Update from the selection weekend!

Saturday 18^th December

Mmmm…. A lot of snow had fallen over night! An awful lot of snow! It was a stressful start to the morning and I got up numerous times to peer out the window! Would everyone be able to make it?!

We decided to head to Corfe as planned but altered the route due to the dodgy road conditions as some of the little lanes down to access the coastal areas we were going to use weren’t the best idea! I had lots of spare clothes packed but did a last minute raid of my kit box for even more, it was a bit nippy!

Arriving at Corfe, it was difficult to resist the possibility of the Santa Special steam trade ride but Dave dragged me away and people started arriving one by one… The first question I think everyone asked…. ‘are we still camping?!’ The standard answer they soon learnt to know and hate… ‘I dunno!’ Didn’t stop any of them trying to get more information out of us however! After Jack undertaking a touch of ice climbing it was time to move on...

It was exciting setting off. They didn’t know what was to come and it was beautiful with all the snow. Concentration set in and the team focused on their task and the navigation as we wound out way towards the Purbeck ridges. The snow was a new challenge that many people hadn’t experienced before, it certainly makes walking more difficult and the hills were treacherous with their iced frosting! There were some spectacular slides and rolls as the ice claimed victim after victim. Faye however was the first to go on a completely flat road, while not moving?! Only Faye could manage that! Conquering the first hill, they were greeted with a volley of snow balls from Mark and David who were waiting for everyone at the first check point! And the message they had to deliver…. Back down the hill!

The group were already supporting each other brilliantly and they handled the repeat hill climb with grit and determination. Their perseverance was brilliant especially as a couple of them seemed to be taking one step forward and sliding three back! 

The top of the ridge was spectacular and some of the lucky ones got to watch the sun set. We could already have been in the alps with the snowy horizons! The group headed off in the dark before an early departure out of the Purbecks before the roads iced over. 

Shopping challenge next! 10 minutes, £4 and a sneaky swap to the rules after they planned their tactics! It is amazing how far £4 can stretch!

Bed next?! I don’t think so! Despite Jack’s strong pleas they were dropped off in the middle of nowhere to walk back. This is where the group really needed to manage their emotions as they faced a huge hill challenge on little food, exhaustion and freezing cold temperatures. This was tough for some people, even tougher was being able to get over this, grit your teeth and persevere… Some of the team racked up a spectacular 19 times up one of the icey hills and there was definitely no giving up! Pride was at stake and every time someone headed off for one last go lots of the team decided they were letting any one get one up on them and ran after to join them! Good work guys!

Tea was dark, cold and late! And they still had to make it back to set their tents up. Coping under pressure was also tested then as the group witnessed a car skidding off the road and crashing through a garden. A horrible situation to be in but luckily the group was all safe and they dealt with the situation perfectly. The night finally drew to a close and the group arrived at their final destination and worked well as a team to get their tents up in the inches of snow that lay on the ground. It was going to be a cold, cold night!

Sunday 19^th December

5.30 the next morning and it was a slow start as the team dealt with the challenge and uncertainties of the first task of the day. The cold really slowed them up and this meant they were put under more pressure trying to finish the last bit of the task in a shorter amount of time.

The challenge… Get your self to a grid reference by a certain time.

 

Easy enough surely!? But maybe not when you have had 3 hours sleep, you don’t know where you are, you have to cook and take down snowy tents in the dark oh and you have to carry planks, heavy duty crates, tires…. And have some of your team tied together!

New Forest next and by this time they were exhausted and really feeling the strain of the cold. They set out in small groups to test their navigation, stamina and mental determination. Back together as a group, inevitably a snow ball fight started and full on war was declared. I somehow feel I was slightly victimised in this! I rapidly became the token snowman of the group as snow ball after snowball was hurled accurately my way!

That evening, everyone wanted to curl up for an extra long sleep but that wasn’t to be the case as they had to cook their menus purchased the day before, write risk assessments, plan route and think about jobs and equipment for the expeditions as well as being interviewed. By this time the group was a really strong team and it was brilliant seeing new relationships develop and the working together as a family unit! Faye did a fab job at keeping the boys in check and convincing Jack that if you knock over a drink the normal protocol is to actually clean it up!!

Monday 20^th December

SNOW! Even more snow! We rapidly heard about the blizzards that had hit Poole and felt smug about the fact it wasn’t snowing where we were! That rapidly changed! The snow when on and on and an extra 5 inches caused problems with our plans. We were due to hit Weymouth for our next challenges and the ball but we had no idea if we would make it at all. Cool runnings helped the mood and the group snuggled under blankets to wait the snow out…

We made it! The journey was horrendous and long as a result of the traffic but on reaching Poole rain had washed the main roads clear. We took the journey very slowly and made it! We could still go to the ball! Hannah had joined us this morning after over 2 hours stranded at Tesco’s waiting for us and was sent off to walk Chesil beach with Laura and Jack who kindly volunteered to support her in this challenge while the rest of us set out the name tags for the ball. One final challenge remained… The scavenger hunt! The poor people were harassed and amused as the team raided Weymouth town centre looking for people willing to let them walk their dog, tattoo them and pose for photos. Tesco will never be the same again after witnessing a very poor rendition of jingle bells by a choir that definitely won’t be taking bookings! They also found father Christmas, who looks by the way, suspiciously like Jack!

Ball time! Alistair Humphries gave an inspiring speech and from then on it was food and dancing all the way until 1am. A fab weekend!

Ball photos:    

http://www.richardbudd.co.uk/latestwork.shtml

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=267427&id=99605257199

Tuesday 21^st December

Hannah’s turn! The team supported Hannah taking it in turns to help her walk the most evilly icy hill in the whole of Weymouth! Bambi on ice doesn’t even begin to describe it! Chris had to be restrained as got far too excited about the make shift ice rink we found!