Leading edge micro expeditions!

After listening to Alistair Humphries talk at the ball the idea of micro expedition inspired several people and I felt it would be good to have extra inspiration about what people were up too. Especially as with all our DOE and sneaky trips to Brecon we do a lot ourselves too. After chatting to Leading Edge expedition we are going to trial a 'Micro expeditions' blog.

http://dorsetexp.typepad.com/micro_expeditions/

Will get the guys that are going to Brecon to put something together to blog our trip over the next few days when we get back....

Also think we ought to think of some crazy couple of day challenge... have a think! What shall we have a go at? There is a trail from the North to South of Dartmoor maybe we could investigate in our training...

Brecon training!

Brecon tomorrow for 7 of us!! Wooh!!

Fingers crossed for the weather... BBC says heavy rain but Metcheck still saying dry! I vote we got with MET check! Going to be looking closely at packing skills so make sure you do it well and get all that new kit ready for testing!

Neo airs....

If only we managed to get sponsorship from Cascade designs...!!!

We're up to 5 neo airs on the expedition now! But why?

Description from Thermarest

The NeoAir mattress represents the world’s most advanced engineering in ultralight comfort. Beyond being the lightest air mattress available, we’ve utilised two patent-pending internal technologies, making it up to three times warmer and far more stable than any other uninsulated air mattress available. And when it comes to space in your pack, you’ll appreciate that it’s no bigger than a one-liter water bottle. Revolutionary by design, the gossamer NeoAir mattress makes comfort one less thing you’ll need to compromise when travelling fast and light

And in the test...

+ the extra thickness makes it lots more comfortable to sleep on... (don't be tempted to over inflate it though....

+ It is tiny to pack and so saves lots of space (fits perfectly in a 1lt alpkit dry bag. The bag it comes in is too big)

+ very very light!! 

+ grip and seems to slide around less

+ inflates in 16 puffs!

- slightly rustly to sleep on until you get used to it

- feels delicate... i was apprehensive to start with but i have used it lots and haven't had any problems. Seems more robust than you think!

- You have to blow it up... but don't you have to inflate all self inflating therma rests at the end of the day?!

- Price!! Definately a higher end purchase as the small one retails at £90. HOWEVER, good old go outdoors will price match it down to £52

For comfort, size and weight it is a definate winner. Need to be aware of putting on a bed of gorse though i imagine!!

Going to have to get the sharpies out to name them though!!

Weather in the mountains

What can we expect in the Alps?

http://www.chamonet.com/the-mountains/the-alpine-climate.htm

Silver practise exped!

Last Thursday saw Jack and Adam pack their rucksacks and head off on their practise expedition. An excellent opportunity to get a bit of practise in! It also gave Dave, Ash and I a chance to be out for 3 days in the sunshine too. The boys had to cover about 50 km over the three days they were out and cope with the hot weather! It is only going to be hotter in the Alps! Lots of new kit between the 5 of us too!!

The best bit of the trip.... possibly when Jack asked for water when stood next to the water container. I kindly helped him out by suggesting that the hot water tap was down the other end of the field by the third tallest tree.... 15 minutes later he returned after not having found it. One of the other kids kindly told him it was there and so he headed off again to look further down the field. After over 20 minutes he finally had to admit defeat and tell me he couldn't find it!!!!

We'll need to make sure we camp lots closer to all those running hot water taps in the Alps!!!!

Report from Jack or Adam coming soon...

Sneaky trip to Brecon...

Really want to take my small bag to the Alps so figured I needed to try it out somewhere! Wooh to the Beacons!






So kit essentials for the Alps...  

Light my fire spork vs titanium spork?!

Jet boil and jet boil group systems.

Note to self... you have to take the bottom flux ring protector off before putting it on the gas stove!!!! doh!

Yup... These are the instructions you need to read if you are a moron like me!!

X mug?! Good for packing, not going to smash...






Dolmio bolognase...  Buy 2 and get 1 free in Asda's at the moment.

Definately recommend people get some of these to sneak in your bag and take with us. Meat is not great after being carried around the mountains for a day or two in hot sun!!

Down jacket!

Warm hat...

And then we need to order beautiful weather please!

And then fit it all in a small bag... and we'll walk happily ever after!

Shopping! Wooh!

A sneaky shopping plan for the holidays! Ash, Jess and I decided to hit the shops to get kitted up for the Alps! Although my sneaky aim was to spend all of Ash and Jess' money hopefully!!

Cotswold's first when Ash tried on about 50 pairs of walking boots! They were really good though at fitting them and getting them perfect. We raided the x bowls but decided to shop further for boots... Mountain warehouse next for the group T-shirts, I've got some 10% off vouchers if you take a kit list so someone remind me to dish these out. We got wicking tops to print and then we got some 'Take a hike' tops we intend to get printed with facts and distances on the back for when we get back.

And then the finale! Go Outdoors in Southampton! Hours later we emerged with 12 rucksacks, 2 paris of identical solomon boots for Jess and Ash (but it's fine! They reckon they'll be able to tell the difference with the fact they are half a size apart!!!), 2 penknives, 2 therma rests.... wooh!! We spent a lot of money!!! oops!

The biggest thing we would recommend though is to talk to people in the shops. They were really good at helping , fitting and advising.... and compare prices! Ash and Jess saved about £46 on their boots by price matching at go outdoors and got neo airs for 56 instead of their £90 retail...

Last hint of the day.... make sure the security tag is removed before you leave the shop and get all the way back to Ringwood... hee hee hee!!!