Cox Green Explorers win District night hike

On Friday the 12th of November the Cox Green Explorers took part in the district annual incident hike. This is a hike which takes place after most have gone to bed from 10 in the evening till when ever the teams finish. The teams have to complete a pre determined route in the least amount of time. This year the team that completed the hike in the least amount of time was Cox Green So we won.

The results were:
Dragons - 3 Hours 45 Mins *DISQUALIFIED*
Cox Green - 4 Hours 5 Mins - 1st
Cookham - 5 Hours 13 Mins - 2nd
Mid Thames - 5 Hours 20 Mins - 3rd

As it can bee seen the Dragons actually completed the course in the quickest time but if you cheat which they did you get disqualified, never mind dragons

Well done to the explorers

Team members Were

LIMA 04

(Leaders Introduction to Mountainous Activities – also open to Explorers)

  On Friday 5^th March 2004 19 leaders and explorer scouts congregated on a remote Welsh bunkhouse in Snowdonia - north Wales. This included four explorers and two leaders from Cox Green as well as 13 others from groups within Maidenhead such as Cookham, Furze Platt and BHA. We had travelled up that evening in two minibuses and by the time we arrived at Bryn Dinas bunkhouse it was almost Saturday!

 We awoke to find Saturday morning to be an unusually bright, sunny and dry day. After an early breakfast (Well…7.50 is early for some!) we were split into groups based on ability and passed experience and piled into the minibuses to be taken to Llyn Ogwen for the start of the walking for that day.

  There were a total of four groups. The group which I was in included Jason (from CG) as well as two leaders Neil and Michael. We set off in the morning sunshine and headed for the lake behind the car park; Llyn Idwal. We then proceeded around the lake and up the Devil’s Kitchen; a ni on vertical face with what was essentially a flight of stairs. Without too much effort the top was reached just as the sleet and rain began to fall, but this was soon to stop as we stopped for a food break.

  Once deciding that there was too much snow to safely climb the Glyders we decided to travel in the opposite direction – up Y Garn. This had a good bit of snow on it but since it was still soft it was relatively easy to walk in and it was not long before we reached the top and were looking down onto the valley in which lay Llanberis - and behind us the Carnids, as well as eating our lunch. From here we navigated out way down the back of Y Garn, where there was some ice patches and plenty of slippery mud – this meant that most of us (myself included – many times) ended up on our backsides sliding for a few meters – intentionally or otherwise! We eventually ended up back at Llyn Idwal and made our way back to the car park and inviting café.

  Once we had got back to the bunkhouse, showered and recovered it was time to have dinner (Chicken soup, spaghetti bolognaise and apple slices and custard). After this we did what now seems a rather strange thing – we went to the local activity centre to use their climbing wall – you’d have thought we’d be too worn out by now?

 Sunday morning greeted us as an even better day than Saturday and after breakfast we walked the short distance to the start of the Watkin Path (which can take you all the way to the summit of Snowdon). We followed the Watkin Path up the valley to Gladstone Rock where we stopped to eat. After which we proceeded a little further until, thanks to the excellent weather, we could see Snowdon herself. Once the view had been admired we headed back to Gladstone Rock for lunch. (Yes, we did do a lot of eating….) After this we headed back down the valley to bunkhouse so that we could pack up and be in the minibus and away by one o’clock. After the long trip back to Maidenhead we were dropped off home.

 Everybody agreed that it was an excellent weekend, the weather was great and people had done what they had set out to do. A number of people said that they would go again next year.

  The group from Cox Green Explores this year was: Clive Hammond (ESL), Chris Webb (AESL), Kevin Lee, Jason Webb, Naomi Rich and Emma Ryan.

 Reported by: Kevin Lee, Explorer Scout Secretary, March 2004.

Silver Expo

The silver expo took place during summer camp between the 19th July and the 25th July.  The 3 day expo took place from the Sunday to the Tuesday. 

The first day we canoed from our site in Llangattock to Pencelli where we stayed over night.  We then walked up the Brecon beacons.  We walked down the hill slightly to find a campsite in Cwmcynwyn. The third day could not go ahead as originally planned as we had changed the second day slightly due to very bad weather.  We planned the route on the Monday evening.  It didn't vary too much from our original planned route.

All in all, a good time was had and it was very rewarding at the end of the third day.

Summer Camp 2003

This year our summer camp was from 19th July-25th July.  During this time, bronze and silver expos were completed. The six silver award people did their 3 day expo from the Sunday to the Tuesday and the five bronze award participants did theirs from the Wednesday to the Thursday.

Our base-camp was at Llangattock, but the silver participants stayed at other sites during their expo.

Both expos were a success and the time was enjoyed by all despite bad weather at some times during the week.

As well as the expos, the silver group visited local show-caves and went on a one day bike

Bronze Practice Hike

The bronze practice expo lasted two days and was around the Bucks and Berks area.  They started at Burnham Beeches and finished in Maidenhead.

Silver Practice Hike

For the practice expo, the silver participants canoed from Devices, along the Kennet and Avon canal.  We stayed at a campsite on the canal.