The American Academy Secondary School Horseshoe Hike – teamwork and commitment.
The Horseshoe Hike began early Saturday morning at Troodos Square, where we gathered in our
hiking groups. The trail started with a steady path, with breath taking views for about five kilometres
until we reached our first checkpoint. After a short break, everyone was eager to continue. The next
part of the hike marked the start of our descent, where the trail became more challenging. Even
though the beautiful views persisted, the path became trickier to cross. Steeper sections and rocky
terrain required more effort and focus, but the scenery motivated us to keep going. The difficult
terrain continued through this section of the hike until we reached our second checkpoint, where
the most challenging part of our adventure would begin.
This third section of our hike was by far the most challenging. From navigating the seemingly endless
sharp rocks, testing our balance and focus, to steep steps we had to climb down, testing our
strength. Despite the struggle we persevered, friends encouraging each other to keep going. Along
with the knowledge of what awaited us after completing this stint of our journey. The sense of
determination shared between us all motivated us, step-by-step. When we reached what we had
been waiting for, the pain in our limbs seemed to disappear. A beautiful waterfall greeted us as we
rounded the final corner of this section. It wasn’t huge, but it was magnificent. We inhaled the cold,
dewy air and knew at that moment that the struggle had been worth it. After taking in the beautiful
sight for some time we proceeded to complete the final five kilometres of our hike. The trail was
tricky with sharp rocks jutting out here and there but in the end, it was all worth it. Our sense of
accomplishment was shared amongst us and the experience itself made our struggles worthwhile.
