Countdown to Challenger 2010

Hello All,

Last year, 16 men and women, of varied professions, from Nurses  and Computer Lecturers to Architects and Economists, from various parts of Nigeria arrived in Jos, Plateau State of  Nigeria to spend 9 days of adventure together, backpacking, hiking over beautiful rugged landscapes, orienteering , rock climbing and enjoy the pleasures of outdoor living experience in the manner of the great adventurers of history and as done today by many in various parts of the world.

It was the first and from all accounts a wonderful and awesome experience for all the expedition team members. Arranged neatly and efficiently in our back packs was our orienteering, rock climbing gears and food. Water, Raw food stuffs (very few prepared dry foods in Nigeria, so we had raw foods - rice, white beans, fried meat and dried fish etc and a few quick "cooks" like Noodles, Spaghetti and snacks like Biscuits and Crackers) constituted our food. It was probably in all likelihood the first and only one ever done in Nigeria. The expedition was a great success.

Temperature was 5 degree Celsius on the coldest day and ranged between 5 and 10 degrees all through. This is indeed considered cold for Nigerians and as you can see in the slideshow and background picture, we were all dressed for it. We got water from streams and also from a Unicef provided village water reservoir in a village some 1 hour walk away from our base camp.

Each of the team member was so surprised and enthralled by the scenery and experiences of sleeping in mobile and for real camping tents, waking up at an elevation of about 6,500 ft above sea level to a wonderful sight as the sun rose, bathing the heavens and horizon in it's golden rays, to breath in fresh, dry, cold air in an environment where for as far as the eye can see in all directions is covered by rolling plains only interrupted in places by masses of rocks and hills in a wonderful display of the beauty of creation, with very few human habitations.

The activities and discussions of each day served to forged a bond so refreshing and strong that all wished we could stay longer. 

We are currently gearing up and counting down to the next outing - Challenger 2010. 

There would be 15 on this trip and three of the team are Americans, experienced outdoors men and rock climbers. There will be more of backpacking, orienteering and camping out than rock climbing though. The list of locations with beautiful scenes and huge rocks are quite many but these would be scouted out for an ideal location for future explorations.

Over the next few days and weeks, I will post accounts of Challenger 2009 experiences and include videos too, so I can share with all for the fist time our adventures!  Keep on checking my blog as I expose you to the beauties and wonders of Nigeria. We would visit unknown or rarely visited beaches, deep lush evergreen forests and hike, backpack and explore plains and the rocky terrains of many places in Western and Northern Nigeria. 

Posts on this blog will cover my explorations and adventures, with friends and sometimes solo mostly within Nigeria, but also outside Nigeria the few times I am able to do this. I wish to let Nigerians and the world know that there are many here with a rare and indomitable spirit of adventure, and given the opportunity, would write their own names in history had they been able like Christopher Columbus, Stanley Livingstone and other adventurers!

Happy reading. Feel free to share my posts and blog url with your friends.

Never Say Never! Live life ans not just Exist!