Three Women Trek the Desert – The Rose Trip Challenge

While thousands of children will be roaming the streets in search of candy at the end of October, three Quebec women will be navigating the warm sands of the Moroccan desert in search of their next bivouac. Catherine Croteau, Marie-Andrée Laplante, and Xaviera Daoust will take part in the first edition of the Trek Rose Trip, a women-only, solidarity-based orienteering trek, as described beneath the organization’s logo.

Inspired by the well-known Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles — an off-road charity rally for women — the Rose Trip offers a new way to explore the desert. From October 31 to November 5, 210 women will spend four days trekking, equipped only with a compass, a logbook, and three liters of water per day.

A Trek for a Cause

For Xaviera Daoust of Les Coteaux, it was an easy yes:

“We signed up for the expert category,” says Xaviera, who previously took part in the 2011 Rose des Sables rally. “We figured if we’re going, let’s go all in.”

That means four days of hiking 26 kilometers per day, moving from one bivouac to another — a true physical and mental test. But beyond the personal challenge, it’s about something bigger: supporting charitable causes. This year’s trek supports Enfants du désert and Breast Cancer Awareness (Parlons-en). A portion of each team’s $12,000 registration fee goes directly to these organizations.

“It’s a completely different experience walking across the desert than driving it at 50 km/h in a 4x4,” says Xaviera. “You notice the wildlife, the terrain, the heat — everything becomes more real.”

A Compass, a Logbook, and Blisters

No GPS. Just basic tools, determination, and teamwork. The women will navigate each leg from a midpoint checkpoint to their bivouac using only a compass and logbook. Food is self-managed, and rest is earned at the end of long, sun-drenched days.

“Walking for 10 hours one day is fine. Day two too. But by day three or four, if a blister bursts or a knee starts acting up, things get harder,” says Xaviera.

Until then, the team is training in various conditions: in the mountains, on sand at Parc nature Les Forestiers, and for Xaviera, at the Centre Multisports.

“I wasn’t athletic growing up,” she admits. “But in my thirties, I chose to put my health first. I run, swim, or bike almost every day. I swapped TV time for workout time, and it all changed. You’re not prioritizing sport — you’re prioritizing yourself.”

When Xaviera takes that first step into the desert with her teammates, she’ll know it was worth every effort — to see the desert up close, to be part of something bigger, and to fully live her life.

Special Thanks

The Trekoises would like to thank their main sponsors:

• Centre Multisports

• Les Manifestes

• Sail Vaudreuil

• Constructions Valrive

• Voyages Gendron

• Multisports Valleyfield

Support the team!
Buy a bandana scarf or branded water bottle to support the Trekoises by writing to: lestrekoises@hotmail.com