An Amazing Autumnal Erddig 10k!

What a fantastic way to spend a Sunday, running through autumnal woodland and stunning surroundings!

This is exactly what hundreds of people did this weekend as the took part in the Erddig 10k. Set in grounds of the beautiful National Trust’s Erddig Estate, the event saw people from all over the local area come to take part and though the weather was overcast, it didn't deter the runners. Nor did it stop the spectators providing words of encouragement, adding to the great atmosphere. 

The family friendly event began with a lively warm up provided by DW Sports Wrexham which ensured all the participants in the 10k, 5k and 2k fun run option were raring to go! 

As the countdown began the runners eagerly anticipated the starting claxon, before they set off with the 10k runners first, followed by the 5k and 2k fun runners. The route skirted around the house, before leading into the woods, at which point the 10k & 5k participants took the woodland trail, which was adorned with autumn leaves, and thankfully not too much mud!

 The route then continued taking in a road section before rejoining the woodland, only to be finished with a short, steep hill just before the finish point. 

Here the 5k runner celebrated their well deserved glory, but not forgetting to shout words of encouragement to the 10k runners who were to continue a second lap before they could celebrate their finish! For both the 5k & 10k, there were many runners who had surpassed their personal best times, which just added to the sheer joy of taking part!

The 2k Fun Run option had a brilliant turn out and it was great to see so many youngsters taking part with real enthusiasm and determination! What a great achievement for them as they proudly displayed their finisher's medals!

This was a great event with challenging but enjoyable running distances, and saw the participants raise over £300 for the Erddig Estate charity! A real family friendly event where everyone could get involved!

Thank you to everyone who participated, helped on the day and supported the event! More photos are available on our Flickr & Facebook page.

Ready to start the 7 summits challenge?

Brian, the Expedition Wise Ltd. director and founder, has been leading expeditions across the globe for over 20 years helping hundreds of people achieve their personal goals, whether that be reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro or trekking along ancient monuments such as the Great Wall of China.  In this time Brian has amassed a wealth of expedition and mountaineering knowledge and is always keen to share this with others for their benefit. In 2014 Brian will be leading two exclusive mountain expeditions to 2 of the 7 highest summits on each continent, Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mount Elbrus in Europe.  Having successfully summited Kilimanjaro 17 times and Elbrus 3 times Brian is the ideal team leader and you can benefit from all his experience and intimate understanding of each mountain by signing up to join him.  If you would join us on either of these expeditions or like to learn more about reaching the top of Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world or the magnificent snow capped peak of Elbrus in the Caucasus mountains, please e-mail us on the address below. Please also take a moment to take a look at Brian's Just Giving page below for his upcoming first ascent expedition to the Himalayas and please give what ever you can. Chhubohe 1st Ascent Just Giving page

A very busy summer

Well it has been a fantastic few months for us here at Expedition Wise with teams quite literally across the whole of Europe challenging themselves on foot and bike.

In July the JDRF Global Cycle Challenge team set off from the pretty village of Vaz on the edge of the Dolomite mountains with the route and challenge laid out before them.  The group set off to tackle the first day, a mere 120km with 2800m of climbing.  This was followed by 102km and 2200m on day 2 and a gentle final day of 116km and 3200m.  So over the entire 3 day challenge route the group had cycled nearly the same height as Everest!  In addition to this they also have to date raised an phenomenal $260,000 for JDRF which is truly amazing.

Also during July, back here in the UK we ran a number of challenges including a team raising funds to support Walkabout were taking on the demanding 3 peaks challenge which encompasses the 3 highest points in Scotland, England and Wales which adds up to an equally astonishing 26 miles and over 3000m of ascent. The Transaid team enjoyed some stunning views during their Snowdon memorial climb, followed but some equally fantastic food and drink afterwards.  We are especially proud of the Investec Ashes Cycle Challenge that visited all the grounds used in the Ashes series, culminating at Lords the day before the completion started.  This covered some of the best countryside in the UK and covered over 330 miles.  We were joined but some truly brilliant cyclists, which included the cricketing legend Mike Gatting who say a little about the event here.

Then this last month saw Brian lead a small team to successfully summit Elbrus in Georgia, one of the 7 summits.  The team had to struggle with several days of poor weather and heavy snow fall which saw a number of avalanches high on the mountain.  A number of teams decided to descend but with Brian keen eye  noticed a chance of a weather window so they grabbed this with both hands and reached the summit in the early morning and were safely back down at the base for dinner.  We will be returning next year so please get in touch if you would like to join us.

Finally we have just had our last London to Paris event for the year to come home after more fantastically challenging weather, this didn't dilute the amazing cycling through the Hampshire countryside then down through the rolling fields of Northern France via Dieppe and into the bustling capital of Paris, finishing beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower.  Well done to everyone who took part. 

There is no rest for the wicked though as we still have several more cycle challenges taking place this month as well as the epic Brutal, a double iron man distance triathlon!

100% success for London 2 Paris!

Our season of cycling events all kicked off on 7th June with our first London to Paris ride.  

With 40 participants representing charities including Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Princess Alice Hospice, Cornwall Hospice Care we enjoyed a rather dramatic ride out from the edges of London at York House toward the south coast with thunder storms on the horizon.

But everyone worked really hard and enjoyed the rural roads leading through the home counties.

 The weather for day 2 was kinder and the teams got to enjoy the sights and sounds of Northern France and very quickly got into the swing of cycling in France.

With the miles racking up quickly spirits were high and even though there were a few punctures, 8 for one rider alone, the smiles were plentiful as they kept the wheels spinning and edged closer to Paris.

The final ride into Paris was as magical as ever, with a few laps of the city passing the honey pot attractions of Champs Elysees and L'Arche De Triomphe finishing up beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower.

A supreme effort from everybody and a great first cycle event for the year so why not join us on 23rd August for our next open event and experience it all for yourself.

Kili in the Sun!

After my previous two treks up Kilimanjaro being in constant rain, I had lost some belief in the dry seasons in East Africa actually existing anymore.  However, I should not have doubted the weather as on this challenge, we had the best weather I have ever had on any of my previous 16 successful Kilimanjaro climbs. Even summit night, we were trekking in almost zero wind and balmy temperatures of minus 5-7.

Not only did this challenge re-inspire me because of the fantastic weather, allowing us superb views at all times, but also as it is was early in the season after the May rains all the camps were very quiet and we had the surprise of a private summit for more than 30 minutes!

I had the privilege of leading a great group of friends raising money for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) on behalf of The Ultimate Travel Company.

I did find it hard this year what with my training involving a week spent snorkelling and drinking in Ibiza for my wife’s 40^th – not the best training schedule I must admit and contra to my normal no alcohol for 2 weeks before any high altitude trek.

However, all in all a fantastic challenge and really enjoyable so get out there and challenge yourselves this year.

Expedition Wise team to climb unconquered Himalayan summit

This year is the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.  Inspired by this historic achievement, this November our Director, Brian Jackson and 2 other Expedition Wise staff, Ian Foster and Bug Wrightson, are attempting to ascend an unclimbed mountain in Nepal.

The 3 intrepid explorers will head out to a recently opened up area of Nepal north of the Annapurna range taking up to 9 days to trek in, 7 days to climb and 7 days to trek out again.

They will attempt to be the first ever people to climb Chhubohe (5,603m/18,383ft).

Brian is specifically raising money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, as he recently lost a friend to pancreatic cancer.  If you wish to support him in his fundraising, please click on the link to his Just Giving page and click on Donate. 

Chhubohe Climb - Just Giving Page

100% of all funds raised will go directly to the charity as Brian is paying for the challenge himself.

Ethiopia Simien Mountains – 2013

Our Director has once again been off leading a Charity Challenge expedition to the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia, now his 5th expedition to these parts.

Well, what a difference a year makes!

In 2012 at each camp there were between 10 – 20 people queuing for medical attention but this year, with the new Arkwasiye clinic, (paid for by a previous Charity Challenge trek group – BDO Stoy Hayward) there were only a handful of people at each campsite.  This is fantastic news for the region.

This year, our Director was leading a group raising money for AfriKids (projects for young people on the streets in Ghana) whilst trekking for 8 days through the Simien mountains from West to East and summiting Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia and 4^th highest in Africa on route.

Expecting the usual 35 - 40 degrees of heat each day, the group were very surprised by the first rains in living memory to fall in the Simien Mountains in March, the driest month of the dry season!!  The group encountered snow, hail, thunder, lightning and rain which goes to show that there are no 100% confirmed seasons any more around the world.  The group did well to manage this surprise weather and it actually made the overall trek far more manageable in the lower temperatures of between 20 - 30 degrees.