1 | | It was a spell of sick leave | | | | before setting off. By the end of |
| | that finally made Andy West | | | | the day I’d be trekking in the |
| | realise that, if he was ever going | | | | dark with a GPS and a light on |
| | to achieve his dream of trekking | | | | my head!” |
| | the Continental Divide Trail – | | 3 | | It could be lonely: “I’d go a |
| | the 5,000km north-south route | | | | long time without seeing anyone |
| | along the Rockies from the | | | | – I trekked 650km through |
| | Canada/US border to Mexico – | | | | Montana and didn’t see another |
| | he was just going to have to get | | | | person!”, Andy admits. But he |
| | up and do it. So Andy sold his | | | | also met hunters every now and |
| | house, gave up his job and | | | | then and sometimes their prey. |
| | devoted almost a year to | | | | “People often joked that I was |
| | planning his mammoth hike, as | | | | going to get shot because |
| | well as using the challenge to | | | | ‘hunters will shoot anything’. |
| | raise money for CHASE hospice | | | | However, the hunters were |
| | care (www.chasecare.org.uk) | | | | really friendly and offered me |
| | and the Stroke Association | | | | food and water – which was a |
| | (www.stroke.org.uk). | | | | life-saver,” Andy recalls. “And |
2 | | His schedule was | | | | once I saw a grizzly bear, which |
| | exhausting: It took Andy five | | | | I scooted around!” |
| | months, trekking around 32km a | | 4 | | Andy had more to contend |
| | day, six days a week, with just | | | | with than just the odd grizzly. As |
| | one small backpack, to | | | | well as fighting against snow |
| | complete his goal. So why did | | | | and a trip-threatening leg injury, |
| | he do it? “The rewards came | | | | he also endured a forest fire and |
| | from completing a section each | | | | the odd lightning storm. Despite |
| | day,” explains Andy. “And being | | | | these challenges, Andy is not |
| | so high up that you could see | | | | deterred from more trekking |
| | for miles at a time. My numberone | | | | adventures and is planning to |
| | memory is hiking through | | | | try the Pacific Crest Trail this |
| | the snow, high up on a mountain | | | | year. His advice to anyone |
| | ridge, in the cold air and under | | | | thinking of doing their own mega |
| | beautiful blue skies.” So, what | | | | trek? “Just get on with it!” |
| | was a typical day on the trail? | | | | |
| | “I’d get up early, before dawn, | | | | For more on Andy’s adventure, |
| | and cook myself some breakfast | | | | see www.andywestactive.com. |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | Wanderlust, 2009 |