Tag Archives: School Curriculum

Great Big Walk Audio Update Day #7

“Hey this is TA calling in from day 7 on the great big walk and it is find your fit Friday. So hopefully you’re finding a way to find your fit. The most important thing about finding your fit is that it … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Location Update Day #7

TA Latitude:27.53630 Longitude:87.80797 GPS location Date/Time:03/07/2014 06:04:31 NST Message:Great Big Walk: This is TA & Marian’s location on the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal.Thanks for walking with us Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/FsDCQ/27.53630N/87.80797E If … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Day 6: To Chiruwa (1270m)

To Chiruwa (1270m) The trail ascends and descends steadily for approximately 4 hours as we make our way towards the Tamor Khola and the valley floor at Nagadin. This area is significant to the history of Nepal and is where … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Day 5: To Mitlung (1542m)

Walk To Mitlung (1542m) Today we will begin our Great Big Walk!  We will walk approximately four hours to Mitlung.  The trails throughout the lower sections of the Kanchenjunga region pass through fertile valleys that typically produce up to three … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Audio Update Day #5

“Hey this is TA calling in from Mitlung, Nepal. Thanks for listening! First off, I just wanted to start by thanking the Memorial University of Newfoundland offices Engagement for making these audio updates possible, and also thanks to my communications … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Day 4: Drive to Taplejung (1820m)

Drive to Taplejung (1820m). Today we plan to drive to Taplejung. Flights can sometimes be delayed due to mountain weather and so flexibility and patience may be required. The Kanchenjunga region is home to Sherpa, Limbu, Rai and Gurung people.  … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Audio Update Day #4

“Hey this is TA calling in from Taplejung. I’ve been practicing saying that all day, and the best news is I’m calling in! We got the SAT phone to work so this is just a test to make sure it’s … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Location Update Day #4

TA Latitude:27.35520 Longitude:87.66903 GPS location Date/Time:03/04/2014 07:59:25 NST Message:Great Big Walk: This is TA & Marian’s location on the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal.Thanks for walking with us Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/Fpcoh/27.35520N/87.66903E If … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Location Update Day #3

TA Latitude:27.72047 Longitude:85.32004 GPS location Date/Time:03/02/2014 06:59:53 NST Message:Great Big Walk: This is TA & Marian’s location on the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal.Thanks for walking with us Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/Fosu4/27.72047N/85.32004E If … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Day 3: Fly Bhadrapur (2420m). Drive to Ilam

Today we fly  to Bhadrapur (2420m) and then drive to Ilam. Bhadrapur is situated in the terai, south east of Lukla. The flight from Kathmandu takes approximately  50 minutes and affords views of the entire trek and the Himalaya from … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk: Going East Soon (i.e. tomorrow)

We had an excellent day touring some of the famous spots of Kathamandu, including my favourite, Boudhanath Stupa. The stupa is the second largest in the world and the largest in Nepal. The stupa was alive with many folks celebrating … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Day 2: In Kathmandu (1330m)

This morning we’ll be sightseeing and taking in  key attractions in and around Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Valley has an amazing range of fascinating highlights.  We will visit Pashupatinath and Boudhanath (two favourite places of mine). Quote for the Day All … Continue reading

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Great Big Walk Day 1: In Kathmandu (1330m)

Meeting the Expedition Team In Kathmandu (1330m) Today we will be meeting up with the members of our expedition team.  We’ll try to get to know each other, build team bonds, and work to take care of last minute tasks … Continue reading

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5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO! For a Great Big Walk

Bags are packed. No sleeps left. No hockey games left. A few more things on the to-do list left to do and then 34 hours of travel. We fly St. John’s to Halifax to London to Delhi to Kathmandu. We … Continue reading

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Packing for the Great Big Walk: Stage Three

Stage Three: Now that all gear has been pulled, it’s time for final decisions and grouping supplies into categories for bagging. This is our mini repair kit. It will allow us to patch our thermarests, resole our boots, and fix … Continue reading

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Packing for The Great Big Walk: Stage Two

Stage Two: it gets worse before it gets better!

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Let The Serious Packing Begin for The Great Big Walk

And so it begins… Step One: Start pulling all the gear on the list.

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Great Big Walk SPOT Testing #1

TA Latitude:47.57008 Longitude:-52.70300 GPS location Date/Time:02/19/2014 20:06:00 NST Message:Great Big Walk: This is TA & Marian’s location on the Great Himalaya Trail in Nepal. Thanks for walking along. Click the link below to see where I am located. http://fms.ws/Ffe2x/47.57008N/52.70300W If … Continue reading

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Audio Post Testing from St. John’s

Great Big Walk acknowledges the support of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Quick Start Fund for Public Engagement in making these updates from the field possible.

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Kathmandu Things I’m Looking Forward to on the Great Big Walk

These are a few of my favourite things about Kathamndu…we’ll be there in ten days! 1) Landing in Kathamndu and heading down to the Nargila for a fresh lemon soda and a plate of hummus! (Fresh lemon soda is fresh … Continue reading

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Five Things I’m Looking Forward To on The Great Big Walk

1) Seeing lots and lots of prayer flags. Prayer flags are flown on high passes, on summits and around stupas and other holy places in Nepal. The different colours represent the different elements. The flags have prayers/intentions printed on them … Continue reading

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21 Sleeps, 16 Hockey Games, and 6 Home-cooked Meals…the Countdowns Have Begin

As is the case with most expeditions, there comes a time where the countdowns begin. My injured finger has finally allowed me to return to hockey and so I decided to count how many games remain in this season…16! Of … Continue reading

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Great Big Preparations for the Great Big Walk

As I type this, the kettle just boiled and Marian just flipped another page of our Great Himalaya Trail book. She’s been reading it as I’ve been working on the map above. We’ve been documenting/learning about our route through a … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 14

The morning is free to enjoy the beach or the souk and after lunch we will head back to Marrakech to celebrate the end of our expedition. DO YOU KNOW: The Marrakech Agreement, manifested by the Marrakech Declaration, was an … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 13

We will hike through coastal forest over rocky promontories and along the beach to Sidi Kaouki where we will meet our vehicles and drive Essaouria. DO YOU KNOW: In 1952 director and actor Orson Welles directed a film based on … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 12

We will walk through coastal hills and farmland to Sid M’Bark . It will be about 5 hours walking. DO YOU KNOW: In 1943 United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and French Generals Charles de … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 11

We’ll trek along the coast to and trek to little port of Sidi Ahmed Srir. Camp. It will take about 5 – 6 hours. DO YOU KNOW: Moroccan Nawal El Moutawakel accomplished something in the world of sports that was … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 10

We’ll have a short walk down to Imlil, where we meet our transport for the drive to the Atlantic coast reaching Tafedna after approximately 5 hours. DO YOU KNOW: What Hollywood film starring Brad Pitt was partially filmed in the … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 9

Big Day!  Today we will climb  Jebel Toubkal (4167m /13,672ft.) North Africa’s and Morocco’s highest peak. From the summit, we’ll descend to our gite in Ait Souka. DO YOU KNOW: The Moroccan flag is made up of an object in … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 8

We will hike via the holy site of Sidi Charmouch to the Neltner Refuge (3207m. / 10,522ft.). Camp. DO YOU KNOW: Moroccan currency is the dirham. Who are the only two faces ever depicted on dirham bank notes? Answer: King … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 7

We return to Marrakech via the Dades Valley, along the famous “Road of the Kasbahs” then over the Tizi n’Tichka to Imlil at the foot of Toubkal. We stay overnight in a comfortable gite at Ait Soukha. DO YOU KNOW: … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 6

A spectacular start to the day spent wading the waters through the Gorge de Achabou where the walls tower overhead only a few metres apart. After 45 minutes the valley opens out and we once again trek through fields and … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 5

This will be a superb and varied day. We follow the Ameskar Gorge, through an ever-changing landscape of green fields and ochre-coloured villages. Passing the villages of M’Rabtine (1900m) and Ifkiren we make camp at the entrance to the gorge. … Continue reading

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Mountains of Morocco: Day 4

The long ridgeline of l’Ighil Mgoun takes us to the summit of Mgoun at 4068m. After enjoying the sensational views we make a quick descent to Oulilimt, close to the springs of the Mgoun Assif. Camp is at 2800m. DO … Continue reading

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Mountains of Morocco: Day 3

We follow the Ikkis river to the cirque at Tiwawakyhe. The ridge offers a remarkable view of Mgoun’s north face and the high valley of the Tessaout River. We stop in an ideal camping place close to the source of … Continue reading

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Mountains Of Morocco: Day 2

Today we will drive 4 hours to the Bougmez valley in the Central Atlas. We meet with the muleteers at Arous and walk for 2 hours to our first camp close to the Azibs n’Ikkis at 2500m. DO YOU KNOW: … Continue reading

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Mountains of Morocco: Day 1

Welcome to our Mountains of Morocco expedition.  Today is a very exciting day where we meet our entire trekking/climbing team in Marrakech and prepare for departure to the High Atlas Mountains.  Each day you can check out our SPOT tracker … Continue reading

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Mountains of Morocco: Happy Adventure Eve

This was early last evening… This was mid evening… This was the end result… The bags are packed for Morocco. Happy Adventure Eve. We’re ready to go after seemingly endless to-do lists (why is it that everything left undone for … Continue reading

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Mountains of Morocco Expedition Intro

Thanks to all who participated in “What’s TA Climbing Next IV?” Using your peak detective skills, you deciphered my cryptic visual clues to what I am climbing this fall. This adventure will take me to a new country, Morocco, a … Continue reading

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Celebrating with the Grade Four’s at Bishop Abraham School

One of the highlights of last week was visiting the Grade Four classes at Bishop Abraham School here in St. John’s. It was my second visit of the school year and great fun. They followed along daily on my latest … Continue reading

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