Gauging Interest - Summit Expeditions

[jeshua]

Bostonian1976 previously said:

those are great ideas - thank you! T2cruiser mentioned the International idea as well - something like a Baja run. We'd have to look into International insurance, etc. Again this is all very preliminary....

I would love to do a Baja expedition its a beautiful place. But I am thinking at lest a week for Baja. Have everyone meet up on a Saturday morning in SD then head into Baja and not come back till the next Saturday. Every one is responsible for there own insurance though in type of trip.

[TennesseeSquire]

jeshua previously said:

I think its a great idea but depending on the difficulty and time on the expedition 20-30 rigs is to much. I say make it regional and have a leader for each region set one up as a 3 or 4 day trip (Friday to Sunday / Monday)

Have a
North East Summit Expedition
North West Summit Expedition
Mid West Summit Expedition
South East Summit Expedtion
South Central Summit Expedition
South West Summit Expedition
NorCal Summit Expedition
SoCal Summit Expedition (Maybe combine Norther and Souther California)
Texas Summit Expedition
Canada Summit Expedition (Maybe a couple diffrent ones up north)
International Summit Expedition (no idea how this one would work)

And if we could have them all take place at the same time that would be sweet. Also not sure if we could combine some region and were they would all take place. Places would be the first thing to look at for having an expedition. once we find those we could break the country up into groups a little better so people don't have to drive across country.

I really like this breakdown for "The Summit Expedition" runs.

[Bostonian1976]

it'd be done the right way. We'd do meals and such...

[TonysBlueFJ]

Sounds like a very good idea.

[imgone10]

This sounds like a great idea. And I would be interested.

[MudLovingFJ]

Im in! I would love to do more expedition runs

[fatbrat40]

Sign me up for at least two of the summits Texas and ??

[1leglance]

a couple of recommendations....
go the to royal geologic society website and under publications you can get download-pdf of lots of great reading on leading laarge groups overland
beg borrow or steal a copy of The Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide by Tom Shepard...it is THE BIBLE
make sure you have pre-trip info aval about start & stop time expecations, expedition habits, an questionare about diet/health/hygien requirements.

Leading a group overland presents new and different challenges vs a stationary event like the summit. I think it is a great idea and not only would I be willing to go, but willing to help and willing to pay!

There are a number of great resource folks you can talk to from Tom Collins who did the Great Divide Expedition in Colorado (search google video) to Scott Brady of Expeditions West and many other pro's who would offer advice....especially if you are talking group cooking, hygiene and such.

Again this is a great idea and I will keep thoughts flowing on this thread....funny thing is I just wrote a little pre-trip planning article for Disabled Explorers for solo's and it was pretty long..the large group factors are even more
Disabled Explorers - Pre-Trip Info

[1leglance]

Thoughts
Duration-a length of time that most folks could handle that includes travel time to/from the start/stop point (a loop would help some of that)

Route - dirt/trail of course for this group, scenic/historic..would need research on points of interest/history.....fuel stops, food resupply, parts aval./shops, communication (repeater locations if ham, nearness to high traffic areas if cb), Camping spot/fees/reservations

Budget - trip cost have to be reasonable, tough to pick what folks will pay for up front vs self pay on route

Health/Hygiene/Medical - anything longer than a weekend and overland should have a medical officer who gathers peoples basic needs pre-trip (heart med/insulin), has to keep an eye on camp hygiene (hand washing/showers) and deals with any accidents/basic first aid...I would carry an AED just in case & this person should have Wilderness Med Training (WFA, WFR)

Dietary - Group cooking/meal planning would be based on the pre-trip info sheet (along with health, emerg contacts, other), along with transport of galley and water needs

Leadership - Someone has to tell everyone to go to sleep & get up...in charge of site prep/tear down and making sure Tread Lightly is always followed.

Group Size - 20 rigs running a trail is alot.....20 rigs on an expedition is crazy! I would really think of limiting it to 10 rigs..ok maybe 20 dependent on campsites, distance, fuel, trail conditions, weather and lots more....I still think 10 would be a nicer number...that would more than likely be 20 people (or more depending on if you count the orginizers in the 10)

Regional & Seasonal would be considerations - summer runs up north & winter runs down south
More thoughts as they arrive....this could be a blast. I will update you guys at the Summit with my real life lessons since I will be 1/2 through the Continental Divide Expedition by then...and that will just be 3 rigs!

[Archy Chris]

Sounds great! Sign me up for a SW Expedition.