HPER to join international colleagues in trek along China’s Great Wall

Beijing, IU to commemorate decade of exchange with hike

By Richard Doty

Some 40 faculty, alumni, students, staff and friends of HPER will be joined by an equal number from BUPE for the event. Event coordinator David Gallahue, associate dean of HPER, said the participants will cover about 50 miles of Great Wall sections during five hiking days.

“Most areas of the Great Wall where we will hike are closed to the public,” Gallahue explained, adding that this will be historic because it is the first official international hiking group given permission by the Great Wall Commission to walk along the Great Wall. “Our delegation of Chinese and Americans will hike the Great Wall together in the spirit of friendship, fitness and international understanding,” said Gallahue, an accomplished hiker and backpacker.

He said many of the HPER participants in the event will start a training program this month to prepare for the hike because parts of the route will be moderately strenuous and cover mountainous terrain.

Gallahue said the objectives of the hike include celebrating 10 years of friendship and cooperation between HPER and BUPE that has produced several cultural exchanges, and securing sponsorship for playground equipment at communities along the hike route to serve as a permanent reminder of cooperation between the two institutions. A Web site will be developed to chronicle the event.