Singaporean conquers 4,280km Pacific-Crest Trail for charity

SINGAPORE — Two weeks after completing the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Prasatt Arumugam is still suffering from the physical havoc it has wreaked.

He could trek 17 hours in the rain during his five-month hike, but now struggles to walk the length of his house.

However, the 26-year-old does not regret undertaking the 4,280km endeavour, which made him one of the 4,862 people who have finished it - and the first Singaporean to thru-hike it.

A scenic pathway between Canada and Mexico, the PCT is one of the world’s longest and toughest trails. In July last year, Prasatt boldly embarked on a self-funded solo trek as part of TrekInvicta, a social initiative he founded to support the Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF).

A cause close to his heart as his aunt was taken by cancer, he aimed to raise S$10 for every mile (1.61km) - about S$26,660 - for the CCF. Prasatt left his job as a teacher in the private sector to attempt the hike, which cost around S$13,000. The National University of Singapore Society has already given him S$3,000 and the National Youth Council will reimburse up to S$5,000, with the remaining to be self-funded.

He trained for six months, but was initially overwhelmed by the southbound journey that started in Washington, wound through Oregon and ended in California.

“There was always this constant fear or anxiety I had... because less than 50 per cent of people complete it due to injuries or just lack of willpower,” he told TODAY.

“(But) I knew I had to finish it as I started it in support of the CCF… I think because of how much it demanded from me, it showed me how much I can actually do and (completing) it gave me more faith in my own abilities.”

With a raccoon stuffed toy on his shoulder and “Raccoon” as his trail name, he went from struggling to walk 15 miles daily to “easily” covering 75 miles in two or three days, though he had another constant companion.

“Every day, some part or another will hurt,” chuckled Prasatt, who lost 5 to 6 kg and is now underweight. “I always complain to myself, but you just keep walking. I walked alone most of the time, but pain was always with me.”

Danger was a constant too due to the narrow paths that usually had a steep drop on one side, meaning a slight misstep could have been fatal.

“I am quite a clumsy person; I tripped a lot and if i didn’t have my trekking poles, I’d be in serious trouble,” he said, adding that it was worse during slippery and icy conditions.

Bad weather also presented its own challenges and Prasatt genuinely feared for his life on one particular night. Moving along the Seiad Valley, which is just after the border between Oregon and Northern California, he was caught in the midst of a storm.

Strong 60km/h winds uprooted one side of his tent and he had to scramble to find more rocks to hold it down, while rain leaked inside and left him unable to get proper rest.

“I was sleeping on top of my sleeping pad, like a raft, and felt like a drowning rat trying to escape from a sinking ship!” he said. “I was pretty wet, it was quite cold and I was worried I’d end up getting hypothermia.”

He survived and got to a town the next morning, though news about another hiker who had to be evacuated by search and rescue was an indicator of how badly things could have turned out.

The rewards for the risks Prasatt took came in the form of breath-taking sights like majestic mountain ranges and beautiful lakes, as well as lush flora and fauna.

He encountered over 50 people who helped in various ways, many of them trail angels - the term for those know the PCT and provide help, like providing accommodation and transport to and fro from trails.

One family he met in Washington offered him refuge when he got to Oregon, where they lived. The mother, Helen Wall, went far above and beyond, driving him around to get supplies, bringing him to eat Indian food and even helping to mend his ripped-up pants.

“They essentially treated me like a member of the family,” he said in awe. “When their son’s friend had a birthday party, they brought me along too. I wondered: who would do all this?

“I was really touched and they didn’t make me feel like I was imposing in any way… the amount of kindness I received was quite overwhelming.”

Prasatt, who has an elder sister, credited the support and “unflinching faith” of his loved ones for giving him strength and helping him to feel less lonely. He kept in touch with family, girlfriend and close friends whenever he had cell service.

His father, Arumugam Apparoo told TODAY: “Initially we (as parents) were worried and discouraged him, but when he talked to us… I thought somebody had to do something (for the kids).” He even travelled to California for a few days to meet Prasatt, adding: “I am definitely proud of his accomplishments.”

The CCF also applauded his efforts. “We were heartened by Prasatt’s determination to conquer the physically demanding terrain, clocking six million steps to promote awareness of childhood cancer… His perseverance and tenacity will inspire and encourage children and youths with cancer to forge ahead with courage”, executive director Neo Lay Tin told TODAY.

Prasatt is expecting to raise a total of S$50,000 for the CCF through his campaign, which he plans to wrap up by the end of January before starting work as a secondary school English Literature teacher. He has raised S$44,966 and is hopeful of more donations from the public to help the CCF patients in their fight.

“This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life but at the end of the day, it’s just five months,” he noted. “I couldn’t go through my journey on my own; what more their longer and harder battle against a more nefarious condition? I think it’s only fair we give them as much support as we can and one way is to donate.”

*You can understand more about Prasatt’s campaign at TrekInvicta.com. To donate, visit http://bit.ly/trekinvicta. All proceeds will go to CCF, a non-profit organisation that aims to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families.