Explorers Connect

Hiking in Les Calanques, Marseille France

OtherBelinda KirkComment

I'm planning a long weekend in Marseille to hike the Calanques. The initial plan was to go from Marseilles to Cassis along the GR98 which looks to be about an 11 hour trek. With 10 people of varying abilities, it seems a bit ambitious for one day but it doesn't appear that there are accommodations along the way in order to break it into two days.

I've since decided that we'll stay in Marseille and take the bus to a point about mid-way and hike to Cassis one day and Marseille the next - is that the best approach? Additional recommendations for treks or other activities in this area are welcome.

Vatnajokull expedition

OtherBelinda KirkComment

Hello all, I am fairly new to EC having only found the website a few weeks ago. I am looking for a location where I can practise polar skills by myself, by that I mean unguided only with a friend. We are both competent alpine climbers, but would like to practise the skills of pulk pulling etc that would be needed in anything more 'extreme'.

My current thought is the Vatnajkull in Iceland. Could anyone advise on this or a suitable alternative? My aim eventually would be to build up slowly to a longer expedition in either Russia or Greenland.

Thanks,

Hugh

Bondi By Bike

CommunityBelinda KirkComment

It was a dark and stormy night, January 2010. Well, it was dark, at least, it was dark inside the pub. It was definitely January. Over a couple of litres of beer, Matt and I concocted the harebrained scheme to cycle from London to Sydney, Australia.

How To....Climb Kilimanjaro

How-toBelinda KirkComment

Kilimanjaro is a unique mountain, unlike no other I have climbed - it receives an incredible amount of media attention, both good and bad, and is climbed by all types of people all year round. It is achievable with little or no mountaineering experience and provides, to most people, one of the best experiences of their lives.

Wanted - Ocean Rowing Boat

CommunityBelinda KirkComment

We are developing methods of righting inverted boats which have flooded. What we need from the Ocean rowing community is the donation of a rowing boat we can conduct experiments on.

All equipment can be striped off, we can even make boats watertight again. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee returning the boat in a usable condition. So if you have an old boat sat slowly rotting in your garden, which in your heart of hearts you know will not sell; why not donate it for the development of ocean rowing safety?

Any ideas on the righting of flooded boats are also welcome. Contact Crispin on contact@rossiteryachts.co.uk

River Gambia Expedition 2012-1000km source to sea African odyssey

CommunityBelinda KirkComment

Experienced West Africa travelers, husband and wife team - multi award-winning photojournalist, Jason Florio, and, photography producer and writer, Helen Jones-Florio will attempt to create a modern-day account of the people, societies, and life along the length of one of Africas last, free-flowing, major rivers the River Gambia.

There has also been talk, for a number of years, of damming the river. This journey is about documenting the communities and environment before this change happens.They will be promoting canoeing and trekking, as a means of travel thereby maintaining a low carbon footprint/environmental impact. Travelling through the through the homelands of over seven different tribes, their journey will begin at the source of the river, where it trickles out of the Fouta Djallon highlands of Guinea, on into hippo-abundant Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, and finally into The Republic of the Gambia following the same course as the early gold and slave traders had done century's ago to the 10km wide mouth of the river, where it opens into the Atlantic Ocean after over a 1000km journey

Jason (Flo), Helen (H), and their team, will collect - through multiple medias: visual/written/audio - stories documenting the lives and cultures of the indigenous people, who live and work along the course of the River Gambia. Using traditional protocol, relevant to each country, they will approach village chiefs to ask permission to stay in his/her village. The team plan to camp in the villages along the river, wherever possible. Staying with the local people will be an integral part of the journey, in order for them to understand and document the cultures and traditions of the numerous tribes they will encounter. They will travel with two local Gambian river men for the entire journey, along with hiring local guides in Guinea and Senegal thus making it a diverse and international team. 

.http://rivergambiaexpedition2012.wordpress.com/