Expedition Planning

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Expedition Planning

• Kevin Mansell
• May 2007

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Dictionary Definition

• An organised journey or voyage, especially for
  exploration. (Collins Paperback 1994)
• A journey or a voyage for a particular purpose,
  especially exploration, scientific research or
  war. (Oxford Illustrated 1998)

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Ask Jeeves

• noun a military campaign designed to achieve a
  specific objective in a foreign country
• noun an organized group of people undertaking a
  journey for a particular purpose
• noun a journey organized for a particular purpose

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Who organises expeditions?

• Raleigh International
• World Challenge Expeditions
• Brathay Exploration Group
• British Schools Exploring Society
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• (AIM OF THE EXPEDITIONS SECTION To encourage a
  spirit of adventure and discovery by preparing
  for and carrying out an adventurous journey as
  part of a Team. )

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• OR YOU

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Initial Decisions

• Length of time
• Time of year
• Potential destinations
• Finance
• Equipment
• Companions
• Insurance
• Other considerations

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• It is only an adventure if you come back!

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Research

• Know your subject
• Internet
• Personal Contact
• Paddling and sailing literature

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Possible Programme

• 12 months before Initial Discussions
• Budget (Fund Raising)
• Travel
• Personnel
• Training

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• 6 months before Insurance
• Food
• Equipment
• Personnel
• Training

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• One Month before Health
• Finance
• Training

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Characteristic (A)
Does it have to be demanding?
Svalbard
Chausey
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Characteristic (B)
How long for?
Ecrehous 1 night
Nova Scotia 14 nights
Which is the expedition?
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Destinations
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Characteristic (C)
Equipment
Approaching Levkas
West coast Greenland
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Characteristic (D)
Who with?
Unknown Nova Scotia
Known Brittany
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• "Moreover, one of the lessons learned from the
  past is that science and mountaineering do not
  readily mix, I was always sure that we must
  concentrate single-mindedly on the main purpose
  of getting up.
• John Hunt, Ascent of Everest

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What is an expedition?

• So what is an expedition? Well, I find this word
  seems to be used more and more these days, mainly
  to describe some sort of touring adventure
  holiday or trek into one of the many countries
  scattered across the globe, where they will sell
  you the illusion of adventure rather than deliver
  the goods. Which is fine if you plan to visit
  standard tourist destinations. However, this is
  not what I perceive a real expedition to be and
  bears no resemblance to mine. At the end of the
  day the word expedition can be simply defined as
  the organizing of a journey, consisting of
  equipment and people with exploration in mind.
  Rather vague I think you'll agree!

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• Everybody needs Beauty as well as Bread, places
  to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and
  give strength to body and soul alike. Keep close
  to natures heart .. and break clear away, once
  in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week
  in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.
• John Muir.

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Geoffrey Winthrop Young

• "The adventure - and it is the test of a good
  adventure - goes on, the same for each
  generation. It can lose nothing by time or
  repetition. The first sight of the sea, of the
  desert or of a mountain, remains the first sight
  for each new child, and evokes afresh the same
  response. The passion for discovery, for the
  mastery of unknown difficulty, stays always the
  same."