A TEAM of local walkers recently had their first training hike together on the Jurassic Coast as they began training for an expedition in the Himalayas next year.
37 members of the ‘Westbury 2 Everest’ team, assembled by local army major Rab Lundie, took on gale-force winds to complete a four-hour walk along the coast around Lulworth Cove in Dorset.
Rab said, “The main aims of the first team walk were to get to know each other, test our kit, to sample some tough terrain, steep hills and to test the team in some very challenging weather conditions.
“All of us with previous mountaineering experience agreed that the winds we experienced were the worst we have been subjected to. Luckily the winds were blowing in off the sea which meant the trek could continue, otherwise walking so close to cliff tops would have been far too dangerous.
“As the day advanced the conditions became much worse, so the decision was made to cut the day short. Nonetheless, we achieved the aims of the day by walking for around four hours, we got to test all of our personal equipment and new friendships were forged.
“I was very impressed with the personal preparation and the physical efforts exerted on the trek – well done to all those that took part, especially those in the slightly slower groups.”
The team was assembled over December and January, after Rab contacted White Horse News in the hope of finding 10-12 people interested in trekking with him on Mount Everest and Kalapathar next spring.
Now, with 57 would-be adventurers at his heels, Rab is looking forward to the year ahead.
He continued, “I wasn’t expecting these numbers and I have a very mixed group of ages and abilities, but I have a year to train and select a team. I was really pleased with their performance at Lulworth Cove given it was the worst conditions I’ve walked in for years and I’m experienced. This is exactly what I had in mind, just much bigger. I love a challenge and I’m sure it will be one even before we hit the Everest region. Onwards and upwards!”
Next on the team’s calendar is a trek to the summit of Pen-y-Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, in May.
