For the first time in many years it has snowed and settled down on the south coast of England. What an opportune time! Someone asked me today whether I would be training outside. Well kinda! I went to the train station, couldn't get to work, came home. Oh and then 5 minutes ago, having been wearing my hiking boots all day I thought I'd test out my hobbit feet. It was cold! [View Full Entry]

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Last weekend we ventured out on the last training walk in the New Forest. This one was 8 hours long. We got to St James Hill near Emery down and made off towards a point on the map using my new found compass skills. Well that was the plan, but all that Christmas drinking had damaged my memory cells and I started to realise I had forgotten how to. I was angry with myself and it took me about 20 minutes to re-figure it out. I remember when I first learnt the method it seemed so easy, but it’s one of [View Full Entry]

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As the last few weeks draw to a close, I'm mindful that I'll soon be heading off to the Arctic. Th;0e Arctic Circle is the parallel of latitude that runs 66° 33′39″. Temperatures currently seem to be fluctuating around -10c to -20c. Last weekend we headed out along the coast path from Durlston in Swanage along to Dancing Ledge. You can never feel completely ready for a challenge like this, but my series of walks over the last few weekends the 14 flights of stairs I go up and down at work a couple of times a day at work and [View Full Entry]

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Old Harry Rocks is named after Privateer Harry Paye, plunderer of ships on Poole's Jurassic Coast during the 15th Century. 2 Pheasants, one brisket, one turkey, one lamb shoulder, one pork shoulder, 1 veggie pracel, one salmon and a load of lamb kebabs and some leftover soup, I'd definately indulged this Christmas. Today we hiked out to Old Harry Rocks in the Purbeck Hills, to walk off the Christmas load. Training for February's Arctic Challenge is interspersed with bouts of beer, wine and chocolate, then followed by 30 pressups. I'm feeling good, and the closeness of the challenge i [View Full Entry]

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I thought you might like to know about my latest challenge in the Arctic Feb 2009. www.travelblog.org/bloggers/ArcticSurvivalChallenge [View Full Entry]

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I turned up to a small farm on Friday night to start my survival training weekend with Intrepid Expeditions. A company run by an ex-Royal Marine called Nigel. (Fantastic company - I thouroughly recommend them) It was a surprise to turn up, and see Chris - one of the members from my Everest trek. Turns out he is on the same trip. It was nice to have a bit of a catch up. We headed on up to a small copse nearby to start building our survival shelter. I teamed up with those accompanying me to Sweden in February (most were [View Full Entry]

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I'm now the proud owner of a North Face McMurdo Parka and an Intrepid Expeditions bivi bag, and have started my training for one week of survival in the Arctic in February 2009. My training is a mix of the 16 week British Army fitness programme and the 12 week programme sent to me by Discover Adventure. Unlike Everest I'm expecting this trip to be more about, all round strength and stamina. Whereas the trek in Nepal was all about lots and lots of walking, this time I'm going to need strength to dig snow holes and build shelters. On 2nd [View Full Entry]

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