and will be up Katahdin next Thursday, assuming everything goes according to plan. It has been pouring rain lately, and I am hoping my shoes will make it all the way!

Chris

Rescues, winds, mountains, Maine!

chriso — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:21:00 +0000

So, in the first update in over a week, I have a lot to report. When I got back on the trail Saturday night after my friend dropped me off at the base of Smarts Mountain, I began hiking up at around 8:30, as it was getting dark. At 9 or 9:30, it was dark and I was walking along by headlamp. All of the sudden, out of the dark a voice called out to me “hello?” Startled, I began talking to two intrepid ladies who had had a long day. After climbing the mountain earlier in the day, one had become tired and was suffering from heat exhaustion. Unable to get down from the mountain, they decided to stay put. I had a cell phone, and together with my satellite tracker we were able to get a rescue crew, eventually totaling around 25 people, to our location, and began the long gurney trek to the bottom in pouring rain. Arriving around 2, I was asleep by 3 at the ladies cabin nearby. The next morning, I got a much delayed start, having to retrace my steps back up the mountain, and am now a day behind my schedule.

With that adventure out of the way, I began my hike. I immediately ran into my old friend Joey (Sundial) and we decided to sprint for Maine together. You can read more about his hike at joeyandjohn.blogspot.com. Sunday was an easy introduction day. The next day, we set off early. We crossed Mt. Moosilauke and Mt. Wolf, and after a stop in town to re-supply, we were done with a 25 mile day. The winds on Moosilauke were very strong, and we frequently stumbled to keep our balance.

Tuesday we crossed all of Franconia Ridge, with steep ascents and rocky ridge lines high above treeline in the “alpine zone.” That night, we were able to work for stay at one of the mountain huts, cleaning dishes in exchange for a chance to devour leftovers and sleep on the dining room tables.

An early start Wednesday morning brought us over more mountains, to another mountain hut at the famous Lakes of the Clouds area, high altitude, crystal clear ponds on the slopes of Mt. Washington. Again working for stay (a welcome warm meal and place to stay), we departed the next day for the summit of Washington in 50 mph winds and fog. By the time we reached the summit, the winds were gusting over 70 mph, and there was sleet and mist whipping around our faces. At the summit building, we holed up for an hour, and then I set off for Pinkham Notch, with Joey staying behind for a few hours. The there were many more rocky ridge lines, with the winds very strong, and at times I was concerned I would get knocked off my feet down onto the rocks. Arriving at the Notch after dark, I put my sleeping bag down in the clump of trees by the parking lot of the visitor center at the base of Mt. Washington, and was ready at 6:30 the next morning for their all you can eat breakfast.

A brisk hike that day took me out of the White Mountains, with Joey catching up to me the night before.

The next day, now hiking with a third member of our party, Jessica (Orbit), a girl from New York who is a speed demon when it comes to hiking, we came into Andover, Maine (Note that I said Maine, as in the LAST state on the trail). At the hostel now, I am preparing to leave, and therefore must get going! Keep following the tracker, and in less than two weeks I’ll hopefully climb Mt. Katahdin!

Chris

And We’re Off!

chriso — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:07:24 +0000

I left Annapolis, Maryland at about 5:15 this morning, and took a bus from Washington, DC to New York, and then another bus from New York to Boston. Then a good friend of mine will drive me from Boston back to where I got off of the trail just past Hanover, New Hampshire.

I am hiking with very light gear, and have a target pace of around 26 miles per day, which put me atop of Mount Katahdin August 10th. Once again, my progress can be tracked via the satellite tracker link on the follow Chris page, and on the same page is a rough calendar which approximates my daily destinations.

As the hike comes to a close, my supporters and myself are beginning to prepare for the future by developing sustainable initiatives to continue the work which we have begun. Please contact us using the contact form to be come a part of this worthwhile endeavor.

Yesterday I received an email from Bishop Mazzolari, the Catholic Bishop of Rumbek, who was one of the main forces behind the Hike. The dormitory for the minor seminary has been fully completed, thanks in a large part from donations through the Hike. The students are very happy and grateful for their new accommodations and are anxious to begin classes in the fall. Thanks to all who donated and helped make this a reality. Photos to be Posted soon of the completed dormitory.

I head to the trail to tackle the White Mountains with renewed zeal, and hope that these last few weeks will yield fruitful results.

Cheers,

Chris

Preparations preparations!

chriso — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 05:11:17 +0000

As the time for the finish of the hike rapidly approaches, many different things have been going on. One of my friends has started a yard sale initiative in order to raise money for the H4S projects. Others have taken me grocery shopping as I begin to purchase massive amounts of Carnation Instant Breakfasts, granola bars, and Gatorade powder. Others have donated money. Family and friends have all sent encouragement. After several doctors appointments, various ailments I suffered from on the trail have been either permanently, or at least temporarily fixed, so that I will be arriving for the final 422 miles in peak condition.

This has also been a busy time for Sudan, now with six months until the referendum. A successful visit by representatives of the Sudan Council of Catholic Bishops, in the form of Bishops Deng and Adwok, two good friends of mine, helped to bring news of the current status of Sudan to the States. Catholic Relief Services arranged for their visits, and hosted them throughout their journeys. Below you will find the message of the Sudan Council of Catholic Bishops.
US Advocacy Letter from Bp Daniel Adwok SCBC

More to come! The Sprint for the Finish is almost here!

Chris

Off Trail, Sprint for the Finish Preparations begin

chriso — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:22:29 +0000

On Sunday, just after crossing past Lyme, New Hampshire, I temporarily got off the trail, and will be off for the next three weeks. During this period, I will be returning to the Naval Academy. On July 25th, I will be back on the trail for the Sprint to the Finish. During this period I will try to complete the remaining 422 miles in 17 days. It will be tough, but I think I am up to the challenge. This will give me time for my leg / foot to heal, and I will be in top shape to continue. Lots of Sudan related events have been in the news lately, including the visit of the Sudanese Bishops to the U.S., an escalation of violence in Darfur and elsewhere, and the recent death of Sudanese NBA legend Manute Bol, who died this past weekend. Continue to check back for more updates here.