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'Nothing Is Impossible': Man Pushed Friend In A Wheelchair Across 500-Mile Spanish Trail

'Nothing Is Impossible': Man Pushed Friend In A Wheelchair Across 500-Mile Spanish Trail
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By 

Asian-American Affairs Reporter, HuffPost

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This pair proves that friendship is a force so powerful, it can move mountains -- or at least push up them.

Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray, both 39 and living in Idaho, have been best friends since childhood, and have shared a host of happy memories together. When Skeesuck became ill with an autoimmune disease that required him to use a wheelchair, he was not deterred from making more memories with his best friend.

He approached Gray with the idea of hiking the mountainous 500-mile El Camino de Santiago -- or the Way of St. James -- trail in Spain. Gray gladly agreed, saying, "I'll push you." In July, the two completed their 35-day trek.

"It was insane, but we proved that even if you have limits in your life, they don’t have to define who you are. Nothing is impossible," Gray told Today.com.

The trip had its rough patches. When the pair set out to hike the Pyrenees mountains on their second day, a wheel snapped off of Skeesuck's wheelchair, KTVB.com reported. Luckily, strangers stepped in to help them out.

"The whole point is these people didn’t have to stop. They could have just kept on walking," Skeesuck told Today.com. "But our journey showed that if you jump out in faith, then with the help of community and with love, amazing things happen."

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The 500-mile journey took them through rivers, up mountains and even into 10-inch thick mud, according to the New York Daily News. At times, Gray needed to carry his best friend when the trail was too difficult to wheel through. When they finished their journey at a plaza in Santiago de Compostela, they were greeted by other travelers cheering and clapping for them, the outlet reported.

"It was very humbling, and truly satisfying and amazing to be able to accomplish something that we set out collectively to do," Skeesuck told the New York Daily News.

As exhausting as the trip was, Skeesuck and Gray are already looking forward to their next adventure -- possibly an African safari or a scuba trip.

A film crew captured their experience in Spain, and now the pair are raising funds to complete the documentary by 2015.

For more information on the journey or to donate to their documentary, visit their website here.

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Before You Go

Dangerous Hikes in the U.S.
Maroon Bells, Elk Mountains(01 of05)
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The iconic image of The Maroon Bells in Colorado is more than just a scenic overlook. A Deadly Bells sign, posted by the US Forest Service, warns hikers of the risk they take in this hike/climb. The sign explains that the beautiful mountains have taken the lives of many in the past year, insisting that you must be very experienced to continue through.
Photo Credit: © Flickr / Chad Weisser
Click here to see the ALL of the Dangerous Hikes the U.S has to offer.
Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park(02 of05)
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The Mist Trail holds one of the highest numbers of deaths in all of Yosemite National Park. As the mist from the falls fills the air, the stone steps carved into the canyon tend to be very slippery. The last thing you want is to slip and fall into the water. According to Timberline Trails, most deaths happen because of the strength of the currents within the Mist Trail.
Photo Credit: © Flickr / Casey Bisson
Mount Washington, New Hampshire(03 of05)
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Mostly recognized as the highest peak in the Northeast, Mount Washington is home to some challenging trails and rugged weather. While lower than many other popular mountains, Mount Washington’s high relief of 4,000 feet makes it a steep trail to climb. On Mount Washington Observatory’s website, they answer the question “Is hiking Mount Washington safe?” with a “No.” There have been more than 100 people die from falling, hypothermia, avalanches or heart attacks on this hike.
Photo Credit: © Flickr / Paul Hamilton
Click here to see the ALL of the Dangerous Hikes the U.S has to offer.
Rover's Run Trail, Far North Bicentennial Park(04 of05)
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Anchorage is home to an abundance of wildlife, and the density of them is what makes this trail so dangerous. Campbell Creek, running along the trail, is filled with salmon, and bears love to snack along the banks. According to the Anchorage Park Foundation, the frequent occurrences of bear and human encounters have made it necessary multiple times to close the trail.
Photo Credit: © Flickr / Princess Lodges
The Maze, Canyonlands National Park(05 of05)
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Appropriately named, The Maze is definitely an easy place to get lost in. As the least accessible, and therefore least visited district of the Canyonlands, visitors usually spend week-long trips in the area. The National Park Service warns that many of the hiking routes include sections of steep slickrock and pour-offs that require climbing maneuvers. Also, they insist you always carry a topo map, and if lost remain in one place.
Photo Credit: © Flickr / terratrekking
Click here to see the ALL of the Dangerous Hikes the U.S has to offer.
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