Name >> TRAVIS PERKINS (high school student)
Country >> USA, California
Age >> 18 yrs

"...I once walked across the island of Hawaii in search of happiness. And now I no longer know if I am at vacation end, frantically searching for an epiphany, or if I am still meditating in the lava fields, realizing how terrible it would be if it were true. I walked right through the physical and began a spiritual journey, at 2 miles an hour I was gaining insights and feeling better and better..."

Name >> EDIE LEITNER (school teacher)
Country >> USA, California
Age >> 27 yrs

"...The journey was incredible - so challenging really mentally tough and also hard on the feet. I learned that I can achieve an objective step by step - and that those little steps, as little as they seem, take you along your pathway, yet maybe at a different pace than the rest. I felt an intense high on arrival, unexpectedly high - as if every bit of struggle, each blister, every beautiful site, every moment prior to that one, had led us there..."

Name >> SCOTT MORRISON (marine propellor engineer)
Country >> USA, California
Age >> 36 yrs

"...The climb quickly became a real struggle. By lunchtime we were all feeling the effects of dehydration and altitude, and Scott announced that he wanted to hitchhike back down to Hilo so as not to risk becoming a burden to the group. Travis also admitted to similar feelings, but after some words of encouragement and redistribution of Scott’s pack among the others (brilliant performance Scott!) we pressed on through the rain and finally made camp in a lava field as darkness fell..."

Name >> AVERY (hotel waiter and outdoor guide - hawaii)
Country >> USA, Hawaii
Age >> 42 yrs

"...Avery, a keen mountain biker, was the only person who could claim to be fit for this scale of endeavor, which demanded a steep hike from 0 to 6500 and down to the ocean again over an 80 mile route, all in 4 days..."