How it went this year
...
The Hike of Death
Well some of you might be wondering around what the Hike of Death is and stuff like that... well just to correct that item a little... here it comes.
What
Well, the hike of death is a hike (as the name tells you yet). And it's a long hike as well. 100 kilometers (or a little over 60 miles). The main goal of this hike is to finish the complete distance withing 24 hours. It's supposed to be the biggest 100 km hike event of Europe.
Where
This event takes place in Belgium, around a little town called Bornem and all the other villages around it. There are three goals on the way that's the brewery of "DUVEL" (a fine Belgian beer) after about 30-40 kilometers (depends year to year), the brewery of "PALM" (another fine Belgian beer) after about 50-60 kilometers and of course, last but not least... the finish line
When
It's always situated the last friday before the 15th of August, so this year it'll be starting on the 14 th of August (the start is always on friday evening 21:00). So if you're looking for me that date, you know where to look being somewhere along the route overthere.
History
I'll be doing this hike for the third on a row now. The first time, I did it out of curiousity, just to see what kind of thing it was. I got away through the night and halfway through the morning before I encountered a major problem with muscles. I quit the hike after 70 kilomters. Then last year, I entered, just to do a little better then the year before. I got all the way throug reached the finish line at 16:00 or something. The last kilometers where a real torture and didn't go fast at all, but at least I managed to get there.
Last year there were about 5400 participant and about 50% of them made it to the end but that was a low score since there was some real warmth in the afternoon which made hiking terrible. Though there is plenty of drinking and food on the way, weather is VERY nice bonus on succeeding.
How
Interested in participating, well that's easy, get up and come to Belgium and if you get here, well look around and find the city described above. Then get there before 19:00 or something so you can still subscribe. Then move on the the starting line and you're set to go for a little hike. For some of them it's only to reach the first goal or the second, for others the finish line is the only goal. Normally there are some people who run the hike and which are waiting at 07:00 for the gates to open so they can actually finish the hike.
Interesting facts
Up till now there are already 2.800 subscribers. Up till now, 3 participants have complete ALL 29 editions of this hike.
Links to other pages
Nederlands : Dodentocht Homepage
English : A story
by americans
Thanks for visiting this site