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It was really good to meet you all at Perse School at Easter. I hope you were pleased to meet your leaders and colleagues with whom you will be spending six exciting and exhausting weeks in Alaska.
First things first. At about 0100 hrs on the Friday morning at Perse, I shared with you the problems I was having re. the expedition location,activities, permission and administration. 'To BLM or not to BLM day" was today! Simply put, as envisaged we are going to .. the White Mountains!
Not quite exactly as planned, but then again It is an expedition not an activity holiday, so things don't always turn out as one expects.I have managed to persuade, manoeuvre, inveigle, threaten, promise, etc and my understanding is that any and all costs associated with working for and with the BLM will be covered by someone other than you or BSES. The story is long and involved so I will not bore you with it now, but maybe another time! Further, the activities both in the Science period and on the 'Long March" have been agreed to my satisfaction, as being within my / our control, suitably challenging and what I want - well almost. I learnt all of this, finally at 1400 on 31 May! Damn close call, eh!
The outcome for the Science period (21 days) is that we have FIVE exciting, challenging and exhausting activities, which will provide great worth to our hosts and ensure that as an expedition we develop a great knowledge of the area we will be exploring. I sought to incorporate many of the views expressed at Perse. I am sure you realise however that they could only be part of the overall balance, but they were invaluable. For example, after well-made points, all Fires will have both "a wet and a dry experience' and two Fires will share the trail recording and new trail making. Essentially, therefore: two Fires will each travel and work on or from a nationally designated wilderness river; one Fire will undertake demanding, detailed and front-line research on trees in three or four river basins; and two Fires will plan and test a new hiking route as well as upgrading and recording the use of an ATV trail; all plus a set of complementary Fire and leader-based scientific projects and activities to which Malcolm is now turning. Not everyone will get the same experience, no one will see everything, but everyone will work hard, walk far, and experience working and living in the Alaskan wilderness. Projects have been finally allocated to Fires, see the Fire list enclosed. The Long March period (9 days) is even more open to final decisions in the field, problematic, still! Malcolm emphasises that he still has his dream of seamless progression through orientation, science and adventure, so the learning and worthwhile work never stops! Those Fires not working on rivers will have the opportunity to experience fluvial problems for 4 days by floating a nationally designated wilderness river to or from a peer-led hiking experience of considerable length, or something else involving a 'wet- period and peer-led hike. It is anticipated the remaining two Fires will have challenging peer-led hikes in areas they have not previously visited. Be aware that the expedition will be / should be HARD! Our hosts are expecting much of you, because I have told them you am definitely "up for it" and " capable of it".Don't let me down, the reputation of BSES Expeditions (and mine!) in Alaska is at stake!
Them are still a host of jobs to do now that permission, approval and projects have been finally agreed! In particular the food. I have organised accommodation in Anchorage and the emergency expedition transport; I am getting radios and yellow school buses; the expedition equipment is being packed;and maps are being produced.
You will need to send the office at least one photocopy of the relevant page(s) of your passport so I can take it to AK - just in case! You will also need a copy on your person at all times when in Alaskan civilisation to act as ID, and the Office may ask you for yet another copy of the Information! Begin the process of collecting this now!
You will have little (if any!) opportunity in AK to buy postcards for sponsors and loved ones. Unless you have them on your person before you arrive in Alaska, your friends and sponsors will receive nothing from the field - buy all the cards you think you'll need, and then add a few more for good measure before you go (contact the office with a request for more Expedition postcards and accompany that request with a cheque!). A detailed note about inward post to AK should accompany this mailing - read it carefully if you want any post! My advice is don't have any!
Like me, I hope you have begun to think about getting a little fitter, and unlike me, I hope you are actually doing something about it! I hope you are wearing-in those boots and carrying an increasingly heavy backpack wherever you go! I hope you have made contact with your leaders if they were unable to be at Perse and I hope you have read the Expedition Handbook. In particular discover and practice no-trace camping procedures.
Good Luck in your examinations and fund raising. I hope the money is still coming in or that you have achieved you goal. Don't forget your responsibility to ensure the full payment of your expedition contribution before leaving LGW on Saturday 21st July, or to have made a written agreement with the Office. Can I remind you that any requests from the office for information etc MUST be carried out immediately, the BSES office is particularly busy at this time of year, and any delays may disadvantage you or the expedition. As I write it's less than 7 weeks before BSES AK1 gathers at Gatwick to begin the experience of a lifetime.