Rab Blog

Rab sponsored athlete Mark Kalch is running an Expedition School in August.

The Expedition School is a 3-day event held in the French Pyrenees providing participants with the essential tools necessary to embark on their own expedition or adventure. Activities over the weekend include white-water rafting, mountain trekking, equipment selection clinic, discussion and planning sessions, sponsorship proposal writing, photography and videography class and very importantly a whole lot of fun! The school aims to encourage discussion, exchange of ideas and deliver practical exercises in a relaxed and inspiring environment. However, it is not a holiday camp! Participants are expected to get involved in discussions, share their own experiences, ask questions, help pack the van, sort kit and generally be part of the team. Sounds a bit like an expedition doesn’t it?

The event takes place in the adventure playground of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region in the south of France, close to the Spanish border. Nearby towns include Biarritz, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Bayonne, Bordeaux, Pau and Toulouse, making for easy access from the UK and all parts of Europe and the US. Big mountains, scenic rivers and sweet surf make this part of the world an ideal base to live adventure. Throw in the closing stages of the Tour de France route and it is difficult to ask for much more in a venue.

Accommodation ranges from twin and double rooms (limited availability) to camping. Each morning begins with a conditioning and stretching session in order to prepare for the packed day ahead. After a cooked breakfast with cereal and fresh fruit, we head out for the days planned activity. A boxed lunch of sandwiches, rolls, snacks and fruit gives us plenty of energy to keep going for the whole day. We return to base in the late afternoon in time for showers and a healthy dinner. This is followed by evening discussion, films and chill out time before retiring, ready to face the next day’s activities.

Find out more at http://www.markkalch.com/expeditionschool/