Still Dancing ....
Looking backwards, looking forwards and being 'in the moment'
share the story and keep with me on my 'journey'!! (PDF, 168 kb)
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. CONFUCIUS
Imagine finding a trail
winding a way
through the highest summits of the Himalaya. A 'ShangriLa'
for
those who love moving on foot through the mountains. With
vision,
passion and dedication, this dream became a concept and this concept
became a reality. The Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) was born -
one
of the highest and longest 'trails' in the world, linking ancient
trading and pilgrimage trails through remote and rugged mountain
districts.
My project is to follow the GHT across the breadth of Nepal from Kanchenjunga Base Camp in the east to Hilsa on the western border with Tibet ... 'running' a distance of over 1000 miles.
My dream is simple - to cross this beautiful country keeping as much as possible to trails through the high mountains - moving fast and light - with minimal support - making a journey within and without (body, mind and soul) - and sharing this experience so that it becomes something so much deeper than my own personal journey.
My journey has precedent but 'running for records' on a journey such as this is perhaps meaningless - crossings of the country inevitably vary in distance, cumulative height, remoteness, terrain and level of logistical support. Depending on the exact journey I am finally able to achieve this long 'run' may or may not come to be regarded as a 'record'. But if it is to be judged it should rather be on the elegance and spirit of the final journey I craft.
Sky Dance: it will be a breathtaking and beautiful journey that will need all my humility, courage and passion. It will be an incredible challenge that will demand the deepest sense of engagement of body, mind and spirit and importantly it will require the sensitivity and willingness to adapt to the many factors I will face (weather, health, route finding etc.). I will explore with passion and endurance, but also with calm and patience, making my run a dance in the sky while always recognising and respecting the soul of the mountains and cultures through which I journey. I will have a story to share with you - whether or not I manage to achieve my goeal, and whether or not that goal changes on route. As in life itself it is the journey not the destination. Come with me .......!
Facts: a 'running' journey of more than 1000 miles through the Greater Himalaya reaching a maximum height of almost 6200m.
Fundraising: I will run in the spirit of peace and friendship, and with respect for the local environment, peoples and culture. In so doing I will be raising money for Community Action Nepal. This charity, founded by the world renowned British mountaineer Doug Scott, focuses on working with local people and village communities through sustainable health and education projects.
www.justgiving.com/skydance
To follow the journey: I will be communicating daily via satellite phone so it will be possible to 'follow' my journey on The North Face website. There will be a daily update in position (to be shown on a map of Nepal) and a short message (also linked to my twitter account). Come with me on my journey ... and then share with me the stories on my return!
www.thenorthfacejournal.com/category/sky_dance
www.twitter.com/lizzihawker
bit.ly/ozwglv
With thanks to:
The North Face for supporting me in this expedition and making this journey possible, Thamserku Trekking Ltd for helping with logistical support and Richard Bull of the GHT website for invaluable help with planning! Also Shawn Forry, Justin Lichter, Robin Bousted, Jamie McGuiness and Roger Henke for their advice.
IF (and it will be a big 'if'!):
My project is to follow the GHT across the breadth of Nepal from Kanchenjunga Base Camp in the east to Hilsa on the western border with Tibet ... 'running' a distance of over 1000 miles.
My dream is simple - to cross this beautiful country keeping as much as possible to trails through the high mountains - moving fast and light - with minimal support - making a journey within and without (body, mind and soul) - and sharing this experience so that it becomes something so much deeper than my own personal journey.
My journey has precedent but 'running for records' on a journey such as this is perhaps meaningless - crossings of the country inevitably vary in distance, cumulative height, remoteness, terrain and level of logistical support. Depending on the exact journey I am finally able to achieve this long 'run' may or may not come to be regarded as a 'record'. But if it is to be judged it should rather be on the elegance and spirit of the final journey I craft.
Sky Dance: it will be a breathtaking and beautiful journey that will need all my humility, courage and passion. It will be an incredible challenge that will demand the deepest sense of engagement of body, mind and spirit and importantly it will require the sensitivity and willingness to adapt to the many factors I will face (weather, health, route finding etc.). I will explore with passion and endurance, but also with calm and patience, making my run a dance in the sky while always recognising and respecting the soul of the mountains and cultures through which I journey. I will have a story to share with you - whether or not I manage to achieve my goeal, and whether or not that goal changes on route. As in life itself it is the journey not the destination. Come with me .......!
Facts: a 'running' journey of more than 1000 miles through the Greater Himalaya reaching a maximum height of almost 6200m.
Fundraising: I will run in the spirit of peace and friendship, and with respect for the local environment, peoples and culture. In so doing I will be raising money for Community Action Nepal. This charity, founded by the world renowned British mountaineer Doug Scott, focuses on working with local people and village communities through sustainable health and education projects.
www.justgiving.com/skydance
To follow the journey: I will be communicating daily via satellite phone so it will be possible to 'follow' my journey on The North Face website. There will be a daily update in position (to be shown on a map of Nepal) and a short message (also linked to my twitter account). Come with me on my journey ... and then share with me the stories on my return!
www.thenorthfacejournal.com/category/sky_dance
www.twitter.com/lizzihawker
bit.ly/ozwglv
With thanks to:
The North Face for supporting me in this expedition and making this journey possible, Thamserku Trekking Ltd for helping with logistical support and Richard Bull of the GHT website for invaluable help with planning! Also Shawn Forry, Justin Lichter, Robin Bousted, Jamie McGuiness and Roger Henke for their advice.
IF (and it will be a big 'if'!):
If you can keep your head when
all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowances for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
-RUDYARD KIPLING
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowances for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
-RUDYARD KIPLING