Enfield County: World Challenge, Vietnam 2013

Tuesday 4 June 2013

Our Trek in Sapa

With 41 days to go, and exams over, I'm feeling excited.

5 days, 70 km: we can do this.

Monday 21 January 2013

Meeting, 25th of March, 4pm-7pm

We have our final 'Parent's Information Evening' on March the 25th when we'll meet our expedition leader.

He's called Anthony, this is what he says...

"I'm currently based in North Wales working as a Freelance Outdoor Instructor but when I'm not working or playing in the Mountains I head home to Peterborough to see my family. I've been involved in Outdoor Education since 2004, when I started working for Kingswood Activities Centre after this I worked for Robinwood Activity Centre and then finally moved to Wales to work for The Outward Bound Trust as a Senior Instructor. In 2010 I wanted to start exploring the world so I moved to the UAE to work for a hotel company delivering activities after this I moved out to Marrakech, Morocco and worked as an adventure guide. In 2011 I returned home and started freelancing across the UK delivering everything from DofE to personal development courses.

Even with all the experiences I have had one thing remains the same, I love what I do and want to share it with as many people as possible. I have always had a passion for adventure and travel and when I have the opportunity my favourite outdoor pastime is climbing and hiking in the hills. My most memorable moment overseas was standing on top of Jebel Toubkal (4165m) in 2011.
My best piece of advice for the Challengers is to get a good rucksack dry bag liner as, if everything is dry its all okay."

Expedition Experience

Year	Destination	Role	Activity	Ages	Duration
2013	Vietnam	Expedition Leader	World Challenge Expedition	Under 18	28 days
2007	Snowdonia	Leader	Multi Night Exped, Climbing, Canoeing, Multi Pitch Climbing, Gorge walking, mountaineering and solo's	16-18	3 weeks

Travel Experience

Year	Destination	Role	Activity	Duration
2011	Morocco, Marrakech	Personal	Valley Tours, Desert Trips, Multi day rafting expels, canyoning, mountain biking, mountain trips	3 months
2010	United Arab Emirates	Personal	miked	1 years
2010	Austria	Personal	Snowboarding	10 days
2005	France	Personal	Snowboarding	7 days
2001	France	Personal	Climbing	8 days

Fundraising at Sainsbury's Highlands Village

Thanks so much for coming along guys for the Fundraising on Saturday the 19th.
The final total was £374 (which for three hours work is fantastic!)

Let's see what we can do in the coming months and whether we can beat it!

Vaccines

“You should consult your Doctor or travel clinic at least fourteen weeks before travel as some vaccinations involve courses that can take 2-3 months to complete.

Be aware that costs for vaccinations vary. So make sure you find out the prices and shop around!”

Vaccinations

Tetanus - ensure immunity is up to date

Polio - low risk. Ensure immunity is up to date

Diphtheria - low risk. Ensure immunity is up to date

Hepatitis A - recommended

Typhoid - recommended (THERE IS A WORLD WIDE SHORTAGE)

Rabies - recommended (THERE IS A WORLD WIDE SHORTAGE)

Japanese B encephalitis - sometimes recommended

Hepatitis B - sometimes recommended for healthcare workers and long stay expatriates

Malaria

Doxycycline OR Malarone OR Mefloquine (Lariam)

No drug offers 100% protection against malaria so the best defence is to avoid mosquito bites.

Other Important Diseases

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection spread by droplets from infected individuals. The disease is especially prevalent in countries where HIV is endemic. The disease usually presents with cough, night sweats, weight loss and fever. Prevention partly depends on the presence of immunity from previous TB exposure or a BCG immunisation and by avoiding contact with infected individuals.

Dengue fever is a virus infection which is spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes which feed during the day. The disease has an incubation period of 5-8 days and symptoms include fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pains, occasionally skin rash and bleeding. It is also known as 'breakbone fever'. No vaccine or specific treatment is available and daytime anti-mosquito measures are necessary to prevent the disease (insect repellents).