Cadence Employee's 4,260km Walk to Support the Fight Against Cancer

Pierre-Alexis Desmares, Principal Applications Engineer at Cadence from France, is taking on a challenge by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (4,260 km) within the USA alone, raising €1 per km for the League Against Cancer. You can donate here for this good cause.

Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a long-distance walking path created in 1968. It runs from the Mexican border to Canada and crosses California, Oregon, and Washington State.

Every year, this legendary trail is covered by hundreds of hikers called "thru-hikers" and only 10% of them make it to the end. Pierre-Alexis will do everything to finish.

"I bought my plane ticket for the return in October, it takes 5,5 months in total to complete this hike. In fact, I never asked myself the question of not finishing!" Beyond the sporting challenge, it gives meaning to his walk for a very specific cause, to support the fight against cancer.

World Traveler

Isabelle, his mother, is worried, but not surprised. "When he was little, he told us he wanted to travel around the world, so we`re used to him going."

A globetrotter for work, but also for passion, Pierre-Alexis already knows the USA. "I lived in Dallas, Texas, for over a year. I also did a three-month internship in Los Angeles, and I went to Alaska last August."

Enjoying Being Disconnected 

This time, Pierre-Alexis is returning to the USA for the pleasure of adventure and discovering wild and unspoiled landscapes. He took time off for his project, supported by his manager.

“The idea is also to be disconnected, far from civilization, and enjoy it,” says the adventurer. At the beginning of the trail, Pierre-Alexis plans to cover between 20 and 30km per day, then gradually increase his pace to reach 40 to 50km per day. He will have to adapt to the different environments of the trail and face the heat, the dust, the cold, and the snow. He will hike independently even if about fifty walkers start the trail every day. 

The trail begins in Campo, on the Mexican border, and will cross the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Pierre-Alexis will have to walk about 1,100km in the desert.

Deserts and high mountains will be the backdrop for this first part. "I didn't want to leave too late, because in May, it's already starting to get hot." The trail crosses the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada, and the ridges of the Cascade Mountains, there are seven national parks and 25 forests on this trail.

More Than 4,000 Calories Burned per Day

Pierre-Alexis will sleep most often under the stars, but will be able to rent a room, shower, and wash his clothes in the small towns along the way. "I leave with my tent, my sleeping bag, my mattress, with 4 to 6 liters of water on my back, and clothes adapted to the different environments."

The hiker burns more than 4,000 calories per day. "The mountain will be the hardest part, because for 10 days, we walk without encountering any towns. You have to plan for food that you put in a container so that bears or wolves are not attracted by the smells."

A sportsman, Pierre-Alexis is a fan of trail running in France, but also marathons like the ones in Dallas, Paris, and Stockholm. He also hiked last year in Alaska. He prepares to be in top shape: "I run three times a week and I do muscle strengthening. What I fear the most is injury!" He will also have to call on his mental strength, it is a challenge that requires a real push. He will be separated from his family for several weeks.

"I am leaving with a satellite phone, I will be able to send messages to my partner." Laure-Emmanuelle, the latter, will come to join him in Oregon to accompany him for twelve days. "I want to live this experience and finish the trail with my loved one," concludes Pierre-Alexis.

Completed

After 144 days of walking, Pierre-Alexis concluded the walk on Wednesday, September 18, 2024!

Learn more about Life at Cadence.

The original version of this article in French appeared on Actu.rf La Renaissance magazine in April 2024.