This won’t be your typical hike through the woods
Margorie Grime and Dave Grime, from the Grime Team Real Estate Professionals are planning to take part in an epic trek around Cotopaxi in the Andes Mountain range near Quito, Ecuador, to support an initiative by Royal LePage to raise money for women’s shelters across Canada.

Cotopaxi is an active volcano and is one of the highest volcanoes in the world. It’s peak reaches to 19,457 feet (5,897 M).

This hike will take five days through tough terrain at an elevation of that will reach just over 4,500 metres.

The duo have been training for the hike on local trails while carrying backpacks filled with weights to build strength and endurance. While on the hike they will camp out in tents with no electricity, cell service, bathroom facilities or other regular comforts.

While this may seem like a daunting adventure, they are no strangers to adventure trekking.

This mother and son team have already completed the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal – a trek that starts near Katmandu and winds 120 km through the mountains and takes 15 days to complete, and it took them up to 5,400 metres in elevation.

Margorie celebrated her 60th birthday on that trip.

The Cotopaxi trek is organized by Royal LePage as a fundraiser for women’s shelters.

“There are four groups of 20 to 25 people, and it’s a fundraiser for women’s shelters,” Margorie explained. “So far we’ve raised over a million dollars. Everyone has to raise a minimum of $6,000. Eighty per cent of the money we raise goes to a shelter of our choice and the remaining 20 per cent goes to national programs.”

Margorie and Dave have been preparing by doing a series of hikes on local trails. They don’t walk flat open trails – they specifically choose trails that are hilly to provide a challenge to get in shape.

Equipment is very important on these types of excursions.

“I lost a sole on my boot the other day when I was hiking,” Dave said. “Now I have to get new boots and break them in. I’ve got one month to break them in because if you have foot problems on the trail and get blisters, you’re pretty much done.”

While there is potential danger on the hike, it is well organized to ensure safety and they even have a doctor who will be available if needed.

This will be an epic excursion that will also raise money for a good cause. The hike will take place in November 2023.

To contact Margorie or Dave and helps sponsor this event, visit on-line at: www.thegrimeteam.com.

Written by Brian Lockhart of the Orangeville Citizen