As this is my first post, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Francis May and I’ll be heading communications for the selection weekend which involves updating the blog. So, unfortunately you’re stuck with reading my dribble for the foreseeable future! Just as background information I’m 20 and in my final year at Sheffield University. Anyway, this blog is about the Africa Expedition 2011 and not me so I shall get back to subject. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I’ll enjoy writing it.
Less than four days until the selection weekend and I hope I speak for everyone when I say I’m starting to get excited. This post is more of an introduction and will be followed (with great anticipation I hope) by subsequent posts over the weekend. After deciding it probably wasn’t feasible to plug in a computer in the middle of the peaks using an extension cable measuring thousands of metres, I discovered the joys of technology that will allow remote updates to this blog via a phone. So watch out for these. Still, if phone battery gets low we may be falling back onto the world’s longest extension lead. Finally, a review of the weekend will be up shortly after we’ve all returned in one piece.
Right, let’s get introducing to those who are reading this and wondering what on earth I’m talking about. Those who know what it is all about, I apologise but I will not be refunding the wasted minute or two of your life. On the 2nd August 2011 a team will set out from Weymouth on a self-propelled 45 day journey, culminating in the climb of Jbel Toubkal, the highest peak in Africa’s Atlas Mountains range. The journey will involve a number of mini challenges and obstacles that the group will need to overcome. More information on the main trip can be found on the ‘about’ page of this site. Selecting the team that is cohesive and capable of the planned expedition will be done via the ‘selection weekend’ which departs this Friday the 3rd December for the Peak District and returns on Sunday the 5th. During the weekend everyone will be setting a task / challenge for the group to complete. Details of each task remain a mystery except to the person(s) whose task it is. With this in mind it’s all set to be a fantastic weekend unless of course someone has taken it upon themselves to have us run along Stanage Edge in the nude.
We’re currently looking at rather interesting conditions for the weekend. We’ve not had this much snow in the peaks since….. since it last snowed this much. Part of me hopes we’re in for warmer weather but at the same time the cold, fresh air and crisp snow can make for a beautiful environment. Either way, the BBC is currently forecasting more snow on and in the run up to the weekend. Judging by their track record I would like to advise everyone to pack sun cream and a swimming costume. Thank you for reading, and please keep an eye out for new posts. Expect at least one more before we leave and additional posts as the weekend progresses.
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