The Boy and Me

The Boy and Me is a no holds barred account of a father and son’s extraordinary walk as they struggle and muddle their way through a perilous distance trek with an edge...

June 2006. Steve and his son, Michael, set out on a journey that will take them on one of the most demanding long distance treks in Europe – the HRP (Haute Randonée Pyrénéenne). Oblivious to the hardships that they will encounter, and crushed beneath ridiculously oversized backpacks, they spend two months taking on the equivalent ascent of five Everests as they struggle with the ultimate coast to coast challenge.

Along the way they begin to realise that the HRP is a serious mountain expedition that will test them to their limits – injury blights them and the strain of the journey takes its toll, threatening the fragile prospect of success.

Steve and Michael also find their father / son relationship comes under the microscope during their two months spent in close confines in a small tent. Thunderstorms, thirst, exhaustion, heat, hunger, and the loss of their tent over a precipice are just some of the challenges they must face.

This is a personal, amusing insight into a perilous trek along the length of the Pyrenees that will inspire readers.