On Trek With Tango Six

This first blog from Tango Six on expedition comes thanks to Adele Halsall, a 12J Venturer with the team, and David the photographer. Dave has just returned from a visit to Tango Six with the ‘Loop’ (the periodic visit to the projects by Fieldbase staff bearing gifts and the ‘Raleigh shop’). He brought back a copy of Adele’s journal and took the photos. Thanks, both.

Adele - writing what you're about to read

Extract from Adele's Journal

On Thursday 11th October Tango Six set off (almost) bright and early for the trek starting point in Tamil Nadu.  Breaking our journey with stops for a dosa breakfast and a chapati/parotta lunch, we arrived at the lodge around 4 pm. We all went out to dinner, enlisting Raja’s and Sridhar’s help in ordering something good to eat! 

After a 4-hour drive on Friday morning, during which we presented Dave the photographer with a belated 30th birthday present including butterscotch chocolates, we began a short trek to our campsite, in Kerala.

Dave - birthday boy festooned with gifts

At this point we were confronted by our first natural challenge – leeches! These ugly worm-like things are cheekily persistent at trying to get into your boots. Happily nothing a bit of Alex’s medical gauze wouldn’t be able to sort out. (Although possibly uncomfortable they are harmless – ED.)

On arriving at the campsite we freshened up and, after a dinner of boil-in-the-bag rice (a classic trek dish), had our evening review around the campfire in the middle of a monsoon storm - entertaining to say the least.

Saturday brought Tango Six a fearsome challenge - we were to climb Misappulimala, the second highest mountain in southern India! Each of us had to carry team kit, our own equipment and food. It was a tough challenge, involving steep inclines, unstable rocks, the merciless sun, and more leeches. We eventually made it to the summit, tired yet satisfied. We enjoyed a lunch of Parle Gs (sweet biscuits) and Nutella, before feeling energized enough to make our way back down. 

Parle G - the world's largest selling biscuit (mainly thanks to Raleigh expeditions?)

Highlights of the day included passing through the beautiful tea plantations, being joined by a green vine snake when we stopped for a rest, and the stunning view from the mountain’s summit, which was shrouded in a misty and peaceful silence.

Stunning scenery - and a snake

At the end of the day, Dave treated us all to fresh pasta and rosemary as we settled into our second campsite for the night. Everyone went to bed feeling full … and fully worn out.

Sunday brought a survival challenge. After leaving at 8 a.m. we were led by our guide Ragu to the home of Jess, Jess’s husband, their two dogs and four cows. Our task was to build a shelter and search for fresh ingredients from which to make a nutritious meal. We worked together to build a shelter out of bamboo, coconut leaves and rope. Jess helped us make a tasty chicken and vegetable curry, and mashed potato too.

Happy campers - but would you stay in this in the rain?

In the face of another monsoon storm, we were relieved to find that we didn’t have to sleep in our far-from-waterproof makeshift shelter but could spend the night on Jess’s living room floor, hooray! Together, the thirteen of us (yes, thirteen) huddled down amongst our sleeping bags and the soft glow of the oil lamps. It was a squash (a big squash) but we all knew one another a little better after that night…!

On Monday, Simon and Anna from Fieldbase joined us. At a nearby lake we were split into two groups and competed to build the best raft from bamboo, tyre floats and rope. This quickly turned into a competition to see who could row out to the embankment first …and then who could splash whom the most!

After a short late afternoon trek, Tango Six reached its next campsite location. Here Simon and Anna opened the Raleigh shop in their Bravo jeep, and presented us with fresh fruit, blog updates and messages, and a new jar of Nutella! After a dinner of rice, tuna and green chili sauce, all turned in for an early night.

David returns to Fieldbase on Tuesday with Simon and Anna. Everyone has loved having him around and hopes he will have some awesome pictures to show off.

The trek continues. Here’s to Tango Six! And here’s hoping there’s plenty of Parle Gs left …


Expect more photos of Tango Six and their adventures in the next couple of days...