Scope Great Wall of China Trek Sept 09 - Sponsors needed!

Current total is just under £1900.

Thanks to those who have donated, and thanks in advance to those who are going to donate

Just under six weeks to go, and we have just broken the 3K barrier, thanks

Today is the day guys, I leave in about half hour.

We have raised about £3200, and the odd little bit is still coming in, will let you all know when I am back and show you some pics

Hello Guys

I have returned, and all I can say is what an amazing challenge of a lifetime, yes it was very hard, but it was worthwhile.
I had some personal challenges to overcome with the fact that I suffer with vertigo, I am sure when I post a link up for the pics you will see the heights, but the pics do not really do it justice.

As a group with raised over £80k together.

Even managed to spot the odd MG-7 over there and the new roewe delearship LOL

Steve

Well I completed the trek Guys and raised £3300+ , in all the group of us who went raised over £80k.

Here is a little write up I did :

Day One

Arrived at Gatwick, and met the Group. Had a bit of a briefing with the Scope reps. Headed to passport control, and bid farewell to the wife.

Eight hours later we were in Dubai, the airport itself is like its own town, was absolutely huge, and very opulent, you can tell there is lots of money there. We met the last member of our team there, as she lives in Dubai.

Boarded the plane to Beijing, for another eight-hour flight.

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Day Two

We finally made it to Beijing, getting through the airport was a nightmare, as they are very nervous about the whole swine flu thing, after the way they suffered with SARS, had to go through four different types of control barrier before finally being allowed in and able to collect our bags. We met our Trek Leader Fiona and our Chinese trek Leader James.
We then transferred to the Xiang Lodge for a nice meal and an evening rest before the start of the trek the next day. Was amazed how friendly the locals were, was a lovely place, but no real sign of being Chinese, just a cheap hostel. Although we did find a lodger in our bathroom, a lovely lizard.

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Day Three

After an early transfer through the stunning countryside, we made it to our drop off point, for an hour trek through the valley, before we made it to the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the first sections to be recognised as a World Heritage Site.

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Was amazing to actually stand on the Wall for the first time, somewhere I never believed I would ever go. Our Challenge today was to trek to tower fourteen and back. I have never climbed so many steps and walked on such a variety of undulating surfaces. Once at Tower Fourteen it was lunch and for those up for an extra challenge, there were 450 mega steep steps to the final watchtower. Wasn’t sure I could do it with my vertigo issues, but I made it, what an achievement. Then it was trek back, to just before our start point, and it was time to disembark the wall for the day, to fight our way through the hawkers, selling all you could think off, to make it to the coach for the transfer back to the Xiang lodge.

Day Four

The challenge for the day was to trek through the Black Dragon Paw Park in the morning, and then climb 1800ft to a watchtower in the afternoon.
The Dragon Park in the morning was literally scrambling through undergrowth, over some mega hills, over rocks, down waterfalls, through normally inaccessible areas. Notice the shirt I wore this day!

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After lunch, it was the climb to the tower, again all through undergrowth. I was leading one team, following the first team, which actually really helped as it took my mind off the heights. After forty minutes of hard climbing we made the tower, and that was high, and very frightening. The steps into the tower were a challenge, as they were falling apart, and then it was a ladder to the roof, but bring it on. I did it!

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That night we stayed at the Longevity Palace Hostel, which was converted to a hostel from what was the Emperors Travelling Palace. This was what I was expecting, lovely courtyards, ornate carvings, real proper feel to the place, something like you would see in the movies.

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Day Five

Walking from the Hostel we made our way to the Gubeikou Great Wall, situated along the Yanshan mountain range. The journey today took us through stunning scenery, along long sections of the Wild Wall with Mongolia on one side and China on the other. The Wild Wall is remote, lonely, unspoilt, and overgrown, and derelict in places. We covered six towers before we had to descend the wall for lunch,

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After climbing back to the wall, we continued on till we rejoined the restored wall, and found our exit point for the Jinshanling Hostel. Taking some group photos before we descended, to be met by another bunch of hawkers trying to sell their wares.


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Day Six


We joined where we departed yesterday, to trek the Jinshanling Wall, one of the best-preserved parts of the wall, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. This was also one of the more unusual sections with Watchtowers every hundred metres or so. After the first hour we were back to un-restored, crumbling wild wall. Some sections were very tough and very high, lots of sections that used to be steps and were now just scrambles. Towards the end of the day, we had to descend the wall again to cross a suspension bridge, as the section of wall that crossed the river had long since gone. Was not a nice experience, was very wobbly and old. We then had to climb back onto the wall for the last thirty minutes or so to find the path to the Hostel. Staying at the Simitai Lodge.

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Day Seven

Up at 4 am for our earliest start yet, to trek the Simitai Great Wall, which is known for its great views with over 100 watchtowers at one time, to see the sun rise over the mountain at the end of the wall, as an incredible finale to the trek. This section is known for its steepness, but it is achievable with some determination and will power. We climbed hundreds of steps and over 15 watchtowers, to a height of 2402ft to reach the summit for the sunrise.

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We then departed the summit, and made our way back down the wall to the hostel, where we left the wall for the last time and headed for a well earned rest. About two minutes from the hostel we all linked arms and passed the finish line together, to be met by champagne and firecrackers going off, and we were all presented with our medals.

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After some showers we transferred to downtown Beijing, that took approx two hours, before having lunch, being shown round a silk factory, passing the Birdsnest Olympic Stadium and checking into the Rainbow Hotel, for our first bit of comfort in nearly a week.

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We had a Gala/Celebration dinner, and handed out some awards that evening, then made our way to a local bar for a bit of Karaoke and chilling.

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Day Eight

Free day in Beijing, so a group of us decided to get up a bit later and then make our way into Beijing and find the Forbidden City. Wow, what a place, so vast, truly stunning, what a life the Emperor’s lead.

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Once we had made our way back to the hotel, before dinner I decided to take advantage of where I was and the hotel services, and paid for a Chinese full body massage to invigorate all those completely worn out muscles. It was amazing.

Day Nine

As our flights got messed up we were no longer leaving at 8 am for the airport, but leaving at 8 pm for a midnight flight, I decided to make the most of the extra time we had gained, by getting up at 5am, and getting to Tiananmen Square for 6am for the Flag raising ceremony that takes place every morning at dawn, that pays respect to China and Chairman Mao.
Was surreal, as the place was deadly quiet with a sea of people everywhere, just watching. But as soon as it ended the people disappeared and the mental Beijing traffic started again. Back to the hotel for breakfast, then out to the Temple Of Heaven, and a market for last minute shopping.

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After returning to the hotel to collect our bags and meet the coach, we made our way to the airport for the trip home.

On our second flight from Dubai to Heathrow, for the real transport nuts out there, we were on the Airbus A380 Double Decker plane

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It was tough to say goodbye to everyone at Heathrow as we had become quite a close knit team and had forged some real bonds, but I have no doubt that we will stay in touch.

It really was a ‘Life Changing Experience’ and thanks to all who donated to the cause.

Personally I raised over £3200, and as a group we raised over £80k, much-needed funds to help people with Cerebral Palsy.

[peterzs]

Well done, made me feel like I was there .

Fantastic memories, last a life time and all for a good cause.

Dont know if its me but the photos are not coming up.

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