Final countdown for the trip now! The training is almost complete, whilst Patrick has been battering his way to the top of Kilimanjaro, I have been trotting endlessly about the oxygen rich air of the Chilterns. Hard to know which effort will hold us in greatest stead for the race day but at the moment our focus has turned to packing and kit.
So what to take? We are in the happy position that we only need our trekking kit from Jiri to Namchee Bazaar, where we will meet the rest of the Everest Marathon team. They will bring our bags of running kit to Namchee. Always a bonus to be met half way with extra snacks, toiletries and a layer or two. We’ll also have porters from there….pure luxury! See below for full trekking list.
Just Walk is our one day walking charity challenge, on saturday 7th May, in the stunning South Downs. Now in it’s fifth year, Just Walk allows anyone to pull on their hiking books and walk for the charity of their choice. There are four distances to choose from – 10km, 20km, 40km or 60km – so something for everyone. If you are undecided about which charity to choose from why not choose one of our charity partners – Parkinson’s UK or WellChild
We are increasingly aware that as more and more people climb Kilimanjaro travel companies, and amongst them a small number of the charity challenge operators, are occassionaly ignoring the standard number of days needed to safely summit the mountain. The issue with climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak the summit sits over 6,000 metres, is the potential that trekkers attempting to ascend too rapidly run into problems with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), or altitude sickness, which in extreme cases can lead to death. Anybody can get AMS – it is not significantly affected by age, gender, physical fitness or previous altitude experience. However, there is little doubt that AMS is 100% preventable if you listen to your body and by descending to a lower altitude at the onset of symptoms. (see below)
Per Thore, Across the Divide’s polar expert, is a veteran of decades of polar travel and sledding to the North Pole. Below is a video of one of his briefs to a group of charity dog sledders prior to departure.
Across the Divides charity challenges in the Arctic has raised hundreds of thousands of £’s for charity – why not join us for the week? You will be given your own set of dogs, which you’ll need to manage and care for. If conditions are good you will even have the chance to experience the wonder of the northern lights but whatever the weather you will have taken part of an experience of a lifetime and raised much needed funds for a charity of your choice. Email Mark.Howlett@acrossthedivide.com to secure your place.
Pete van Dongen is a serial ATD trekker he’s compelted a trip a year for the last 6 years. So you could say he’s our biggest fan.
Pete is also great at writing up about his trips this write up is from his trip with us to Peru raising funds for a small local animal charity‘R.A.I.N’ - Pete is a vet.
Ryan took part in the Namibia Ultra marathon this May - a 126km race to be completed in just 24 hours – our most extreme event!
The race is across the vast expanse of desert, through the endless space of gravel plains framed by distant ridges and mountains, past dramatic upheavals of granite inselbergs and all under the clearest of blue skies during the day and a full moon during the night. Not only that you will be completely self reliant from the start of the marathon til the end, and will need to carry all your food and equipment on their backs. Water stations and medical tents will be provided at 21km intervals along the route. And to top it all off temperatures are in the region of min 5ºc / max 36 ºc but could be more extreme!
Over 1,000 people are reported to have died with that number likely to rise as more information becomes available. About 2.5 million people are believed to have been affected by the floods which may worsen as further rain falls and water moves downstream. In the aftermath of the floods there is a serious risk to survivors from potentially deadly diseases which will spread as a result of contaminated surface and drinking water.
The Disaster Emergency Committee has opened the ‘DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal’. The money raised will help fund the life saving work in Pakistan of the DEC’s Members and their partners. It will also support the efforts in Pakistan of the DEC’s members which are the leading UK aid agencies.
ATD Director Mark Hannaford has just returned back from the Iceland Laugavegur Ultra Marathon a beautiful course stretching from Landmannalaugar in the highlands to Thorsmörk, a natural conservation area.
The adventure race blazes a trail through moss fields, meadows of wool grass, steam springs, and bizarre lava formations where various blossoms defy the raw climate.
Do not be fooled by the iconic beauty of this mountain marathon course. This is a tough mountain adventure challenge and having a good race plan is essential. It’s a 55km race that is multi terrain (sand, gravel, grass, snow, ice, rivers and streams). It’s a beautiful run and to top it all off – after the race you get to spend the morning at the http://www.bluelagoon.com – just what’s needed for those tired muscles.
Beccy took part in ATD’s Great Wall of China trek in May 2010. Beccy has written a great report about the trek from the highs to the lows, the laughter, jokes on route and wonderful friendships she’s made along the way.
