Training Expedition Diary
Training Expedition Diary – November 2010We set up a tent together as a team to make sure that everyone knew what they were going to be doing when they set up their own tents, and we were all able to easily set up a tent together. We were then told to go off and find some flat land out of the way of running water and set up our own tents – I was sharing my tent with Katy and Georgina - just as we had all got out our tent layers, laid them out and were beginning to put in the poles, rain started pouring down on us.
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Unfortunately for my tent, we hadn’t realised that it had been set up in a slight ditch, so after we had run to get our bags to put them under a tree for some slight cover, our tent was soaked! Eventually we were able to put in the poles and move it to a different spot, by this time the rain had stopped, even though our tent was still wet we managed to sort it out by using some toilet roll to clean out the remaining puddles on the inside of our tents. |
We were taught how to do river crossing while we were away, the whole team practised on a wide pathway in two groups as we lined up behind each other, which I think everyone enjoyed.
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We had to keep clean whenever we were eating or handling foods. People had anti-bacterial hand gel to share around the team so that no one would catch any disease’s etc. We had a lot of kit to take with us for the weekend; sleeping bags, roll matt’s, tents etc. This was all very heavy when it was taken on our walks with us, but nobody let it bother them and they just got on with it, which was good to see. |
We had a lot of food for the weekend which was great! I helped out with cooking both days which I found fun. On Saturday we brought our own packed lunches which was good as it meant that we didn’t have to worry about whether people liked certain foods or not – for that meal anyway.
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We were all given team roles during the weekend. All, except two, took turns at navigating the team on our walks, while the other two had to sort out organising our dinner on Saturday evening and getting us to meet afterwards. I did navigation with Katy on Sunday, which went really well as we didn’t get lost or stuck once which I think was a huge achievement since neither of us had had to actually read a map before or used a compass! Everyone did really well with the roles they were given over the weekend. |
We were told about many different emergency procedures over the weekend, one of which was to do with if someone had a serious injury e.g. broke their leg/foot. We were shown how we would help them and what would happen, one of the team members was laid on a matt and the rest of us picked it up and had to walk a good 200 metres or so carrying her and making sure she moved as little as possible! My role was at the end – her feet – I had to carrying the end of the matt and make sure that her feet made as little movement as possible. The were members in front of the people carrying as well telling everyone about what obstacles were coming so that we could avoid them. I think that this exercise went really well, everyone listened to each other and we managed to do it excellently.
I think that on a whole the weekend went really well, everyone got to know each other better and we got a better idea of what the whole experience would be like. We still had our highs and lows as it was stressful at times but we managed to pull together and function well.
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When we first got there we were told about how on the real expedition we are going to need to sort out roles, one of which was the Accountant, which I really look forward to and would love to participate to doing as it is what I want to do in my future and will be a great experience to do in another country! Amy Phillips, Challenger Argentina expedition 2011 The Sixth Form College Farnborough |
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