In the News..

On April 12th, the Rocky Mountain Outlook published an article about The Aroka Project, written by Lynn Martel. The article can be found on The Mountain Movement site.

Mission Accomplished: We are happy to announce that Paul has completed the 1488km trek! Please see below for a reflection from each of the Aroka Team members, and use the blog archives to the right to read past entries. Thanks again for your support, and be sure to check in with The Mountain Movement website frequently as that is where our current updates will be posted.

Reflection from Paul

Dear friends, supporters, sponsors, all of you who are concerned about HIV/AIDS issues in Africa,

I am pleased to write that I have safely completed my journey across the South Island. The last few days of the tramp were very straightforward and enjoyable. After walking the Queen Charlotte Track and taking in multiple views of the maze of bays and peninsulas that makes up the Marlborough Sounds, the very last day was spent crossing the Queen Charlotte Wilderness Park. The Park was a dramatic and ideal place to end the journey: a long narrowing peninsula reaching far into the blue expanse of the Cook Strait, with a windswept lighthouse located at its tip. The native forests were some of the most beautiful I had the chance to see on the island, and the views in all directions (some encompassing the coast of the North Island and much of the Marlborough region) were just breathtaking. Weather was phenomenal right until the end: the sun was brightly shining as I walked up the final slopes to the lighthouse. New Zealanders, too, continued to be warm and welcoming: I was treated like family by the people at Anakakata Lodge upon completion of the trip.

In a way, The Aroka Project came to an end at 4:30 PM on March 6th when I finally reached the Cape Jackson lighthouse, 44 days and 1488 km after setting out from the other end of the island, in remote Fjordland. However, it is hoped that its effects will be long-lasting. The money so generously donated will certainly go a long way in Africa. I feel like our awareness-raising goals have been reached too. I have discussed the issue with a variety of people along the way, and in a variety of settings. I have distributed the cards we had made for the event. And hopefully we have inspired others to not only give some thought to an important cause, but to also take time in their hectic lives to take action, to do a little something to help fight the pandemic. That is what The Aroka Project was primarily about.

I am currently in Christchurch but will be flying to the small Pacific nation of Tonga in the morning. I am hoping to get a feel for how life is lived there and for what issues people are dealing with. The country is particularly struggling against the effects of climate change. Admittedly, the snorkeling and beaches should be extremely enjoyable too and a nice change from walking. I am returning to Canada on March 18th and will include more thoughts about the odyssey in our March newsletter.

Before I go, I need to thank all the New Zealand locals and families who have been a tremendous help. Many thanks also to all the sponsors who have made The Aroka Project possible. Thank you to all friends and family back home for the outpouring of support and encouraging words. Finally, a huge thank you to Meghan who has done so much and put in hours and hours of her time to make the journey not only possible but also safe, enjoyable, and as efficient as possible as far as awareness and fundraising go.

The Aroka Project has been both an amazing opportunity and a learning experience in many respects. My hope is that it has inspired others to take on new challenges and creative means of offering a helping hand.

Thank you to all of you who have been part of the journey,

Paul

Photos from top to bottom:

1- Paul and the enchanting Queen Charlotte Sound

2- Along Endeavour Inlet

3- Kenepuru Sound, near the Northern tip of the South Island

A Tribute

While I posted this elsewhere, I feel it is appropriate to also post it here. This is also the first time my 'voice' has appeared on the website, but I felt that as the other half of the Aroka team, I wanted to submit my thoughts as well - if only once. So, if you'd like, please read on and reflect with me.

I must admit, it is with a fair amount of emotion and sentimentality that I write this entry. I have waited six weeks to be able to write this, and now that the moment has finally come it feels a bit surreal to be putting my thoughts down. Back on January 22, after months of planning, Paul embarked on the 1488km trek of the South Island of New Zealand. What a journey it has been. As I look back, before he left we discussed the possibility of him not finishing the trek. At that point, I told him that the best, and smartest, thing he could do was to decide not to finish should it be too dangerous or should anything happen to him that would compromise his safety.

No need though. In the last day or two, Paul reached Cape Jackson, the point at which the trek officially ended. Not only that, but he reached this point almost two weeks early. It is a testament to his determination, physical fitness, and incredible sense of purpose as, ultimately, the cause of raising awareness of HIV was a central part of the journey.

I was not there to walk with him, so I can only imagine the kind of determination it took to hit the trail again every morning despite a difficult and strenuous hike the day before. To put it into perspective, though, Paul trekked the distance from Ottawa to Charlottetown, or from Regina to Calgary and back again. And we're not just talking walking here; the terrain was incredibly diverse and ranged from running down scree, to scrambling up rocky passes, walking along the highway, to fording creeks and rivers. Meanwhile, I tried to keep up on the stationary bike in ‘The Basement’ (aka. the gym at Queen’s) with little hope of ever catching up:).

Among many other things I have learned in the past few weeks, through his stamina and perseverance, Paul has taught me an incredible lesson of what one can do when they really put their mind to it. I am in awe of his talents and am so thankful that someone like him has both been given talents such as these and has used them to serve others. In fact, the amount raised with this event is equivalent to the cost of a month’s worth of antiretroviral treatment for more than twenty people. And I am encouraged to know that in the hands of The Stephen Lewis Foundation, these funds will go a long way to help people suffering from HIV in Africa.

So, here is my tribute to an inspirational man: though we are small, the sky’s the limit, our feet can take us anywhere and our imaginations only help us dream of the possibilities.

Meghan

Seventh Update from Paul

Hello from Havelock, mussel capital of New Zealand and last resupplying point for The Aroka Project,

I have reached the Marlborough Sounds after a few days spent crossing the forested mountains of Mt. Richmond Park. I was hoping that the summit of Mount Richmond itself would provide me with a glimpse of the last coastal 109 km I have to cover, but the mist up there was so thick I could barely locate the next marker showing the way along the open tops. Still it was encouraging to know that from the highest point, the remainder of the journey is largely downhill to Cape Jackson. I had pleasant encounters with friendly locals along hot dusty roads at both ends of the range, and I also very much enjoyed the emerald pools of the Pelorus River.

Here I am now in seaside Havelock. From here I will walk along the road to reach the beginning of the famous Queen Charlotte Track. From that point on I will head straight for the lighthouse at Cape Jackson, which marks the end of the walk. The first tough days in Fjordland seem so far behind now, and it should be a beautiful walk along coves and bays towards the tip of the island.

I will write again when the end destination has been reached. Thank you for following the walk and stay tuned for more updates.

Paul

Sixth Update from Paul

Hello supporters,

This latest update is being sent to you from the lakeside village of St. Arnaud, gateway to the Nelson Lakes National Park I just crossed. As you can tell from the map, I have made it pretty far up the island. In fact, from here less than a quarter of the tramp remains.

Over the last week or so I have spent most of my time on rough forest tracks. At lower elevations I wandered through grassy cattle flats (including a walk across one of the country's largest farms) and occasionally the track took me above the bush-line to reveal the vast extent of the island's ranges and some of the most beautiful lakes I have seen so far.

It finally rained yesterday for about 10 minutes, which prompts me to say something about the weather: Mother Nature has been excessively nice to me over the last few weeks. In fact, believe it or not, I had not encountered rain since leaving the Young valley, which is an incredible 700 km away from here! I have not experienced substantial rain since I was at Mavora Lakes, which I visited another 200-300 km prior to that. And the Sun was again there for me when I needed it at Waiau Pass 2 days ago. The forecast also looks great as I head into the seldom-visited Mount Richmond Forest Park.

I am unable to send pictures from my current location but some should be posted soon. I have been well looked after by the people at the Alpine Village Store here and feel ready for the next leg of the journey. Next time I write I will be entering the final stretch of this 1500 km hike.

Off to escape the sandflies...

Thanks for your interest and contributions to an important cause,

Paul

The End is in Sight

Paul is in another wilderness section as he travels between Boyle and St. Arnaud. He is approximately three days away from St. Arnaud, which, upon his arrival, will mark 1226 km completed of his trek. It will also indicate that he is a week from his finish at Cape Jackson! At St. Arnaud he will be able to meet up with some contacts he made prior to the trip at the St. Arnaud Alpine Village Store, who have graciously offered a hand to The Aroka Project.

Paul's Current Location

The black dot on the map shows Paul's approximate location at this time, having recently departed from Arthur's Pass. He is headed North towards Cape Jackson. Please click on the map to enlarge it.

Fifth Update from Paul

Dear readers and supporters of The Project,

I have just arrived in tiny Arthur's Pass after 3 days of more beautiful weather and vistas high up in the mountains. A great thing about this country is how your feet can take you from the sea to the heart of the mountains in a couple of days. In fact, in New Zealand, one is never far from the ocean or the high peaks in New Zealand.

The village of Arthur's Pass is a convenient and welcome resupplying point after having crossed three high passes, forded a large number of streams and slogged up impressive scree slopes. I will embark on the last third of the cross-island tramp tomorrow. Spirits are good, the body is still functional and the weather has been holding, so I am confident heading into the remaining 500 km.

Thank you all for your support and generosity,
Paul

(photo: Paul at Whitehorn Pass)

Fourth Update From Paul - 880 km done

Hello everyone,

This Aroka Project update is sent to you from Ross, one of the many small villages nestled between the glaciated peaks of the Southern Alps and the rough waters of the Tasman Sea. It is quite a feeling to be standing on the beach looking at snowcapped mountains just a few kms away. Ross marks the end of the "roadside" section of the walk: over the last week I have walked 330 km along a scenic road that took me down to the ocean, through rainforests, past Mount Cook and across vast stretches of farmland.

On a typical day, I would get up at 4 and start walking by 5, before the sandflies wake up, the Sun gets too hot and the traffic becomes heavy. I would then walk until mid-day and take an extended lunch break. At around 2, I would start moving again, usually stopping some time between 5 and 7, whenever I would reach one of the villages (it is quite hard to find a campsite in between settlements as the forest is very dense).

I am now heading back inland for another crossing of the mountains. Therefore it is back to sleeping in remote huts and crossing alpine passes and numerous rivers. I am excited to head for the hills again after some monotonous hours spent alongside the road. In a few days, I should reach the village of Arthur's Pass, and at that point 2/3 of the walk will already be behind me. Even more encouraging is the fact that the beautiful weather doesn't seem to want to end.



Back to the tracks I go! Thank you for your interest in the cause and the project.

Paul

Photos from top to bottom:

1-Road near Fox Glacier

2-Paul at Ship Creek in front of the Tasman Sea

3-Sunrise near Lake Matheson

4-Monro Beach, Westland

More Photos from New Zealand

(From left to right, top to bottom: Paul overlooking Cascade Saddle with Mount Aspiring in distance, Paul in front of the Dart Glacier, Matukituki River (Mount Aspiring Park), Siberia Stream and Mount Awful, Paul's boots in front of Siberia Hut, Wilkin River (Mount Aspiring Park), Mount Awful- the "Matterhorn" of New Zealand. Click on photos to enlarge them.)

TANZANIA: Rising prevalence in Zanzibar needs new approach

Please see entry below this article for a recent update on Paul's progress. But first, please read this:

STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR, 13 February (PLUSNEWS) - HIV prevalence on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island of Zanzibar is on the rise, prompting officials to call for a more targeted response to HIV/AIDS.

According to government estimates, HIV figures have increased from 0.6 percent in 2002 to 0.9 percent in 2006. "This is a shocking figure in such a small population. Unfortunately, the most affected group is youths aged between 20 and 49 years," chief minister Shamsi Nahodha said at the recent launch of the first AIDS awareness campaign to target young people. HIV levels are significantly lower than the 7 percent infection rate on the mainland, but there are concerns that not enough is being done to address AIDS on the island. Asha Abdallah, director of the Zanzibar AIDS Commission, told PlusNews the new statistics were based on antenatal records, and the commission would be conducting a study later in the year to determine HIV prevalence in the general population.

Read more about it by clicking here.

He is Motoring!

Paul has covered some serious ground since leaving Makarora! In just two days he covered 153 km on foot, which now brings him to Karangarua and quite close to the half-way mark of his journey. Please help us to mark this incredible achievement and spread the word (perhaps send the website link to a friend) or offer a donation.

Awareness and fundraising is ultimately what The Aroka Project is all about as thousands of people in Africa became infected with HIV today. Please see The Stephen Lewis Foundation website for more information about the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

(Please click on the image to enlarge it - Paul's location is indicated by the black dot headed North).

Third Update From Paul - 550 km done

Kia Ora from the hamlet of Makarora,

I have managed to successfully cross wonderful Mount Aspiring National Park and I have just returned to civilization after a week-long stint in the wilderness. Weather has definitely been on my side lately, apart from rain on the last day which left me waiting for several hours for water levels to go down. The almost constant presence of the Sun and dry conditions enabled smooth descents from Cascade Saddle and down the infamous Waterfall Face. Plenty of blue skies have also meant uninterrupted views of majestic glaciers, towering peaks, turquoise rivers and green lush valleys, which made every long ascent worth it.

I am now confidently moving on to the main "road" section of the cross-island tramp. I will walk along coastal highway 6 starting early tomorrow, heading towards Haast Pass. I will eventually find myself walking on a mostly flat, narrow strip of land tucked between the ocean and the highest peaks in the country.

Thanks to all of you who have been following the journey from the beginning and welcome to those who have just discovered the website. Keep checking it as there will be frequent updates over the next weeks.

Paul

On the map in this entry, Paul's location is labelled by the black dot headed North).

More Photos

Second Update from Paul

Hello friends and supporters,

I am writing this second update from the resort town of Queenstown, located at the foot of the Southern Alps. I have spent the last few days walking through the land of Lord of the Rings, along creeks, through forests and over the Divide. I have mainly been following popular alpine tracks and for the first time was really able to enjoy the company of fellow trampers. The weather has been quite wet lately but fortunately all nights were spent in huts. Every day the spectacular scenery helps to take the mind off the next footstep and the views should only get more inspiring as I re-enter Mount Aspiring National Park tomorrow to face the most technically-challenging sections of the tramp, including Cascade Saddle and Rabbit Pass.

That is all for now but rest assured that I will be in touch at every opportunity. Thank you again for your interest and generosity.

Paul

Paul arrives at Routeburn - 363 km covered

(Please click on map to enlarge it. Paul is indicated by the black dot and is headed North on the red line).

First Update from Paul

Hello friends, and thank you for your support!

This first Arokä Project update comes to you from Te Anau, in Southern New Zealand! I have begun my traverse of the South Island, covering 191 km over the last 6 days in Fjordland, a World Heritage maze of heavily forested, steep-sided glacial valleys. A big thank you to South Coast Jet for 1) the thrilling boat ride and 2) dropping me off in the middle of nowhere! The first two days of the expedition were challenging to say the least, as they consisted of off-track travel in a remote area. The pack was heavy, the rain kept coming, the sandflies got me really good, the mud was plenty, the flat sections rare, and the bush a lot more dense than what I am used to. The only thing I didn't have to deal with then was the Kiwi accent, which I am still getting used to.

Eventually, the river levels decreased, and I could follow a track as the sun poked through (hasn't left since!), which made progress faster and more enjoyable. With Antarctica somewhere beyond the horizon on my right as a constant companion, I spent a day following the country's south coast through a forest akin to those of the coast of British Columbia. I then veered straight north to walk the whole length of the "Hump Ridge," where I saw people for the first time in 4 days. For the first time I reached the bush-line, which allowed me to finally get a bird's eye view of the surrounding bays, fjords, and forests. A long descent through dense undergrowth took me to the shore of Lake Hauroko, New Zealand's deepest lake.

By then crucial gear had been rendered useless, including my GPS and gaiters, and thus for safety reasons I had to exit remote Fjordland earlier than expected. Since then I have walked straight north along roads and under the blistering sun to reach the beautiful lakeside village of Te Anau, which is where I am writing from now. The Arokä Project resumes tomorrow as I will start walking towards the Southern Alps. The next section promises to be quite challenging too, especially as I expect rain for the next few days. However I am more familiar with alpine environments than with the thick bush found in Fjordland.

All in all, my body is sore but my spirits are good! Thank you for your interest in the Arokä Project and the cause it supports. We truly appreciate you spreading the word, donating and making it possible to make a little difference. I will be in touch again soon,

Paul

(Click on photos to enlarge them).

Photos from top to bottom:

1- Sign post on the outskirts of Riverton.

2- Paul in front of Waitutu Hut, the first of the many huts he will encouter on the tramp.

3- Beech tree forest on the Hump Ridge track.

4- Photo taken from the boundary track overlooking Lake Hauroko.

Paul's Location: Te Anau

Paul is currently at a rest-stop in Te Anau (the black dot on the map) and will send a report as soon as possible! We'll post an entry from him in the next day or two so be sure to check the website again soon.

Paul Departs from Gates Harbour!

Today Paul began his first day of hiking, or tramping as they call it! Today's trek will take him into quite a remote wilderness area along the Southern coast of New Zealand, where he will be quite isolated for over a week. With all his food packed for this stretch of the tramp, his pack is quite heavy, which should make for a bit of a challenge.

While we will not be updating the site every day, we will occasionally post a map to indicate approximately where he is and what he has tramped thus far.

And He Takes Off...

Paul left the Montreal airport this morning for his long flight over to Christchurch, New Zealand, via Los Angeles and Auckland. His trek will begin on January 22nd. If you would like to send him your best wishes, please feel free to send an email to mountainmovement@hotmail.com, and rest assured that your message will be passed on. Thank you so much for your continued interest!

Paul's Departure Date Approaching!

On January 18th, Paul will be flying out of Montreal to start is long journey over to New Zealand. As he ties up the last few details, Paul puts an end to hundreds of hours of planning, e-mailing, phone-calls, looking at maps, acquiring gear, coordinating with food-cache supporters in New Zealand, and other such logistics. The planning stage has been a journey unto itself, however, next week he starts on his foot-journey through New Zealand. Please stay tuned as we will be posting the latest news from him as it becomes available! In the meantime, feel free to email us any questions or donate to the trek by clicking on the link in the right-hand column.

New Sponsors!

-NEW- Fox Glacier Guides: for helping with resupplying on the West Coast.

-NEW- Wilson Mountain Sports: has generously provided Paul with a variety of quality gear such as Backpacker’s Pantry meals, Pristine water treatment, Leki trekking poles, a PUR microfilter water filter and a Suunto compass.

-NEW- Makarora Wilderness Resort: helping with resupplying in Mount Aspiring National Park.

-NEW- Vargo Outdoors: is supplying Paul with an ultralight titanium pot.

-NEW- Earth Sea Sky: is outfitting Paul head to toe upon his arrival in New Zealand.

Official Itinerary

Please click on image to enlarge it:

Featured on SLF Website

The Mountain Movement recently contributed an entry to the Share Ideas webpage on the Stephen Lewis Foundation website. The Share Ideas webpage features entries from people across Canada, who have contributed in a unique way to raising funds and awareness for the SLF. If you are interested, you can view our entry by clicking here.