Hiking for Hunger: Help Feed Millions

Over the next month, I will be embarking on the John Muir Trail (JMT) or Nüümü Poyo (the “People’s Trail”). I hope to climb over 10 mountain passes in the High Sierras and summit the tallest mountain in the lower 48, Mount Whitney (14,496 ft). If you have heard about the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) from the book “Wild,” this is the section of the PCT the author skipped. The JMT is a 200+ mile trail that cuts through the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada, following the PCT. I will carry my food, sleep in the mountains at around 100,000 ft elevation, possibly encounter wildlife (bears and worse, mosquitoes), and gain over 45,000 feet in elevation in about a month.

My Story: A lot of people have asked me why I am doing this. It might not be a great answer, but in all honesty, I want to see if I can do it, to see what my body can endure while having the privilege to experience some of the most beautiful parts of our country. Two months ago, I could not carry 15 pounds without crippling pain that would last for days due to a chronic health condition. After training, I have managed to carry 40% of my body weight for multiple days.

While I have the privilege of testing my own endurance, it makes me think of those who are forced to endure horrific situations without a choice. As our world changes due to various factors such as climate change and geopolitical tensions, it feels like more people than ever are in these situations. The war rages on in Gaza, ethnic cleansing scourges Sudan, and Ukraine continues to struggle for self-determination in the face of Russian aggression, to name a few. In all these places, the Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning United Nations World Food Programme brings food and relief. Having worked for WFP many years ago, I can attest to their incredible work. This hike is an opportunity to raise money and awareness about this cause. I invite you to join me.

All the funds raised will support the World Food Programme. They have done incredible work, such as: 

* Provide 15 billion meals for 150 million people this year

* Deliver emergency relief, provide school meals, and fight climate change

* Support 1.5 million people in Gaza assisted by WFP in April alone

* Help 8.4 Million people in Sundan received WFP assistance in 2023

 Donations will be sent to WFP USA, a top-rated charity on Charity Navigator, that directly funds WFP's work. For More, see: [World Food Program USA - Fighting Hunger Globally (wfpusa.org)](https://www.wfpusa.org/)