by Ian | Apr 3, 2013 | Nepal 2013, News
As is tradition in HSX, Easter can me only one thing… Three days of fun in the Lakes District!
The Nepal 2013 team decided to take this opportunity to join HSX out on the Fells to brush up on their navagation skills, practice some unexcepted winter mountaineering and ultimately a spot of team bonding!
Friday 29th March – Day 1
We arrived at Great Tower at 1 in the morning after a fairly uneventful, but very long, journey. Luckily for us we had an awesome mixed tape to listen to. Straight off to bed so we were fresh for an early start.
In the morning we split into our three patrols, kitted up in the winter boots and adjusted our crampons (just incase). The aim was for the Nepal team was to lead both in navigation and looking after the group.
We set off from the car park to summit Little Man, taking note of tick features and reading contours the whole way. We had to practice kicking in steps, a technique we learned in the Cairngorms, as there was lots of snow under foot. We summited Little Man, all 865m of it, and then dropped into the saddle as was very windy on top. After fighting with the group shelter we were finally settled inside to put on more layers and have a bite to eat (where some of us got a bit too excited and ate all of our lunch!)
We then headed up Skiddaw where the view from the top was beautiful, but flipping freezing, so we did not stay for very long. On the way down we met up with the other patrols and walked out as a team as we had heard that Lhotse’s route was full of unconsolidated snowdrift up to your waist!!!
We then headed into Keswick for a well earned hot chocolate and for some quality shopping time.
After a de-brief of the day it was announced Bloc had kindly sent us all a pair of sunglasses each, que a fight for the mirror to admire ourselves. And the news did not stop there. It has now been confirmed that we are one of the seven finalists for the Light my Fire adventure blog. This not only means that we get to write on their website we get to have lots of their great kit which will be a great help for our expedition.
After a bit of free time we headed over to the slab to practice our bouldering. This was a great challenge to practice our skills of transferring our weight on steep rocky inclines.
After a delicious dinner (we love the cooks) we started to prepare for the next day out on the mountains.
Saturday 30th March – Day 2
We started the day at Hartsop. We then walked up Pastino Beck Valley whilst practising some micronavigation. The conditions started off with some thin snowfall as we walked. As we passed Raven Crag the clouds started to come down the valley. Having stopped briefly for a snack, we started our ascent from Threshthwaite Cove to Threshthwaite Mouth. The snow was powdery and unconsolidated, which made the ascent more challenging.
As we reached the saddle we felt the wind begin to bite. From the saddle we could see our next destination, Thornthwaite Crag, enveloped in cloud. As we climbed towards the top we chased away the cloud, leaving clear view as we arrived on the summit. At the top we paused for a lunch break and rewarded ourselves with Ribena.
After Lunch we started making our way to the trip point on High Street at 828m above sea level. Up on the plateau walking through the snow was similar to Russian roulette, with some steps on solid snow and the next disappointing, up to your knees or higher in snow. Crossing the plateau we met up with the Nupste team who were taking the same route as us, but in the other direction.On a descent from the trip point on the way towards The Knott, Joe, our leader was demonstrating how to run downhill through the snow when his foot got caught and he faceplanted with …ummm… elegance! After we finished laughing with him we continued our way up to the summit of The Knott (739m).
We then began our descent through thick snow, doing a few ice axe arrests halfway down… which is much faster than walking and loads more fun. We found that Haveswater lake was frozen and it took a large rock to break through. Then we continued down the rest of the valley to arrive back at the car park.
That night we were treated to a lovely dinner followed up with delicious gateau.
Sunday 31st March – Day 3
We woke at 7am HSX time, had breakfast and prepared for the day ahead. The advance group left earlier to set up the climbs at Bowderstone Crag in Borrowdale. On arrival, we played the bean warm up game (involving throwing many interesting shapes representing ‘chilli beans’ and ‘jelly beans’ etc.). This was highly entertaining and limbered us up nicely for the climbs.
We rotated between the three climbs and all had a go at the quarry abseil round the corner. The abseil itself was around 30m in height and going over the edge was quite scary for most. There was also a mini cave at the bottom where we couldn’t place our feet against the cliff so had to abseil freely.
After our amazing morning we all went to the Bowderstone; finding out that the reason why they built stairs up to the top was due to tourists frequently getting stuck on the top and having to phone mountain rescue! This was an eye opener for a lot of us because we didn’t realise how much upper body strength was needed for bouldering. We also discovered a place underneath the rock where you could link hands with someone on the other side; much to the amazement of the tourists…
After our quest, we returned to our kingdom for a mighty banquet of Spaghetti Bolognese! Later in the evening Smudge taught us how to use the Petrol stoves and we learnt that they are highly effective and work well at altitude. Everybody finished the day by packing their bags for the return journey and got into bed ready for a day of travel the next morning back to the South Coast.
by Ian | Apr 2, 2013 | Nepal 2013, News
The Nepal 2013 are delighted to announce that they have been selected as one of seven finalist to take part in this years “Adventure Blog” run by Swedish company, Light My Fire (off of Spork fame!).
The team saw off stiff completion from other budding adventurers from across the globe, being selected from over 100 entrants.
As part of their sponsorship deal the expedition team will be documenting their adventure on the Light My Fire website, uploading pictures and reports from their training weekends, as well as during the expedition itself. This is a great opportunity for the team to show off to a global audience what exciting things the Scouting movement is up to and, more importantly, what HSX is all about… Adventure!
During the remainder of our the expedition programme the team will be road testing a range of Light My Fire products.
You can follow the teams progress at http://www.lightmyfire.com/adventure-blog.aspx.
A huge well done to Rosemary Harrison who helped to organised this.
by Ian | Nov 11, 2012 | Nepal 2013, News, Training, Trip Report
So it was that time of year again for HSX to visit North Wales and the beautiful landscapes of Snowdonia, leaving at the standard time of 1800 (on the dot! very uncommon for a HSX trip) from Hampshire and heading for the Cornel Scout Centre near Trefriw; half an hour’s drive from Betws-y-Coed.
Arriving weary after the six-hour drive, the group went to bed with anticipation for a good weekend’s worth of climbing and walking to satisfy the appetite. The next morning after a spot of brekkie, two groups were formed; the climbing contingent headed up by Dave, and the Nepal lot that were to take on Mount Snowdon via the Watkins Path during the morning, with a few Quality Shopping Hours later on. Both teams headed to the same place to begin the day, with the Nepal team splitting down the middle and meeting up for lunch later on. At this point it is worth mentioning that the team I was in, although ascending the steeper route to the summit, actually managed to make it before the other team and so can claim victory! After a quick photo opportunity on the summit (not wanting to spend too long there due to the vast crowds brought there by the steam train and the attraction of a warm visitor’s centre!) we had lunch and watched the clouds lift to expose the summit (which only a few months earlier saw Sir Chris Bonington emotionally carry the Olympic Flame to the summit during the torch relay on an amazing cloudless day). After saying farewell we descended the mountain with a sense of achievement; Snowdon being the first mountain for some members of the group and the first taste of dizzy euphoria that you experience when summiting mountains. It is hoped that all the members of Nepal 2013 will get to experience this on a grander scale when summiting Island Peak next year, which gave me this greatest feeling back in 2007 at the age of 16.
After reaching the car park again, the time was now to wait for the climbers to arrive back, which took too long, so the group (minus Rosemary and Rich) went to Betws-y-Coed for some shopping and a cup of tea. This was a slight mistake, since Rich had the lodge key, which we of course didn’t realise until we couldn’t open the door, so had a long wait outside until they arrived. We then had a very pleasant evening meal of caribbean chicken with rice very exotic and were given a presentation by the Nepal 2013 team on the effects of altitude on the body and what they might expect when going to the Himalayas.
The next morning, Nepal 2013 left on foot from Cornel with the aim of taking in the Summit of Crimpau, where awesome views of Snowdon, Tryfan and the Carneddau could be seen, topped off by excellent weather and equally excellent company. The group then stopped for a while to learn about the flora and fauna of Snowdonia, micro-nav and rope-work before heading back to Cornel lodge (‘cough cough’ on time… ‘cough’) and prepared for the journey back to Hampshire in our new team attire, tired but content.
Thanks…
Ollie Robinson..
by Ian | Nov 9, 2012 | Event Report, News, Team HSX, Video
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.
by Ian | Nov 7, 2012 | News, Training
Hi all,
Christmas is fast approaching and with it the annual HSX Adventure Race, Christmas meal and forum!
The Christmas weekend will be Saturday 22nd – Sunday 23rd December. We’ll be in the lodge at Ferny Crofts and the weekend will be kicking of with the Adventure Race on Saturday morning. The Christmas meal will be on Saturday evening followed by the forum on Sunday morning.
The Adventure Race will have classes for first-timers and veterans. Prizes for winners… Celebrate in the evening and come along to the forum on Sunday to find out what HSX will be doing over the coming year and how you can be involved.
Cost of the weekend is £20. If you can only make it to the meal then the cost is £5.
If you’re interested in coming along and you haven’t had the official email from me, then please email info@HSX.org.uk
Thanks
Richard Batstone
Event Director
by Ian | Feb 16, 2012 | Nepal 2013, News
Calling all Hampshire Explorers for HSX Nepal 2013!
Following the success of Sky High and Nepal 2007, HSX will be visiting Nepal again in 2013, with a group of 20 explorer scouts, with the aim of trekking to Everest Base Camp, Summiting Island Peak (6189m) and carrying out a 2-week community project with the Himalayan Trust.
The six-week expedition will be in September/October 2013 and is open to all explorer Scouts from across Hampshire.
Expedition leaders; Chris Slater, Joe Doherty and Ollie Robinson will be holding an info presentation in the Sky High Conservatory at Ferny Crofts @11am on Sunday 4th March 2012.
The Nepal 2013 ad can be viewed here: NEPAL 2013 POSTER
