Hans "No Way!" Rey leading trip to Africa

Hans Rey is a legend among bikers. He is a former trials world champion and mountain biking world champion. But more than that, he is known for doing crazy tricks, hitting big jumps and breaking through what many thought impossible on a bike. On Sunday, Rey will be at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies talking up a trip he is leading to Africa and showing some film clips and speaking about his experiences in the 2004 ’10 to 4.’ The race starts at the 10,000-foot level on Africa’s Mount Kenya and descends roughly 6,000 feet.

The multimedia presentation will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday and is free, with a suggested $10 donation. The trip Rey is leading is a nine-day tour in February. Biking and nonbiking participants will get to hang out with Rey, attend the ’10 to 4′ mountain bike race down Mount Kenya, and visit conservation organizations and important conservationists. “This is all for charity to benefit Bill Woodley Mount Kenya Trust,” said Scarlett Adams, president of Friends of Africa International, the group organizing the trip. “It’s a charity based in Africa, and it’s an affiliate of ours.”

The trip will cost around $5,600 and includes a $1,000 donation to Friends of Africa that will be distributed to various conservation organizations to be visited on the trip. It is handled by a safari specialist with all accommodations at the four- or five-star level. Adams said Friends of Africa wanted to find a fun way to support sister organizations in Africa. She helped get Rey excited about the idea.

“He knows the area,” she said. “He knows the problems they have. He’s in favor of helping get recognition for the organization and the mountain. He’s decided to help us by partially donating his services for the tour.”Joel Stonington’s e-mail address is jstonington@aspentimes.com