Teacher’s epic trek through the desert

Steve Hill in the Sahara Desert

THE searing heat of the world’s largest desert beckoned for adventurous teacher Steve Hill.

Truly looking the part, the daring deputy head of St Joseph’s Primary School in Shaw embarked on a seven-day 150-mile charity trek through the Sahara.

While most were still recovering from their Christmas dinner, Steve boarded a plane bound for Tunisia on December 27 for the adventure of a lifetime.

From there he travelled to Douz, the gateway town to the desert, before setting off to scale golden sand dunes and sleep in tents under starry skies.

The trip has already raised more than £5,000 for Christie and Dr Kershaw’s Hospice.

He said: “On the first day it actually rained which was unexpected but from then on it was really hot during the day but freezing cold after the sun went down around 5pm.

“It was such a spectacular place to be, in the middle of nowhere, hundreds of miles from anyone.

“On New Year’s Eve I actually slept out of the tent under the stars, I had about seven layers on and was in a sleeping bag because it was so cold but it was just stunning.

“It’s a New Year I’ll never forget.”

Forget luxuries, this was a real back-to-basics journey as Steve became part of a Bedouin tribe which had a small herd of camels to carry the camp along the way.

Meals came in the form of soup heated on camp fires and traditional bread, cooked under charcoal in the sand.

“There was sand everywhere, including in your food, but you got used to it,” Steve said.

“The guides were absolutely super people, real gentlemen.”

Having scaled the some of the world’s highest summits and raised thousands of pounds for charity in the process, he was set to climb Russia’s Mount Elbrus.

But safety fears caused him to switch to the desert expedition at the last minute.

But that didn’t stop his Year 6 class getting behind him and helping him raise funds.

Even more challenges now lie ahead for Steve.

An eight-mile assault course called the Tough Guy Challenge is next on the list and he’s determined to fit in another climb before the school year is up.

You can sponsor Steve by logging on to the website www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Hill2.