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@gmail.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@hsx.org.uk

Congratulations to HSX Leader Craig and Alan on passing their ML(Summer) award this week.

They both said that it was a tough and stressful week but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Craig and Alan completed the 5 day assesment which included group management, safety on steep ground, micro navigation and a two night expedition. They completed this at the National Mountain Centre – Plas Y Brenin in Snowdonia.

Well done guys.

The Sheffield Rat Race competition was the focus for a Channel 4 TV proudction broadcast on Sunday 13th September. If you’re quick you can catch it on 4 On Demand

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/british-triathlon-grand-prix/4od#2935158

Keep a close eye out for myself, Alan and Jon. (I was competing in team ‘Fusion’, 7th in the overall standings for the mixed catagory)

Hampshire Scout Expeditions (HSX) would like to invite you to their annual Adventure Weekend!

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If you or members of your Explorer Scout Group are interested in learning more about HSX or would like to experience new activities it would be great if you could come along!

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The aim of the weekend is to teach you new skills, use the skills you already have and to work in a team through a series of challenges, such as climbing and hiking, set by the HSX team. The majority of the weekend will be based over a 24 hour period with a theme that in the past has included surviving in a foreign country.

This weekend is a good way to learn more about what activities HSX do and chat amongst current HSX members.

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Dates: Saturday 5th September – Sunday 6th September 2009.

Location: Ferny Crofts, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, SO42 7YQ.

Cost: ?20

Regards,
Chris Slater
C.J.Slater@brighton.ac.uk

Congratulations from everyone at HSX to Bear Grylls on his appointment as Chief Scout! Peter Duncan will be a hard act to follow, but we’re sure Bear will do a great job. And hopefully he’ll give us a few tips for the Atacama Challenge…