Hello everyone,

I'm currently preparing for a survival trek in the Arctic - for charity!

Any pointers on successful fundraising would be much appreciated if you have had experience of this yourself!

Also, has anyone previously trekked in snow/on a mountain etc - if so any advice on best kind of kit to hire? I already have a couple of extra wigs because I believe it can get a bit chilly.

Thanks!

Le Weeg

I'm liking the thread title.
There's also info about this on Facebook. I'm in a group for it

Murphy/Mischief did some fundraising for a charity run he did, I believe. If he shows his face you might ask him.

Remember to ask the mods first if you plan on asking for donations on the board. I bet they'll say yes, but they don't take kindly to surprises of that nature

I don't think WG plans on that except for on Facebook, but ideas for events or stories from anyone who's run events, etc would be much appreciated.
But if someone let's me or WG know it's OK, I'll link to the Facebook group?
Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by wigged goat:

...has anyone previously trekked in snow/on a mountain etc - if so any advice on best kind of kit to hire? I already have a couple of extra wigs because I believe it can get a bit chilly.

Prepare to die. No, really.

The cold one feels in the Arctic is different than what one finds in winter in temperate regions. It surrounds you. It is like a patient, glass-eyed canivorous animal at your door.

Charles Beckwith said, "the only way to get in shape to carry an eighty-pound bag up and down hills is to carry an eighty-pound bag up and down hills." He was right. If you have no experience in irredeemably cold climes, either get some under supervision prior to undetaking your trip, or ensure you'll be accompanied by someone who's been there and done that. The minimum consequence of lack of familiarity and ill-preparedness in extreme cold will be permanent frostbite damage to fingers and toes. Ask me how I know this. (On second thought, don't.)

Little hints:

In extreme cold, sweat is death. To permit ventilation as required, dress in layers. Avoid cotton. Wool is good, but very heavy. These days, I stick to polyesters and other synthetics. Still wear wool socks, though, with a synthetic liner.

Loose is good. Tight is bad- except at cuffs and hood.

Make sure you can function in the clothes you wear. If your hands are so be-mittened that you can't open and close your zips or find and tighten your snorkel hood drawstrings without un-mittening, in -27°C with -25°C of wind chill on top of that, you'll be sodded in the worst way. If your parka is so thick that you can't put on and take off your pack without assistance or without taking off the parka....same thing. Ask me how I... Never mind.

Can you purchase or borrow English or Commonwealth military arctic kit? Some of it is very good indeed. Canadian army-issue four-part mukluks, for example, are worth their weight in uranium, warmth-wise.

Consumer electronic devices like walkie-talkies and cell phones will DIE. Full stop. Do not count on them working, ever. If you're frozen and in need of aid, chances are your gewgaws will be, too.

My country's military parachutists are trained to confront problems immediately via the exhortation "Do. Something. ABOUT IT!" Make this your catchphrase. Have a plan for every contingency. When in doubt, ACT.

Read Roland Huntford's The Last Place on Earth.

(And if anyone thinks I'm overreacting, well, I'll be pleased to shake hands with you in an air-conditioned building some day. I'll forgive you for thinking you're touching a corpse fresh from the morgue fridge.)

My mountaineering professor used the phrase "cotton death pants" a lot. They weren't allowed on our trips.

um. wow. You have my boggling respect! (please do let me know a link for donations, PM/email/fling a scone at my head)

People are mad... I respect your project, it's just it's crazy... going into the cold.

I could to that in Tahiti or Bora Bora... sun bathing for charity.

Sorry for the joke, but it's just i can't imagine how you could want to do that.. even for charity cause it's really dangerous.

Anyway, beware, the equipment you'll need to walk in the snow in artic is just not available in your local sport shop. it's very expensive.

Anyway... I wish you very good luck. i would help you if had some money to spare.

Péné

I've spent much of my entire career in the not-for-profit/charity sector, so if you have specific questions about fundraising, feel free to PM me.

Also: MOM's truly not kidding. I got frostnip once. In a big city. On a day at the frigging zoo. Just think what it'll be like on the tundra!

Whereabouts in the Arctic? And for which charity?

Edit: also, what size are your feet?

quote:

Originally posted by PENELOPEIA:

I could to that in Tahiti or Bora Bora... sun bathing for charity.

As always, Miss Pene speaks words of wisdom!

Wow.

You rock.

I just purchased my hiking/backpacking boots for our caving/camping adventure and I was eyeing a pair of Asolo TPS 520 backpacking boots. The sales girl actually warned me off them, since I woudn't be doing extreeeeme backpacking (the caving protion of the trip will be done sans packs, thankfully), but she recommended them for northern latitudes. You might want to take a look at them and see if they would be apropos for your trek.

That said, please, please PLEASE be extra safe...Nature is merciless.

hmm.. don't go when the artic is in pre-thaw.. there is nothing there and it is very dangerous.. at least according to surviorman.. be ready to eat seal.. or get eaten by bears.. learn what is growing when and where.. as well as the times that the indigenous wildlife is likely to be up and about.. bring a shovel and an axe... dress warmly, but not warm enough to sweat.. try not to get wet... carry extra socks and other clothes in plastic zip-top bags.. bring honey and/or pemmican..

....but don't carry the honey in your pocket. Likewise jam. Or the bear'll get you!

Actually, obvious question to go with "where in the Arctic?" is "when in the Arctic?", as that will determine whether you pack an ice-ax or a giant bottle of super-dooper insect repellant.

I presume you will have experts on hand from the organisers who will be training and briefing you?

Oh my goodness! Best of luck. It may not be much help but do you have a sponsor? Some friends and I were going to canoe the Mississippi once - and the financial public relations consultant for a bank he represented got them on as sponsors. They're always good for a few bob! (we didn't do it in the end - boo hiss)

PS I'm with you Pene - heat is good.

Ooohhhh, good idea MH! It's often easier to persuade people to give benefits in kind rather than cold hard cash, so one obvious source of sponsorship could be (local or national) cold-weather-gear manufacturer or camping outfitters or suchlike. You blag the equipment you need with the promise to mention them x number of times in your Arctic blog, then after the trip eBay the stuff (mentioning said outfitters) for the same charity. Double benefit for all!

If you need any advice on blagging strategies, let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by wigged goat:
Hello everyone,

I'm currently preparing for a survival trek in the Arctic - for charity!

Any pointers on successful fundraising would be much appreciated if you have had experience of this yourself!

Also, has anyone previously trekked in snow/on a mountain etc - if so any advice on best kind of kit to hire? I already have a couple of extra wigs because I believe it can get a bit chilly.

Thanks!

Le Weeg

You're not going up there alone, are you?

Bring a specially modified Hilux, and James May as a quartermaster.

No useful advice here, but good luck.

This is the Facebook link
& this is just for info, clicking on it does n't mean that either I or WG are asking for donations.
The charities she's raising money for are RSVP Trust & Global Action Plan.
It's a 50/50 split of any funds raised, WG has already arranged payment for the trip.
I believe she's going in Feb, somewhere North of Sweden, in a group of 10.
She'll prob be back to tell you more herself, but I know she can't always get on the net every day. Also I did promise to help...

 not going out there myself though! 

& of course I'll be wishing her the best of luck.
ETA: I've realised that abbreviating Wigged Goat may confuse the Wigbers...

quote:

Originally posted by Wayfarer:

...I've realised that abbreviating Wigged Goat may confuse the Wigbers...

Pshaw.

WILLIAM GIBSON FOUND ALIVE IN HIGH ARCTIC
March 12 2009, New York Times

Novelist and charity fundraiser William Gibson was rescued unhurt from the shores of the Arctic ocean yesterday. The Swedish Air Force reports he was found huddled over a fire of string mops; thin, badly dressed, but in good health.

Gibson had beem missing since February, when he was seen entering a Stockholm army surplus store. His several readers had presumed him to be either dead or locked in the changing booth.

When the Times reached him by satellite telephone and asked how he'd survived the intervening weeks, Gibson replied that he'd "slain and gutted Bravus with an Opinel knife and crawled inside his steaming carcass." "I owe my life to George Lucas," he added, affecting an absurdly feminine British accent.

Bravus could not be reached for comment.

Yes! The Empire Strikes Back as Arctic training video! Watch and learn!