Everest Base Camp - invitation to join me

The next big adventure I am focused on is joining Snowball Expeditions (see link on this blog) as a guide on the Everest base camp expedition over the summer next year. Thanks to Mark for inviting me along! There remain a number of places for the three expeditions (I hope to be on the one starting on 10th August). Anyone interested should contact me via my email on jonathan.geldart@gtuk.com and I'll send you the details.

Extreme environments - leadership and business

I was out last night speaking to a group of senior marketing and business development leaders from UK professional service firms about the lessons I have learnt from my outdoor experiences. The main focus of my talk was around the issues leaders on expeditions have and how these can relate to the workplace.

Thinking about situational leadership, recruiting people for their attitude and not their skills as well as a focus on training as a priority were my main themes.

The short presentation was well received.

Anyone interested in having me speak (UK only) should contact me via my email at jonathan.geldart@gtuk.com

More Welsh weather

After the wedding the next outdoor activity was in Wales over the last few days.

The Grant Thornton International marketing team asked me to give them a flavour of the Arctic selection event for them to get an idea of what the great outdoors could offer them.

It turned out to be a good deal more than they had expected!Pitch black forests and lashing rain were order of the day (or rather - night!) There was an overnight bivey out in a pretty bad storm and with water leaking into the shelter two members of the team got very wet. 

The decision to abort the long daytime walk was an easy one as the weather got worse and worse. We repaired to the Mount Severn activity centre who were simply brilliant. I was able to take four of the team out for the rest of the day but two (for safety reasons) were left recovering in the centre. The rest of us took a wet and icy route up towards the source of the Severn but, not wanting to have the novice team out in more dark foprest, I decided to bring them back in early. Day 3 was spent in the grounds of the centre with a number of team building exercises. This included getting to grips with our Arctic Geodesic tent (above).

Feedback for this corporate event was good - despite the weather and the dark. 

Anyone wishing to book one of the corporate events please do contact me - but beware - these are not 'fluffy bunny' walking on the hills. The events are designed to test participants determination and resourcefulness and well as their resolve to complete difficult tasks in difficult conditions. The connection to high stress work is direct and  effective but there is an element of 'no pain - no gain' to all activities.