THE University of Limerick Outdoor Pursuits Club is proud to\u00a0announce its forthcoming expedition for the summer of 2014. Eight\u00a0members will be attempting to climb two of the seven summits\u00a0(highest mountains on each continent) over a three week long\u00a0expedition. This will see the team first travel to Tanzania in Africa to\u00a0climb Mount Kilimanjaro, standing at 5895m. They will then\u00a0immediately travel to the Caucasus region of the Russian Federation\u00a0to climb Mount Elbrus, standing at 5642m which is taken as\u00a0Europe\u2019s highest mountain.<\/p>\n
The OPC, running its five separate activities (rock climbing,\u00a0orienteering, caving, hiking and mountain climbing) always seeks\u00a0develop its members skills so that expeditions such as this can be\u00a0undertaken. The clubs ambitions to climb the seven summits began\u00a0in 2003 when a small team from the club traveled to Argentina and\u00a0climbed Aconcagua. Standing at 6960m it is the highest mountain in\u00a0South America.<\/p>\n
Climbing Kilimanjaro will involve a 9 day trek with a local\u00a0guide from Tanzania. No groups are allowed to climb the mountain\u00a0without the assistance of a qualified guide and as such the team will\u00a0be taking this as a preparation climb before they climb Mount Elbrus\u00a0in Russia.<\/p>\n
Climbing at these altitudes becomes difficult and dangerous\u00a0due to the lower concentration of oxygen in the air, which can result\u00a0in what is commonly known as altitude sickness. Climbing\u00a0Kilimanjaro with the assistance of a guide will allow the team to\u00a0experience their own reactions to altitude in a more controlled\u00a0environment prior to climbing Mount Elbrus independently. Elbrus\u00a0itself will present its own unique challenges. While it sits at a lower\u00a0altitude it can experience temperatures as low as -25 degrees\u00a0Celsius on the summit and involves careful navigation to avoid\u00a0crevasses on the climb up the mountain.<\/p>\n
As such the team chosen will be undergoing constant training\u00a0in the lead up to the expedition to ensure that they are at their peak\u00a0in physical fitness and technical skill. The team itself is made up of\u00a0members with up to 7 years experience in the club \u2013 Tom\u00e1s\u00a0Breathnach, Fearghal Fitzgibbon, Davis Gould-Duff, Conor McCarthy,\u00a0Conor McNelis, David O\u2019Connell, Orlagh Scanlon and Keith Young.<\/p>\n
The committee and team would like to thank Ulster Bank for\u00a0the support received thus far through the Enablement Fund, without \nwhich none of this would be possible. However the club still needs tocontinue with its fundraising efforts and over the course of the next\u00a0few months the club will be holding a variety of fundraising events\u00a0to help towards the costs of the expedition. So if you see anything\u00a0advertised or happening that takes your interest feel free to pop\u00a0along and help support the team.<\/p>\n
For anyone who feels this type of adventure may appeal to\u00a0them, the club is constantly taking in new members. With trips\u00a0almost every weekend, a climbing wall on campus and four\u00a0international trips a year, ranging from caving, to rock climbing to\u00a0mountain climbing, if you feel the need for adventure, this club\u00a0really is for you. You can visit the UL Wolves Clubs & Societies\u00a0website to find out more information about the club and to make\u00a0contact.<\/p>\n
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THE University of Limerick Outdoor Pursuits Club is proud to\u00a0announce its forthcoming expedition for the summer of 2014. Eight\u00a0members will be attempting to climb two of the seven summits\u00a0(highest mountains on each continent) over a three week long\u00a0expedition. This will see the team first travel to Tanzania in Africa to\u00a0climb Mount Kilimanjaro, standing at 5895m. They will then\u00a0immediately travel to the Caucasus region of the Russian Federation\u00a0to climb Mount Elbrus, standing at 5642m which is taken as\u00a0Europe\u2019s highest mountain.<\/p>\n