Hike for Sudan

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.

Sudan Bishops Visit United States

chriso — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:14:26 +0000

Bishop Rudolph Deng, president of the Sudan Council of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop Daniel Adwok, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Khartoum, have arrived in the United States to begin a visit highlighting the ongoing peace efforts and work of the Church in Sudan. I personally worked with Bishops Adwok and Deng, and they have stood at the forefront of the efforts to bring peace to their troubled homeland. We at Hike for Sudan wish them the utmost success in their visit, and continue to check back here for frequent updates on their progress.

Visit crs.org to read more about the bishops and their visit.

Sudan a “hot topic” in media today

chriso — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:06:40 +0000

When a series of wars that have lasted the better part of half a century come to a supposed “conclusion,” as occurred with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 between North and South, moderated and monitored by the U.K., U.S., Kenya, and several other countries, it becomes news. And briefly, it garnered the attention that the agreement deserved. However, since then, the bitter aftermath in this war-torn area has drifted into the back of world consciousness, eclipsed by tsunamis, two major U.S. led campaigns, earthquakes in Haiti, and the myriad of other issues that have since had the spotlight of western media focused upon themselves. This has led to a lack of international monitoring and attention on the implementation of the peace itself, and today Sudan as a whole finds itself in a tense state of uncertainty, because in 2011 there will be a popular referendum to decide whether a large portion of the South will become a new, separate country.

In the aftermath of a contentious, and essentially ignored, series of the first “democratic” national elections, international attention is returning to the area which is likely to give the world its newest country by this time next year, in the form of South Sudan. A series of publications and high level writers have taken the time to take a second look at this area, one of the most underdeveloped in the world. I have already discussed one of these articles, by Nicholas Kristoff, but I bring it up again as it remains one of the best discussions of the work the Catholic Church is doing in South Sudan, particularly in the areas where I was most active, and with people who I worked including Cathy Arata and Fr. Michael Barton, two U.S. natives. The Time magazine article is written from Chuibet, just south of Tonj where I worked, just north of Rumbek, and the site where the Teacher’s Training College is being constructed, and it discusses much of the ongoing violence in that area.

Time magazine article

Kristoff on the Catholic Church’s work in Sudan

New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont

chriso — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:59:01 +0000

Since I returned to the trail at Harpers Ferry, I have been able to keep a fast pace with few breaks in between. The states have seemed to fly by, as there were fewer miles in each state than there had been in Virginia and Pennsylvania. However, it is beginning to become more mountainous again. I have once again begun climbing mountains over three thousand feet, coming over Mt. Greylock two days ago. Additionally, I have been blessed with several visitors, including my dad and some of my best friends! These visits provided an additional boost to me both physically by allowing me to eat better food than usual, and mentally by encouraging me and picking up my spirits. It has also rained extensively for the past week, and I have become accustomed to going to sleep in wet clothes in a wet sleeping bag. The past couple of days have been deluges, and have been very reminiscent of the Southern Sudan rainy season, which is in full swing at the moment. However, the end is beginning to near. I have less than 600 miles remaining, and it is starting to become a reality.

Because injuries to my leg and the early snow conditions have delayed my finish, I will be forced to get off of the trail for one month on June 21st in order to attend a summer school class at the Naval Academy, and then the Sprint for the Finish will begin, in which I will attempt to complete over four hundred miles of trail in just under three weeks. There will be more information regarding the Sprint over the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned.