Our very own Lucky CFO Alan Braithwaite went out into the New Forest yesterday with two other lucky readers of Trail Running Magazine, the Editor & a photographer to do an article for next autumns edition of Trail Running Magazine.
We can ensure you it will be worth a read.
Hi all,
Sam Howe, from the Nepal 2013 team thought he’d take this opportunity to update everyone on our progress to date.
So far we have 12 Explorer Scouts signed up to the expedition, coming together from all across Hampshire. We are well underway with our 18 month, pre-expedition training programme, having attended three weekends at the Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre. These weekends have helped us to develop as a team and have taught us some very useful skills we will need to use when in the Himalayas.
On the first weekend in May we met each other for the first time, undertaking a number of activities to test our team work and communication skills, as well as being fully introduced to our leader team. In June we we helped out at the Ferny Crofts open day by cooking burgers and sausages on the BBQ. Other activities during the weekends have included climbing, high ropes and hiking during the day or night.
On each of the weekends we have had PT sessions, helping us to improve our fitness, which is very important f0r us to make sure that we acclimatize comfortably and enjoy the experience of trekking in the mountains.
My highlight of the training so far was the survival camp when we were given a scenario. We had to walk to check points in the New Forest, where we did various activities like learning about First Aid or using flags to communicate to each other. It has been a very enjoyable experience so far and I am looking forward to the rest of the training we will have.
Keep posted for more information about our training weekends.
Sam Howe
See some great pictures of the expedition here.
Day One
The Bursars, Russ and Slattergator travelled up early Thursday in the Russ bus we left just before 5am! The early start gave us an enjoyable afternoon walking up Skiddaw and then we found a little man with ice creams on the way down. Later in the day we met up with the other Torneo that contained the Nepal team plus Hannah, Besty and Chris Laws.
That evening due to a slight hiccup in the accommodation we had fish and chips for dinner, we then got to Great Tower where due to the hiccup we were to spend the night on the floor in the ecology room (luckily they had new mattresses for us to sleep on). Before we splet though Ollie (Event Director) and the other drivers did spend some time planning the next day whilst the Nepal team and Bursars explored the site – for many of us our first trip Great Tower.
Besty, Hannah and Chris Laws made a good choice by opting to sleep out overnight, rather than sleeping in a room with 20 other people. Everyone else arrived late that night – we did all switch to HSX time (1hr forward to make the most of the daylight hours).
Day Two
Breakfast was at 7:30 – two brioche (different shapes) and a cereal bar as there was no where to cook. We then split down into three groups – Multi pitch, Walking & Nepal team. The multi pitch team went to the Langdale Valley and climbed up near Stickle Tarn, for some it was our first multi pitch, so we mainly concentrating on gear placements. The walking group met the three over nighters (apparently Chris still snores) and did a 12km walk up Hellvelyn. For theNepalteam this was their first group activity to Bowfell.
That night we moved into Windermere lodge where after dinner in preparation for his ML Assessment Steve Knaggs gave a talk on flora and fauna. Educating us on everything from symbiotic relationships to Parmelia Saxatilis.
Day Three
The Nepal team plus a few others went single pitch climbing, for some their first experience of real rock. Three Bursars plus Dave went for some more multi pitch – because of Steve’s talk we were able to identify the moss we were trying to climb over. Steve and Mike had an epic day’s scrambling. Alan, Besty, Chris Laws and Rich Batstone did a section of the Bob Graham Round. This left a few of the others to summit Scafell Pike. That evening we had roast dinner – it was good.
In the evening we socialised with other network members – getting to bed at an unreasonable hour.
Day Four
TheNepalteam went for another walk to the old man of Coniston. Stu demonstrated how well waterproof trousers foam if you forget to rinse them and it rains. He must be congratulated on actually wearing them as opposed to getting soaked with your trousers nice and dry in your bag.
Ian, Jeremy and Rich Brimelow went mountain biking.
The climbing group did the piece of classic rock “Little Chamonix”. If the wind blows and your gear falls out it suggests more work is needed on placements.
Joe did a talk about rope work for his ML and how important the over hand knot is, brilliant laugh practicing different types of abseils inside.
Day Five
The journey home – started unreasonably early, 6am in fact.
By Rosemary..