FOX.AE’s 8th Cancer Awareness Climb

After missing the 6th and the 7th year cancer awareness climb due to personal reasons, I’m finally back on track! Now on its 8th year, the much-awaited open-event took place on the 2nd-3rd of February in none other than Ras Al Khaimah, the outdoor capital (okay I just coined that term) of the UAE!

Cancer Awareness Climb

As a recap, the cancer awareness climb began 8 years ago and and has since become an annual open event organized by FOX.AE, my hiking family in the UAE. Based on a team member’s personal experience, caring for a family member with cancer was no easy feat, let alone witnessing loved ones lose their battles to the disease. Their adversity inspired the idea of an outdoor activity where we could spread awareness about cancer and, at the same time, connect with others who share a similar painful journey.

The night before the climb (Friday), we gathered all the participants at the campsite to brief them about the event’s cause. Two friends from the group bravely shared their own journeys and testimonies, and we concluded the evening with a minute of silence to honor those currently battling cancer and those who have passed away.

While not the largest group over the years, this year’s event saw 81 hikers, including FOX.AE team members, but excluding the support team at the basecamp. Various outdoor groups were also in attendance, such as COMPASS, Hikings, Harkor, Jumeirah MTB, and some others I’m not quite familiar with. Additionally, many individuals joined independently along with their friends and family.

CC8 HIKE PROPER & TRAIL:

On Saturday (3rd of February), the event kicked off with the usual briefing about the climb and a short warm-up routine.

Following the warm up, the hike began by crossing the road through the tunnel to reach the bottom of the wadi. This marked the start of the challenging ascent, ‘assault’ as we call it, a steep off-road trail leading to the foot of a transmission tower and a small viewing deck.

As we continue along the valley, the hike became more manageable, with off-road trails suitable for 4×4 vehicles offering picturesque views of the village. We paused for lunch in the middle of the village before continuing the second half of the trail. This leg involved ascending the mountain on the right side of the valley, with a few scrambling sections. After traversing a short saddle, we reached the peak of the hill before beginning our descent.

The descent, which I found quite relaxing, led us towards another villages with its own version of hidden oases. Following this, we encountered my favorite section of the trail, a rolling path offering breathtaking panoramas of Ras Al Khaimah.. After a few kilometers of flat terrain, sets of stairs followed. Before we knew it, we were back at the foot of the wadi, near the main road. From there, it was a short walk back through the tunnel to the campsite.

Sentiments:

In the span of two years (yep, my last cancer climb was the 5th Cancer Awareness Climb), so much has happened and I pretty much changed a lot. As a result, for some reasons, I felt I was a guest at our own event. But surprisingly, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. My absence and my personal growth during that time meant I approached the event with a different, hopefully broader perspective. I also found myself enjoying the hike without overthinking, a state of mind that had eluded me in the past few months.

Moreover, I had the chance to reconnect with old friends, reminiscing about the good old times. There were also new faces, and while I usually feel a bit awkward around strangers, it presented an opportunity for further personal growth.

This year’s event was truly transformative and sort of a healing one for me. Perhaps it’s because I’m starting to feel better, or maybe it’s the influence of the new friends, or simply because I felt that sense of belonging once more. Whatever the reason, I’m glad I showed up—for the cause and for myself.

And while the cancer awareness climb may be far from making a significant impact our world needs, supporting the event and dedicating the climb to the people we once loved and lost is perhaps the most profound tribute we can offer. In doing so, I think, we’re making this world a better place than yesterday.

AND AS A GENTLE OUTDOOR ETHICS REMINDER:
LEAVE NO TRACE!