Field notes:

What businesses get from supporting expeditions, and how to get them to support yours in 2023
invitational marketing, content marketing, adventure project, remote travel adventures, mountaineering, ocean rowing, advertising, marketing, business, getting expeditions funded, expeditions, Business of adventure Chris Shirley MA FRGS invitational marketing, content marketing, adventure project, remote travel adventures, mountaineering, ocean rowing, advertising, marketing, business, getting expeditions funded, expeditions, Business of adventure Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What businesses get from supporting expeditions, and how to get them to support yours in 2023

To increase your chances of success of getting an expedition paid for (and to stop you wasting your precious free time), you should understand a little about the mechanics of how business works, and the sales and marketing functions of it, otherwise you’ll probably be wasting your time approaching people who don’t have the money to support you, don’t see the value in your project, or a combination of both.

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A short hike in the Hindu Kush: scaling mountains in Kabul, Afghanistan.
A short hike in the Hindu Kush, A short walk in the Hindu Kush, Alpinism, Alpine, mountaineering in Afghanistan, snowboard, hindu kush, snow days, hiking, climbing, endeavour, Adventure, mountaineering, Kabul, Afghanistan Chris Shirley MA FRGS A short hike in the Hindu Kush, A short walk in the Hindu Kush, Alpinism, Alpine, mountaineering in Afghanistan, snowboard, hindu kush, snow days, hiking, climbing, endeavour, Adventure, mountaineering, Kabul, Afghanistan Chris Shirley MA FRGS

A short hike in the Hindu Kush: scaling mountains in Kabul, Afghanistan.

We meet in a quiet corner of Kabul, a neighbourhood that’s largely untouched by the security issues. I know the city moderately well and so this eases my apprehension well. Although I do understand that If I’ve misjudged anything about my plan to get alternative perspectives of the beautiful mountains, the consequences could be severe.

It’s winter and the whole city is covered in a blanket of snow, meaning that movement is much slower, but the city does appear quieter than when I was last here.

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The 7 principles I follow for taking on physical challenges that intimidate me
ironman, resilience, silk road mountain race (SRMR), social mobility, determination, perseverance, motivation, neuroscience, BBC, physical challenges, intention-behaviour gap, BJJ, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, London marathon, life goals, mountaineering, mountain biking, Kyrgyzstan, bikepacking, world record, silk road mountain race, marathon, run, bike, Swim, IM triathlon, ironman triathlon, the Iron-nun, Madonna Buder Chris Shirley MA FRGS ironman, resilience, silk road mountain race (SRMR), social mobility, determination, perseverance, motivation, neuroscience, BBC, physical challenges, intention-behaviour gap, BJJ, Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, London marathon, life goals, mountaineering, mountain biking, Kyrgyzstan, bikepacking, world record, silk road mountain race, marathon, run, bike, Swim, IM triathlon, ironman triathlon, the Iron-nun, Madonna Buder Chris Shirley MA FRGS

The 7 principles I follow for taking on physical challenges that intimidate me

82 years old and completing an Ironman triathlon. That’s a 2.4-mile (3.8-km) swim, followed by a 112-mile (180-km) cycle, and finishing with a 26.2-mile (42.2-km) run. Just think about that for a second longer.

It’s stories like hers that motivate me to keep going when the journey ahead seems impossible to move forward.

In the next few years, I'll be aiming to complete the Silk Road Mountain race, a 1700-kilometre continuous bikepacking race in Kyrgyzstan, and one of my biggest personal challenges since a mountaineering accident in 2019 almost permanently stopped me from doing things I love altogether.

There are the 7 principles that I use to fit training to previous adventures that I’ll use to get myself to the finishing line.

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What it’s like to traverse the Aonach Eagach ridgeline in Scotland
bucket list adventure, physical endeavour, Expedition, hike, scrambling, Scotland, traverse, Red Squirrel campsite, fastpacking, hiking, mountaineering, Clachaig inn, Glen Coe, Aonach Eagach ridgeline, Aonach Eagach, Scrambling adventure, Adventure in the UK Chris Shirley MA FRGS bucket list adventure, physical endeavour, Expedition, hike, scrambling, Scotland, traverse, Red Squirrel campsite, fastpacking, hiking, mountaineering, Clachaig inn, Glen Coe, Aonach Eagach ridgeline, Aonach Eagach, Scrambling adventure, Adventure in the UK Chris Shirley MA FRGS

What it’s like to traverse the Aonach Eagach ridgeline in Scotland

My research told me that the Aonach Eagach ridge is considered one of the most difficult and exposed scrambles in Scotland, and requires a high level of fitness, experience, and proper equipment. It also offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys that you can find emblazoned across Instagram. That was enough for me to give it a go!

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