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A great week starts off the autumn trekking season
Mountain Experience had a fantastic week trekking in the Argentiere and Chamonix areas. Together with Explore! Nigel Lewis led 12 clients on a series of day walks around the area.
Looking toward the Mer de Glace from Le Chapeau Chalet
With superb views, great company and good food, the week passed way too quickly. Also, the weather was generally very kind, with just one day of rain, all of which left the team wanting more. “I can see me coming all the way back from Melbourne to do the full TMB!” said Lyn C.
Mt Blanc as seen from Le Prarion
A fantastic month in Ecuador
Cayambe under morning clouds
Mountain Experience, together with Camps International, have just spent a fantastic month in Ecuador with Team Toucan from Hove Park School. The team undertook three weeks of hard labour, working on projects in five different communities. They painted schools, dug foundations, mixed tonnes of concrete by hand, moved countless barrows full of rocks, demolished derelict buildings and taught a few English lessons along the way!
The team quickly developed a reputation for hard work and efficiency and a special shout out goes to the teachers Hannah B and Sophie M who were inspirational.
Beautiful walking in Mojanda
The reward for all their hard work was a six day trek in the Mojanda region with ascents of Fuya Fuya and Imbabura peaks. Every single team member reached the summit of at least one +4,000m peak, with a hard core reaching the highest peak of their trip, Imbabura amid exciting conditions and high emotions!
Nigel was also praised highly by the team…..
“you have been amazing throughout the trip and words can’t explain how grateful I am.” Hannah.
“Thank you so much for all your effort throughout this trip. You’ve taken it to another level.” Toby.
“Nigel, thank you for being the engine of the team and making this experience truly unforgettable. You have been amazing.” James.
As ever, the real thanks go to the members of Team Toucan and our hosts, the people of Ecuador.
Leader Team members, Nigel Lewis and Sophie M on the summit of Imbabura, 4,630 metres.
A lake fills the old caldera
Trek training with Outdoorhire
Mountain Experience were delighted to work with Outdoorhire on the south Downs this weekend. The company are leaders in the field of equipping and advising expeditions that go all over the world.
stunning flowers in a beautiful part of the world
Following the obvious footpath as it turns back toward our finishing point
A number of clients field tested kit and upskilled themselves ready for trips to locations as spread from Peru, Tanzania and China. Two days walking was broken up by a good meal and a session on Top Tips, with the chance to sample some local beers.
What’s not to like!
Final week in Amalfi brings the season to a close
Mountain Experience have had a fantastic month in Amalfi this year. The fourth week was a great success with the usual fantastic fare of food and drink, calorie free ice cream and cake, and more than enough wine, beer and limoncello!
My favourite spot for elevenses. I’m keeping the location secret!
Amalfi in the distance as seen on the ferry from Positano
This year’s autumn expedition will be in Chamonix and Lake Como areas so we won’t be returning to Amalfi until next year, but of course, that will make the return all the more sweeter!
Team Snakedance in the Iron Valley
Such a great week and what great team. Close encounters with Tommy the dog and others, lizards, snakes and more flowers than you could shake a stick at. Missed ferries and lost bags. There was even an Edwardian gentleman!
Team Snakedance had a great week of walking and even more great fun with Mountain Experience and Explore! on the Amalfi coast. See you next year?
Brooding clouds above the Iron Valley
Testing weather conditions for the latest NNAS Silver assessment.
A day of great visibility and autumn colours was followed by another with hill fog that made navigating much harder for the latest NNAS students. Amalfi Veterans Team 1 were not deterred though and did a great job leading the team across the difficult terrain during their assessment.
Students hand railing the edge of the escarpment
During Day 1 the team learned the skills they would need to navigate successfully and get off the beaten track and enjoyed views that stretched for miles!
Students take a bearing to cross a featureless piece of ground
Day 2 was completely different with very poor visibility and damp weather. Throughout the day the students remained positive and ensured they used the skills they had learned to navigate to given places with pinpoint accuracy.
All four candidates were successful in achieving their Silver Navigator award. “What a great course” said Dawn G. “I’ll definitely be using these skills on future walks.”
Amalfi veterans Team 1. The weather meant that visibility was sometimes as low as 15metres.
Fiery red on the Amalfi coast
It’s been an exciting week with yet more wildfires on the Amalfi coast. Helicopters and sea planes have been dumping water onto brush fires high on the steep mountains that overlook the sea, whilst roads have been closed due to safety concerns.
But that didn’t stop the latest Explore! team from enjoying the stunning scenery, plentiful wine and great food that is on offer here. 15 clients trekked into the National Park, along the stunning coastal clifftop path, down ancient steps to Amalfi, across Pompei’s iconic streets and to the summit of Vesuvius. A hot week indeed!
Yet more adventures in Italy
A view down to Amalfi
Mountain Experience are delighted to return to the Amalfi coast of Italy. Hot sunshine, fantastic food, scenery and beaches; what a great way to end a day’s walking!
A whole month of Africa
Mountain Experience have had a fantastic month in Kenya and Tanzania, working with Camps International and West Hatch School from Essex. Several weeks of project work preceded the finale, an attempt on Mt Meru, Africa’s 5th highest peak.
The view from Meru summit with Little Meru, Rhino Point, the Ash cone and Kilimanjaro all visible.
Staff and students mixing concrete for a floor.
Installing windows into a classroom.
The project work was diverse and included deworming goats, building Elephant deterrent fences, laying floors, making mud bricks, mixing concrete, digging ditches, crafting desks, installing windows, the list could go on…….!
The trek was a great challenge and resulted in 27 of 28 people safely reaching the summit. Special thanks go to Sammy K and the staff of Camp Tsavo for looking after us so well and of course, to the staff and students of West Hatch School for their fantastic effort during the trip.
A herd of elephant visiting a waterhole near our camp.
A proud mum telling us about her family.
A great three weeks in Vietnam
Mountain Experience are proud to have been associated with Belmont House School on their recent trip to Vietnam. Working with Outlook expeditions, the team spent time visiting the sights of Hanoi before moving onto the village of Tien Dong where they undertook project work at a kindergarten and school.
Hot work in the fields
They cut back undergrowth, shifted building debris and painted a series of murals that they designed themselves.
Team members walking through the fields near Sa Pa, North Vietnam
The team also spent several days trekking through the beautiful scenery of the Tonkin Alps where they stayed in local villagers homes, before moving on to the coast and visiting the stunning Ha Long bay area.
Sa Pa market place
Red Dzao villagers on the trail
Water buffalo getting out of the heat
Mountain Experience 