Fourteen Explorer Scouts and four Leaders set off at 4am on Tuesday morning for their expedition to Peru. Travelling via Houston to Lima and then onto Cuzco, the 6-week expedition will include community work at the local orphanage, hiking the Inca Trail, and experiencing the local culture including Macchu Picchu.

Meanwhile, the topics at the departure preparations on Monday evening included how to keep iPods charged during the trip, whether bags were within the weight limits, and how short haircuts needed to be to last 6 weeks.

To follow the expedition’s progress, visit http://hsx.org.uk/. The team are due to return on September 11th to an official reception – more details later

Scouts from across Hampshire will be embarking on the adventure of a lifetime on Tuesday 3^rd August.  This will be one of the largest overseas expeditions from Scouts in Hampshire this year.  Their 6 weeks expedition will include trekking, undertaking challenging activities and working in a remote central region orphanage.

The party of 14 Scouts and 4 adult volunteer Scout Leaders will be trekking along the historic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a World Heritage Site.  They will take part in a variety of different adventurous activities from hot air ballooning to white water rafting.  They will then undertake a vital community project at an orphanage set up to cater for abandoned children, to enhance their living conditions, improving sanitation and creating an outdoor playground.

Expedition Leader, Dave King, a Scout Leader, said "The Scouts have had an intensive 18 month training programme leading up to this unique expedition.  They have been working hard fundraising not only for themselves, but also to help buy materials to enhance living conditions at the orphanage.  The orphanage was set up for abandoned children and we want to help improve their living conditions and to create an outdoor playground for them to enjoy”.

Katie Bass, from Hook, said "This is a huge adventure for me.  Being a Scout has given me this opportunity of going to the other side of the world to have a great time and help children less fortunate than me".

If you would like a t-shirt, please place your order using the form below. (deadline, 1st Aug)

Link

Many thanks to Clare Symonds for her trip report:

Day 0
The Journey
On Thursday evening, a small army of Tourneos (9-seater Ford Transits) left Hampshire for the long journey to the Lake District. My Tourneo departed around 18:00 and got there at 01:30! In total we had 55 people at the weekend, including the Peru team, usual HSX members and load of Explorers from across Hampshire and Weymouth. I was part of the extra Explorers, coming a long for the weekend to see what HSX was all about.

Day 1
Rock Climbing Introduction
Despite the rather unsociable arrival time last night, breakfast was served 08:00 HSX time (HSX time is an hour ahead of GMT) and got ready. We headed out for a day of climbing, and to get things started we began with a spot of bouldering (low level climbing without ropes). Meanwhile, the leaders set up some top ropes, so we could climbing up higher. After a brief refresher on how to belay, we took it in turns to climb up the crag. 12:00ish we ate lunch. We did some more climbing and finally headed back to base at Great Tower.

Back in the warmth of the hut, we finally had a chance to get everyone at the weekend in one place at the same time and we had a briefing for the weekend and reported back on the days activities, accompanied with hot crossed buns and tea. This was followed by a lovely dinner and a chat about the next day’s planned walking routes.

Day 2
Navigation Training
On the second day we woke up for breakfast even earlier (07:00HSX). Then we got in the Tourneos and several groups headed for Dungeon Ghyll car park, at the base of the Langdales. Our group, lead by Alan, started on a walk with the aim of improving our navigation. Anthony took the first leg, around 2km. As we walked we got to know each other, most of us never having met before this weekend. Each day was an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. After 2km Karl took over leading the navigation, then we gradually started going up to the pile of rocks, finally arriving at Pike of Stickle. We climbed the last bit one by one, as the path became narrow. When all of us got to the top we looked at the view as we started to walk to Dungeon Ghyll Force. Then we saw another group on the way down and made the final descent together. The conditions underfoot were a little snowy in places, so I had to learn how to use different techniques to stay on my feet. I never thought walking could be so hard!

Waterfall Abseil
So then things got interesting…
We stopped for lunch within sight of the car park, next to some of the leaders. We were instructed to get changed and put on a climbing harness and helmet. One by one we were lead down into a deep, cold, wet gorge. Between the top and bottom of the gorge was a 15 meter abseil, complete with waterfall! Now I can say “I’ve done that”. I changed into some nice warm clothes and we headed back to meet the Peru team. David H-E ate all the bakewell tarts. We had dinner in two settings because their where so may of us. Then followed a de-brief and tomorrow choice was to go climbing or walking up Scafell Pike, which I had done when I was seven. So, I decided to climb improve my climbing skills. Then we had a chat and I went to bed early because I was so tired.

Day 3
Climbing part 2
We woke up, had breakfast and grabbed lunch. We jumped into the Tourneos and got on our way. At the crag, we did some warm ups exercises, including the plank. I did some belaying, and just before lunch I did a climb which included standing on someone’s shoulder (thanks Tom Rose!). Then in the afternoon I too a more relaxed role, viewing from the ground. 15:00ish we went back had a lazy afternoon. I played with a little German boy (Ed – Dave Frid’s 2 year old son) who spoke little English which was a bit difficult. Then we had dinner, a full de-brief of the weekend and prepared for departure the next day.

Day 4
Home time
We got up, tidied up and then we spent the day travelling home.

Final Thoughts
I was asked to highlight the best bit of the weekend, but on reflection I found it hard to narrow it down to just one. With all the new adventures, I can honestly say that it was all so much fun.

We are pleased to announce 2 new sponsors who are kindly offering their support to our Peru team. Many thanks for your generosity.

http://www.buffwear.co.uk/

http://www.trekwear.co.uk/

For any other sponsorship enquiries, we would be delighted to hear from you – hsxonline(at)gmail(dot)com

The annual HSX Scotland trip this year had 35 people in total attending which included the Peru team as part of their UK based training for the expedition this summer.

This year was full of snow and cold conditions as low as -12ºc, The first two days of the trip were filled with essential winter mountaineering skills to help them get through the week. The third and fourth day was spent building a snow hole from scratch then testing them out by cooking and sleeping in them for a night. The fifth day of the trip was another practical training day on snow and ice climbing techniques that were then put into good use over the next couple of days as the Peru team leaders took them climbing in breathtaking Scottish scenery.

Over the week HSX members climbed Ben Macdui  (1,309m) and Cairngorm  (1,245m). Also people went Skiing, Dry tool climbing, swimming completed Mambo’s Direct and visited John O’ Groats.

By Phil Nutbeam

Now in it’s 2nd year, the eagerly anticipated HSX Winter Adventure Race gave 18 competitors the opportunity to lose all feeling in their feet. Sub zero temperatures and some sneaky control placements meant some runners learnt some route choice lessons the hard way, by ending up waste deep in freezing bogs. The route planner (me) also learnt something about remembering to tell everyone about moving controls to a different location. Still, everyone returned with smiles on their faces and there was even talk of a summer race (anyone want to volunter to set the route?)

With only 2 teams arriving withing the time limit of 3 hours and 2 points lost per minute late, the scores threw up some interesting results. Overall winners were Alan and Chris, having collected all 10 checkpoints but returning around 20 minutes late, finishing with an impressive score of ~160.

Full results will appear below (when I manage to make it through the snow to work, where the piece of paper with the scores is)

Open Class
1) Alan and Chris
2) Rich and Rich
3) Craig and Tom
4) To come
5) To come

Rookie
To come

Solo
To come

Triple
To come

Female
Charlotte and Hayley

The HSX Christmas weekender is taking place on 18th – 20th December 2009 at Ferny Crofts, New Forest.

The weekend will include the following elements;

Saturday daytime: teamHSX Adventure race, this years race is the second of the annual competitions and this year the course director (Ian Furlong) say “bring your wellies”, it promises to be a wet one.
Saturday evening: HSX Christmas meal, this year being cooked by the Peru 2010 expedition team
Sunday: HSX annual forum, your chance to find out and lead exciting future expeditions and an opportunity to have a say on what we do

It would be great if you’re able to attend the whole weekend and we’ll be catering from Saturday breakfast until Sunday lunchtime. If you are unable to make all weekend but would like to take part in some elements of the weekend please let me know what parts you will be there for.

Please let me know if you are attending and when. craig.gregory(at)hsx(dot)org(dot)uk