Over the weekend the team spent time training in the Cairngorms. During the weekend we covered some basic snow and ice techniques including walking on snow, use of crampons, winter equipment and how to use an ice axe. We managed to get ourselves onto some quite steep ground in Corrie Cas and we also took the opportunity to make use of the high winds. As training weekends go – the Cairngorms provided excellent conditions. On the Sunday we had a more restful day looking at rope work and some of the basics of crevasse rescue in the very controlled environment of the Avimore Bridge Inn Car park.

Below are some photos from the weekend.

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The leadership team biographies are now on-line and can be viewed here.

The expedition now has a Facebook page. If your interested you can sign up over on Facebook – the expedition will use this as a discussion forum during the build up to the expedition.

Of course, someone may need to explain to Clive what Facebook is!

New Google Earth Imagery has been added to the Expedition Area section of the website. In this section you can now download Google Earth and Google Map files that show the expedition region. One of the files also shows the proposed route up Mt. Rainier and the  Wonderland Trail circuit. While satellite imagery is not as good for the Bowron Lake canoe circuit this You Tube Google Earth Fly through gives a real feel for what the area will be like.

Team selection took place at the start of November 2007 in Weymouth, Dorset. From over 20 applicants there were only eight places available on the expedition. The maximum group size within the Mt. Rainier National Park Wilderness is 12 people. During the weekend the group completed a number of challenges to test their physical and mental abilities. The leadership team were very impressed with all of the applicants.

For applicants that completed selection but could not be allocated a place on the Cascades trip, were offered an alternative expedition.

Here are some photographs from the weekend:

Welcome to the new expedition website for the Cascades 2008 Expedition. This is the 2nd Leading Edge Expedition to the Cascade Mountains, USA and the first to include canoeing in British Columbia, Canada. The Expediton will take place in July and August 2008.

Use this website to find out more information about the trip.