CheapTents.com Outdoor Gear Blog

If you were preparing a trip up Mount Everest you would probably want to take with you a few pieces of chocolate to keep your energy and spirits up. But you probably wouldn’t take 200 kg of fine Belgian chocolate up to Mount Everest Base Case and then hand it out to everybody there. Just to get this in perspective, 200 kg is equivalent to 3200 Mars Bars. Or 51 and half The North Face Mountain 25 tents.

• Everest Climber Finds Directions to Llandudno
• 10 Tips for Mobile Mount Everest Communications
• Armed Forces Exercise Khumbu Challenge, Nepal

One of the most unlikely places that you would consider going to for a hiking holiday must be Afghanistan. Plagued by conflict and totalitarian governments for the past 35 years, Afghanistan is not likely to be on your top 10 places to visit. However, the now democratic government have started taking steps to make Afghanistan a tourist destination. The creation of the Band-e-Amir National Park could open the way to adventure travel and hiking holidays in the spectacular and remote countryside of central Afghanistan.

Stunning scenery in the Band-e-Amir National Park. Photo credit: Alex Dehgan/Wildlife Conservation Society

• Armed Forces Exercise Khumbu Challenge, Nepal
• Hiking in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco
• Possibility of eco-huts along 109 mile UK trail

Not many of us can say that we have been to either the Arctic or the Antarctic, but for Dixie Dansercoer the sub-zero climates of the poles are a passion. Dixie Dansercoer is the ultimate polar explorer and extreme sport expeditionist, he makes regular polar trips and has crossed both polar regions on foot.

Born in 1962 in Nieuwpoort, Belgium, Dixie has spent most of his life travelling the world, taking on many challenges across a wide range of outdoor activities. From mountaineering to mountain biking, from running to powerkite-skiing and from sailing to wind- and kitesurfing, Dixie will use any method to explore the extremes of our planet. A list of Dixie’s adventures and achievements is shown at the bottom of this post.

• Sexy Underwear for Arctic Navigation
• British South Pole Expedition Update 2
• South Pole Expedition to Save Scott’s Hut

If your compass is going haywire, your GPS isn’t working and you can’t see the sun then how do you find your way?

Get out your sexy underwear of course!

Ann Daniels displaying the sexy navigation aid - Source : Martin Hartley

This might not be the first things that springs to everyone’s mind, but  it is exactly what the Catlin Arctic Survey have been doing.

• British South Pole Expedition Update 2
• Music Video featuring Heroic Antarctic Explorers
• Dixie Dansercoer: Polar Explorer and Expeditionist – Exclusive Interview!

There are many stunning and beautiful places to go hiking and camping in the UK, such as the Highlands of Scotland, the Lake District or Snowdonia to name but a few. However, you may fancy going on a walking holiday abroad, especially if you are fed up with the bad weather that is always a possibility on a holiday in the UK. Even with breathable waterproof jackets and trousers the rain can get you down. So where can you get away from the bad weather and still go hiking? One suggestion is the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

• Hiking in Afghanistan!
• British South Pole Expedition Update 4
• Tell us what you’ve been up to!

The amount of international tourism is continually increasing. So it comes as no surprise that people who enjoy outdoor activities, such as climbing, hiking and walking, are able to take part in these activities in far flung places throughout the world. Many countries contain areas of outstanding natural beauty that offer exciting challenges and the experience of a life-time for outdoor enthusiasts. With the mighty Himalyan mountains in the north, India is certainly no exception.

• Indian Mountaineering Foundation Museum, New Delhi, India
• Exclusive Interview! Alison Gannett, Free-Skier, Mountaineer, MTB, Climate Change Consultant
• Exclusive Interview! Pro Climber, Daniel Woods

Expedition Reaches the Pole!

On the 27th of December 2008 Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth reached the South Pole. Their unsupported, unassisted expedition from Hercules Inlet to the Geographic South Pole took 45 days 13 hours and 30 minutes.

It is only just starting to sink in that we are actually here and we are over the moon. On reaching the South Pole we believe that we have become only the 12th/13th Britons in history ever to make it to the South Pole from the edge of Antarctica unsupported (no resupply) and unassisted (man-hauling only). Since the start of our planning, it has been a five year journey to get here and we look forward to reflecting on what we have done.

• British South Pole Expedition Update 4
• British South Pole Expedition Update 2
• South Pole Expedition to Save Scott’s Hut

Onto the Antarctic Plateau

On 11/11/08 Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth set off on an expedition to the South Pole. Adam and Gavin are well past 88 degrees now. Man hauling their sleds for a staggering 10.5 hours per day they are becoming tired and hungry. They are losing weight and feeling the cold.

We are now properly on the plateaux though, so flatter terrain. Both glad to tick off another day.

Their height on the plateau is about 2700 meters, 1000 meters of which they climbed in the past week. Fortunately there is only another 135 meters left for them to climb to the South Pole.

• South Pole Expedition to Save Scott’s Hut
• British South Pole Expedition Update
• British South Pole Expedition Update 2

CheapTents.com contacted Mikael Strandberg just a couple of days ago, along with a select few other MSR sponsored adventurers…and he kindly agreed to give us an insight into the life of this prolific adventurer…literally one of whom who has traveled into virgin territory on remarkable expeditions.

Mikael Strandberg, Explorer and Adventurer

Mikael Strandberg was born in 1962 in Sweden. He started his professional career as an explorer 19 years ago. The multi-talented Mikael is currently working as an explorer, a lecturer and a writer. Mikael has also produced three internationally renowned documentaries for television “PATAGONIA – 3,000 kilometres by horse” and “THE MASAAI PEOPLE – 1,000 kilometres by foot” and his much awarded, “-58 degrees – exploring Siberia on skis.”

• Dixie Dansercoer: Polar Explorer and Expeditionist – Exclusive Interview!
• Exclusive Interview! Graham Gristwood Professional Orienteer
• Exclusive Interview! Indian Mountaineering Foundation

South Pole Expedition Pushes Past 86.5 Degrees

On Friday 12th November, Adam Wilton and Gavin Booth passed the 86.5 degree line on their way to the South Pole. Adam and Gavin have been walking across the Antarctic for nearly five weeks now. They estimate that they will reach the South Pole on New Year’s Day.

With the snow softer and sastrugi less extreme, they have been able to ski instead of walk. This has meant using different muscles and has given a much needed rest to the muscles that are used for walking. They are pulling all of their expedition gear, including their tent and their food, on sleds without any help from dogs or snow-mobiles.

• British South Pole Expedition Update 2
• British South Pole Expedition Update 4
• British South Pole Expedition Update 5