Update: Trek Complete

I have my feet up on a lounger on the banks of the Red Sea, 100km Wadi Rum trek done. Was it easy? In a word - hold on I think we need a few…

 Pete and I arrived at the starting line on Sunday afternoon with a short 4km walk into our first camp. 120 HSBCers together on the sand made quite a sight. As we got into camp for the first night we headed to our tents. This was my first wobble of the trip as the tent was Pete sized, not Stu sized. At a strapping 6’4”, I was not going to fit as Pete’s head and feet were touching the sides and Pete is not known for being tall! However it was getting dark so we had to get on with it. Unfortunately Pete spent most of the night visiting the particularly unpleasant sunbaked loos (yes, we had loos, festival style but with no chemicals or water so basically poo cookers in the desert) as he had picked up a bug, so with his constant up and down and me not fitting in the tent it was a long night.

Day 2 saw our first proper days trekking and both of us were a little worse for wear. 23km in 40°C heat with little sleep and a tummy bug. Not deterred, we joined our team at 7am (Team Black - very cool name). I can only think of a single word for day 1: BRUTAL. It was hot, deep sand and very little shade for 11 hours but despite a number of casualties, we made it to camp by 18:00. 

The mood around camp was a little sombre as we had lost a few along the way and another day like that was likely to break a few more. Luckily the challenge leaders  changed a few things around, found some spare tents and organised an early start to get some kms in before the sun got too hot. 

This was welcome news. 

I got my own tent (I just fit on the diagonal) and Pete could go to the loo all night without disturbing me! Poor Pete was suffering and, on the doctor’s advice, stayed in camp to recover on day 2.

The trekking was still tough, but the early morning start meant we had covered 14km by lunch which meant that we had under 10km in the hottest part of the day. Morale quickly recovered and we all started to enjoy the amazing Martian landscape surrounding us. The desert is vast and we went hours without seeing another person, just the odd camel. Each day we ate lunch in the shade of a giant rocky outcrop and had time to get to know each other! Lots of “where are you from?”, “what part of the bank do you work for?”. We all became experts in ‘speed getting to know you’ as 120 introduction’s is best done efficiently! 

Pete, while nowhere near 100% rejoined the team on Day 3, and he did an amazing job to complete the distance. I, on the other hand, started having a few foot problems, and had to crack out the sports tape and plasters to protect already blistered feet. With pain killers swallowed and a family pack of compeed strapped to my toes I ventured on.

To walk in the desert you need to take on a lot of water. We were getting through 7 litres a day with additional electrolytes on top. This meant that everyone had to get used to wild weeing (and the other thing). It is amazing how quickly everyone adapts (I chose nature over a stinking festival portaloo from day 2). 

Each evening, all 120 of us sat down to eat. This is a logistical challenge in the middle of the desert and our Bedouin hosts did a phenomenal job supporting us. After food followed  a  briefing for the next day before collapsing in our tents. Night time in Wadi Rum is stunning, and after the obligatory wild toilet visit we lay back under a blanket of stars ready for some well earned sleep, as long as you avoided the snorers!

On the penultimate day of the trek, after we completed the walking we were invited to plant 120 trees as a symbol of sustainability for the community. With trees planted  we were given refreshing  tea and had a  talk about HSBC’s efforts in this area with the members of the group who are from the sustainability team.

We were now down to the last day, a stunning trek into Petra, through narrow mountain steps and walk ways, past herds of goats and wild dogs with stunning views across the Wadi Rum. Spirits were high in the team and we made great time so we could enjoy the majestic splendour of the monastery and treasury so known to everyone around the world.

The trek was over. We did it. We ALL did it, a fantastic piece of team work, hard work and great fun. This also includes everyone who sponsored us. A big thank you to all of you( it is not too late if you would like to.

So, I am still on my lounger having returned from an amazing hot air balloon trip over our route and I am feeling proud of what we have achieved. Was it easy? No. But it was a magnificent experience, making new connections, laughing, aching, snoring, stinking, blistering, and raising over $200k for a great cause.

Thanks again!

Time to get back to reality.

Original post:

In September, Pete Carter (HSBC colleague) and I are participating in a charity event in Jordan, which involves walking across the desert in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. Over 5 days, in 30°C+ temperatures, we will be trekking 100km from Su'aifran, through the Valley of the moon (Wadi Rum), culminating on the final day at the incredible Nabataean city at Petra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). In the desert there are no phone signals, toilets, showers or beds so we will be getting back to nature and roughing it!

We are supporting the Jordan River Foundation (JRF). JRF is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation established in in Jordan 1995, with a focus on child safety and community empowerment. It supports women and young people to realise their full economic potential and overcome social challenges (especially child abuse and poverty), and has had a huge impact in its mission to transform Jordanian communities. Some of the programs they run include supporting community centres and running a national confidential support helpline, as well as individual rehabilitation, psycho-social support services and case management. All really practical things that make a big difference.

This trek is 100% self-funded so all the money raised goes directly to the charity. I am also having to share a tent for 5 days with Pete, which is worth a donation in itself.

If you are reading this and would like to make a donation that would be fantastic.