Thank you for looking in! 

In August and September, I undertook a month-long journey to India and trekked the Ladakh and Zanskar areas of the southern Himalaya, covering about 200 miles on foot, at altitudes ranging from 11,000 to 17,000ft above sea level.  The trek was completed without the use of supplementary oxygen and the team explored areas only reached by around 1000 non-locals each year. 

The trip was a truly amazing experience.  No sight nor sound of internal combustion engines, mobile phones or computers for over 3 weeks.  The most stunning, vivid starscapes I have ever seen, really challenging physical climbs over 10 passes, 3 of which exceeded 5000 metres, and the company of some great people.  The wildlife was terrific - we saw ibex teetering on the edge of mountain cliffs, blue sheep, red fox, pika mice, peregrine falcons, black kites and other rare species, along with the more numerous Kashmiri goats, yak, dzo, cattle, donkeys and sheep.  A huge bonus was the discovery, on two separate occasions, of fresh snow leopard tracks.  This elusive and rare beast numbers but 200 in the whole region and to spot fresh sign was fantastic.

To be able to raise funds for two very worthy causes has made the experience even more special for me.  Cundall Manor school is trying to raise funds to replace it's many portakabin classrooms with a modern, bright and sustainable permanent building.  I am also fundraising to help the Himalayan Buddhist School in Manali, India.  This school does really good work, taking in under-privileged children from around Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh and Zanskar, to provide them with a solid education that includes promoting tradtional local cultural values, techniques and skills, together with the core subjects taught in our schools here.  I had the chance to meet Singge, a boy rescued by the team that run the expedition company I trekked with, who has benefitted from the school.  I can honestly say that, without the help of the Project Himalaya team and the school, he would probably have perished.   

Both these causes very much need all the assistance they can receive and anything you are able to give will make a real difference.  Some fund-raising expeditions offset the cost of the trek for the adventurer and give a percentage of the raised funds to the nominated charity.  I believe that all funds raised should benefit the causes described and so I paid for my trip; every penny of any donation you make will go straight to the two causes.  If you are a UK taxpayer, justgiving will automatically organise the enabling of giftaid - this increases the amount that the charities receive but at no extra cost to you. 

You can view descriptions and photos of the trek by loggin in to my blog - another new experience for me - at www.gregstrek.blog.co.uk

Thanks for your time and kindness.  All the best, Greg.