Chad keeps on walking

Henriette Lamprecht – He took the high roads and he experienced the desolation of the low road. Now, Chad Warren only wants to be happy and at peace, all while he puts on his hiking boots and starts walking.

Chad has been in the tourism industry for almost 30 years and is the owner of Wild Cherry Adventures and of course also Chadmanwalking. He has traveling and adventure in his blood, he says.

“I am 50 years old and have led an incredibly colourful life. I have seen things that would make a therapist sob and now I’m honestly only interested in being happy and at peace. I’m lucky to be alive and love the fact that I am.”

Chad lost his mom when he was young and his teenage years weren’t happy ones.

“I was very close to my dad, but at the age of 17 was forced to leave home to face life’s challenges alone.”

At 15 years old he was already a 25-year-old, says Chad.

He bottled up his sadness and anger and took it out on himself. Using alcohol and drugs to cope, by his late teens he was already an alcoholic and drug addict.

In those days “men didn’t cry”, says Chad, and being an only child, he only had his dad.

“But I was wild and uncontrollable, so he had to cut me loose.”

At 24 he “fell” into tourism and decided he found his calling.

“I loved the wildlife and nature aspect of tourism, but the social side was a little too easy for me.”

He drank too much and when he owned a bar, it was the beginning of the end. In 2009 his dad died suddenly and, once again, he hit a wall.

“I basically had a meltdown and if I did not seek help, I surely would have died at 40.”

Before he found the benefits of talking to a therapist and being open to receiving help, he had this “unbelievable urge” to be away from all the negative things in his life, says Chad.

He decided to walk from Lüderitz to Swakopmund. Totally unprepared and with backup that didn’t even have a driver’s license, he drove his kombi to Lüderitz, dipped his toe in the ocean, and started to walk.

Sixty-five days later he walked into the ocean in Swakopmund with a clear head and ready for “another round of life’s challenges”.

At this point, he realised the benefits of being out in nature.

Chad started the Damaraland Camino because it never lets you down, he says.

The route was suggested by a friend and they drove it together.

“When something really good happens in your life, it often happens quite easily.”

With everything happening around the Brandberg mountain, it really has spectacular views, he explains.

“I have taken into account that most people who will be doing this, are perhaps not dedicated hikers. Yes, you to have to be ‘fit-ish’, but it’s not hard.”

The trail is a slackpacking hike that is fully catered with 15 km a day being covered. Hikers only carry their day bags, while a team takes care of the rest – from sleeping bags to tents.

It’s designed to give hikers a five-hour walk in the morning with the luxury of a catered camp nestled in one of the most beautiful places on earth, says Chad.

He admits it is currently a very difficult time for most people.

“This time the mammals that are in danger, are the humans.”

Normally he walks for nature conservation but he feels by using himself as an example, he can show people that even after many challenges, one can always find peace.

“Forget the money or the lack thereof, the loss of your business or worse. I am here to tell you that you are not alone in this. Everyone has demons. It’s not how far you fall that defines you. We are not alone. Even though you may think you are, there are millions of us right now in crises.”

It’s important to take some time for yourself.

“Go for a walk in nature and see how relaxing it is! Just let the demons in your head go quiet for a while. They don’t stand a chance against Mother Nature!”

Having had his own trouble with mental health and finding peace in the Namib desert, he decided to use his experience to help his fellow humans cope with all that is going on.

“I believe mind, body, and soul are linked very closely,” says Chad. You will battle with one in some way if the others are not in sync. Walking in nature can take care of this.

“As you get fitter and you find peace, the questions to life’s answers will start to appear.”

When Chad is in Windhoek, he organizes a walk of 5 or 10 km that is free for anyone who wants to join him. The plan is to do this at different locations.

“It is for those who may be in need of peace and some time out, but don’t have the time or funds to do a Camino.”

Chad would love to do the Camino Kumano Kodo in Japan, which is a combination of nature and spirituality.

He remembers the very first day in 2010 when he started walking from Lüderitz.

“It was cold, windy, misty and I was throwing up on the side of the road after just a few kilometres. At Kolmanskop, I was hardly alive. The feeling inside me was, however, one of excitement and hope. I was so happy and for the first time in years I just knew this was the right choice.” – [email protected]; www.chadmanwalking.com; www.wildcherryadventures.com