Can any one help with Sponsorship for a polar race?

I am in the process of planning for a polar race next year. I would like to obtain sponsorship to ease some of the cost. It is a charity based trip so will also be collecting for Greenpeace - Save the Arctic campaign.

Is there anyone who could help with the basics for sponsorship or possible give me a few pointers and what kind of things work and don't?

Would be happy to discuss over phone/coffee or net. email me on louise_constance@rocketmail.com"

Advice/ Contacts for China trip wanted

Hi, I want to plan my own trip to the Great Wall, trek part of it and do the usual tourist bits, Terracotta Army etc. How difficult is it, can anyone recommend a contact in China, other than the usual tour operators.

Thanks

Swiss Alpine Passes

In the Summer of 2012 I undertook a solo walk across the Swiss Alps, roughly following the Alpine Pass Route and camping along the way. Overall, from Sargans to Geneva, it took about 3 weeks, with around 15 days solid walking and a few rest days when I found a particularly nice spot. Route: Sargans - Weistannen - Elm - Linthal - Brusti - Blackenalp - Engslenalp - Meiringen - First - Wengen - Griesalp - Kandersteg - Adelboden - Lenk (via Simmenfalle) - Gsteig - Col des Mosses - Montreaux - Lausanne - Geneva

Long distance trekking: Aachen - Budapest

Individual hike, over a period of 3 months, from Aachen (at the Dutch - German border) to Budapest. Fully self-sufficient, wild camping, in what can be called one of the worse years for such an undertaking: a very long winter (March to half April 2013) and then an extremely rainy spring (half April until the beginning of June 2013). In short, the trip started at the Dutch-German border in the (volcanic) hills of the Eifel down to the city of Trier (the Eifelsteig). From there through the higher hills of Saarland to Idar-Oberstein (the Saar-Hunsruck Steig), then down to Pforzheim at the edge of the Black forest.

From here I followed the Westweg through the hills and mid-range mountains southwards to Freiburg, then eastwards to Konstanz at the Bodensee (the Querweg) through the Blackforest. The first leg of the trip was mainly accompanied by cold weather snow, above 900 m. often still more than a meter high (did not bring snowshoes). After walking around the Bodensee (northside) to Bregenz (Austria) I planned to walk the Maximilliansweg to Salzburg. However, due to the deep snow and high avalanche risk in the Bayerische Alpen (mid April) I couldnt continue my way a little beyond Hittisau (Austrian Voralgen) near the Austrian-German border and instead made a move to Munich. From Munich I walked to Salzburg, only reuniting with the Maximilliansweg (E4) a little after having past the Chiemsee. From Salzburg I walked over the Voralpenweg (also E4) to Vienna, only avoiding the peaks higher than 1500 m. due to the still persisting high snow levels.

Followed the E4 down south through Burgenland to the Hungarian border. At Koszeg I crossed the border. Then it was over the national Blue Trail, Europe's oldest long distance path, to Budapest. Three months walking, 2 hours flying back... This was the first time I ever undertook an activity like this. An incredible experience, both physically mentally challenging. I had no prior experience, which is why I did it: I always like to put myself into situations where I have no idea how I am going to handle myself. Call it Gonzo-outdoor.

I found that on a walk like this, time slows down to an incredible degree. 3 months, felt more like 3 years, a great change in a life in which it seems the years pass quicker and quicker. So much time and so much more chance to not miss anything! Completely unified with the weather, no escape when ones house is the forest. To me, it was life mag2: whatever is good, becomes great; whatever looks good, becomes deliciously beautiful; what is hard, becomes almost unbearable etc. The best experience of my life so far, though I think I've only gotten a tiny-taste of the (tip of the little) finger, and now want the the whole hand.

Info required on Masoala National Park

I am thinking of hiking and also possibly packrafting across the Masoala National Park in Madagascar. I have a couple of months previous jungle experience but it would be my first own planned jungle venture.

It would be a hopefully relatively leisurely trek camping in the jungle and photographing the wildlife. I may be solo or with my girlfriend. I would like to get in contact with someone who has knowledge of this area regarding existing trails in the park, specific dangers or hazards with the wildlife, plants or parasites, and any social problems I should be aware of. I know that illegal logging takes place and that many locals are unhappy with the protection of the park seeing it as resource that they are unable to make use of.

Any information on the area or contacts in the area would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Duncan