Dates and Places

Practice Expeditions will take place as follows:

27th - 31st July 2013 in the Lake District.  Places will be limited to 50 on a first come, first served basis.

24th - 28th August 2013 in the Peak District.  Places will be limited to 30 on a first come, first served basis.

Further Details

These will be full four-day expeditions over a distance of between 70 and 80 kilometres (45-50 miles), partly accompanied by instructors.

Their role is to complete your training and assess your competence to undertake an expedition in a wild country environment both as an individual and as a member of a team 

On completion, you should be competent to complete your qualifying venture in wild country.  The trainers will only sign your book if you have reached that level of competence.  Taking part in the training is not sufficient to have your book signed off - you must demonstrate your personal competence!  Over the past four years, 7 participants have failed to demonstrate the necessary competence and have been "deferred", to use the D of E official jargon!

Conditions

You will not be able to undertake the practice expedition until you have successfully completed the first two elements of the course.  If it is not possible to complete the first two elements, due to exceptional circumstances such as illness, you will be able to pick up where you left off the following year.  You have until you are 25 to complete the practice expedition!

Numbers may have to be limited and will depend on how many Trainers are available as there must be 1 qualified Mountain Leader per 10 participants for the Dartmoor and Practice Expedition trips.  We hope to be able to accept up to 30 participants for any given trip.  You do not have to be already in a group to take part.

If you have previously completed your expedition training either with Tonbridge Gold or with another organisation and you now want to join one of our practice expeditions, you need to download the Practice Expedition Application Form and return it to Linda Chapman, whose address is on the form, together with a cheque for £145. The deadline is 23rd March 2013.