Saturday 30th August 2008

ETA Altwood School

The Alps 2008 expedition ETA at Altwood school Maidenhead is 9.15 pm.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Saturday 30th August 2008

Further update

You will be pleased to know the flight has landed safe and sound. Coach will shortly be on its way to Maidenhead.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Saturday 30th August 2008

Fight times

I have just heard that the flight is running about 30 minutes late. I will update the arrival time at maidenhead when I hear they have landed.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Friday 29th August 2008

Last full day of activites

Today was the last day of activities before the group pack up and head home tomorrow.

The programme was very full today with 10 activities on offer, some more popular than others the longest zip wire in Europe did not get to many takers but those that did brave it said it was a very exciting ride.

More popular were the water sports and the visit to the silver mine.

The day is being rounded off with a celebratory meal eaten centrally and may be even a camp fire sing along afterwards.

Keep an eye on the website tomorrow for any changes in the travel arrangements

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Thursday 28th August 2008

More events of Olympic proportions

The young people have had a choice of 7 different activities today, most of the events either involved water or climbing including the slalom course and paddleing on the lake.

The party of 15 that had been out over night return well fed and impressed by the locations of the huts.

Tomorrow in the grand finale of the  expedition is a day packed with 10 different activities including white water rafting,cycling, zip wire and a visit to a silver mine. News on how it went tomorrow.

The weather is still sunny,warm and even hot and times.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Wednesday 27th August 2008

Up to the highest heights

The last couple of days have offered the group a very rare opportunity, the chance to go up to the glacier. Two groups were taken up separately, they made the first part of the ascent  by cable car. This took them to about 3,200 metres, the alpine guide then walked with them a further 200 metres to the glacier. The weather was a little snowy but ideal conditions for slidding down the glacier under the guides instruction.

Whilst one party was on the glacier the other party were white water kayaking down a slalom course on the river.

Two groups have also visited Turin during the last couple of days (more shopping)on a cultural tour of the Italian city.

This afternoon two parties have set off for a night in the mountain huts.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Tuesday 26th August 2008

Clear Blue Skys

Again today the weather provided ideal conditions for all the various activities. I think its fair to say everyone will have had the opportunity to try something new, everyone will have been on the water, rock climbing and out walking.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Monday 25th August

Who needs word when they have got pictures

I think I will leave it to the photos, as you can see the weather is perfect and eveyone is getting roped in.

Happy birthday to Daniel McGill.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Even More Photos

Click here for even more photos from Colin Stamp. This one shows an unusual way to cross the bridge

Contributed by Web Team

Sunday 17th August

Another Fine Day

I am pleased to say  the photos arrived as if by magic.

The members of the Duke of Edinburgh gold expedition return to camp today after four days walking through the mountains. They were all very happy with the way the expedition had gone.

One group went up the mountain by cable car, walked along the ridge and came down further along on a secoond cable car(see photos).

A second group went up to the highest village in Europe,hopefully more about that another day.

More young people took the opportunity to paddle on the lake as the weather is still fabulous.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

More Photos

Click here for some more photos from Colin Stamp. This one shows the route taken to the summit of this nearby peak

Contributed by Web Team

Saturday 23rd August 2008

Silver Duke Of Edinburgh Award

The day belongs to the members for the silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition, they return today triumphant. The expedition has been very successful hopefully there will be some photos in the next couple of days.

Other members of the party visited a small town called Embrum today (more shopping or is this just a womens eye view) for further cultural insight into the French way of life.

Another group took the opportunity to get in some extra climbing.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Friday 22nd August 2008

Down by the lake

Another idiyllic down by the lake.

The photo opposite shows the wonderful views that the happy campers wake up to each morning.

The weather is still holding and provides ideal conditions for both the water activities and the hikes.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Thursday 21st August

Bronze Duke Of Edinburgh Award

The photo opposite shows paddlers working toward the bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.

Other groups today went white water paddleing and rock climbing.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

The group opposite are members of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition. These young people have set off today in the hope of ticking off some of the requirements for the gold award.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Wednesday 20th August

Local towns Welcolme the Explorer Scouts

Well mums and dads I hope you are ready for all the wonderful gift that have been purchased during the visits to the local towns. The young people are tapping into the culture and history of the local towns in the French Alps as well as boosting their ecomomy.

More water activities took place todayand several groups went rock climbing.

At least its taking their minds of the arrival of exam results tommorrow.Good luck to everyone.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Tuesday 19th August

Oh to be in the Alps now summers here.

Life in the Alps seems to be bobbing along at a jolly pace with  kayaking and rock climbing on the programme for today.

The first groups have made their way into the local towns Briancon being one of the most popular. 

Those explorers participating in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme at both bronze and gold level are making good progress and are hoping to complete a number of the requirements during this trip.

The weather is fine but not too hot, which is nice for the poor leaders who have to sit on the edge of the lake supervising (its a hard life).

The food is good any everyone is having a great time( pictures to prove it will follow).

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Monday 18th August

Wonder what they are doing today?

Are you wondering what these young people were doing today. Well i can tell you they were having fun hillwalking and on the water.

Contributed by

Sunday 17th August

Alps 2008 Experience Begins

The Alps 2008 contingent left Maidenhead for Gatwick airport at 10 am this morning.

The journey was trouble free and the coach made good time to the airport. B.A. pulled out all the stops and treated the party as if they were the next wave of Team GB.

By 9.15pm our time all the party had arrived on site and were enjoying a hot meal prepared by the advance party.

All are in high spirits and looking forward to their first day of activities.

By the way Happy Birthday Rosie Coulson.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Saturday 16th August

Advanced Party arrives on site

Advanced Party with equipment and boats left Berkshire last night and arrived on-site at 1 p.m today.

They are in the process of setting up the camp and putting out the welcome mat for the party arriving on Sunday.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Day -1

ALPS2008 is ready to take off

The ALPS2008 expedition has been over a year in the planning, but we are now just a few days from the start when 60+ young people from Berkshire Scouts set off to walk, climb and canoe in the Alps for two weeks. Leading the expedition team of adult volunteers is Bob Meldrum, Assistant County Commissioner for Activities in Berkshire.

Contributed by Geoff