Te Araroa Trail - Finish Line in Sight

On October 15, 2010 Alex Ward (England, 28) and Shalane Hopkins (Canada, 24) put on their trekking boots and stepped out into New Zealand's wilderness with nothing but what they could carry on their backs. The goal was to walk the entire length of New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Bluff following its newest (and not officially opened) trail, Te Araroa. The idea for the adventure, which was first formed in Australia where Alex and Shalane met, was a unique way of exploring a country, but has since become so much more.

Since starting the lengthy tramp of over 3000km at Cape Reinga so many months ago, the female duo has been working hard to raise money for Solomon Islands. Teaming up with Indigo Foundation (Australian-based), Ward and Hopkins found cause to help support Indigo Foundation's project in the Guadacanal coastal community of Turusuala. Aiming to help this struggling community get on its feet with a program designed to allow the people to move forward through education on hygiene, life skills and literacy - Alex and Shalane have been spending their tramping time advocating for this community in hopes to inspire people to give to the cause. "It's not about guilting people to give money - we're not out there demanding a certain amount for people to give. Alex and I believe that people should give because they want to, because they believe in what Indigo Foundation is doing in this community as much as we do," Hopkins says. Their goal is $10000AUD which will fund the entire program for two years.

The women's efforts haven't ended there either. While forging rivers, climbing mountains, scrambling over logs, avoiding gorse and pitching their cozy two-man tent hundreds of times, the women quickly came up with another idea to promote change in the world. "As we were walking up in the Northland we began to take note of the rubbish lying around everywhere as we past," Ward explains, "We figured we should do something about it." And so they did. They began picking up one piece of rubbish each day and spread the world to fellow Te Araroa Trail trampers in hopes that they'd take on the challenge as well. Their motto of "every little bit counts" continued through their adventure.

Highlights of the lengthy pathway have included many aspects that New Zealand is well known for such as 90 Mile Beach, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tongariro Crossing, Whanganui River, Hunter's Pass, Nelson Lakes and Queenstown. However, the trail also contains major highlights that not even the average New Zealander has experienced such as the Richmond Ranges. The ten days of tramping through New Zealand's best-kept-secret has remained a vivid memory in Ward and Hopkins' minds. Even more than the scenery they have walked past (and around, on top of, under and through), both women recognize their experiences with the local people as being the most memorable aspect of the adventure. In particular, their experience in Christchurch has become one of the most significant memories of the entire tramping experience.

Christchurch is not on the route for Te Araroa Trail, but that didn't matter for Ward and Hopkins when the earthquake of February 22 occurred. They had been restocking for their adventure in Greymouth and upon hearing of the devastating disaster to the east, they opted to put their plans on hold and head there in hopes they might be of some help to the city. "When it happened, we didn't have food to give. No extra bed to spare. No money to offer. Not even a spare lunch to hand out. All we had was time," Shalane explains. And so they put on their trekking boots and packed up the tent and out to Christchurch they went. Alex and Shalane spent the next 10 days helping in whatever way they could through the Student Army. With their tent pitched in the garden of a local resident, the women got up each morning to shovel silt, hand out pamphlets and do whatever needed to be done to help those in Christchurch begin the process of picking up the pieces. "We went their to help out people in Christchurch and left completely blown away by the heart of the city," Ward stated, "The people there and everywhere around the country pulled together to do what needed to be done. We were priviledged to be part of that." By the time Ward and Hopkins reconnected with Te Araroa Trail in Arthur's Pass, they were left inspired further by the idea that if "everyone did just a little to help each other out, the world would be a better place."

And now, after over five months of tramping, Alex and Shalane are coming to the end of their journey. People who have asked why they have chosen to walk 3000km to see a country will probably get the answer that they simply "don't know." Those that are wondering what they plan on doing upon finishing in Bluff need not - Hopkins regularly states that she plans to "sit down" for a while. The one thing that is certain for both Ward and Hopkins is that they feel they have acheived something more than either women imagined they would. The memory of the adventure will surely stay with them forever. Hopkins and Ward are also quick to point out that they couldn't have done it without any of the people and companies supporting them. Having received sponsorship through some of New Zealand's own such as Macpac, Swazi, Bivouac and Back Country Cuisine, Shalane and Alex state that without them, they would have had to stop long before the finish line was in sight.

As for a finish date, they plan to finish their journey in Bluff on April 3rd. Though once doing so, they won't be completely done. Ward and Hopkins plan to update their blogs and keep the donation link to the Solomon Islands open until the end of April for those who "didn't think we'd do it," Ward says, and wish to donate upon the women completing the trail. Shalane also hopes to write a book on the adventure, but says it will be a while as finding jobs in New Zealand will come at a higher priority initially. All in all, Alex and Shalane have had an epic adventure discovering New Zealand and though they both say they'll miss the "lifestyle" Te Araroa Trail gave them, they're excited to get back to "normal life" for a while - even if it's just to be able to exchange a cold river with a hot shower.

To find out more about Alex and Shalane's adventures, donate to the Solomon Islands and/or contact them, visit their websites at: www.missionlivelife.com (Alex Ward) and www.onelifeadventures.com (Shalane Hopkins).