Experience a Winter Wonderland

It's that time of the year again when the bookies start to take odds on a White Christmas and we all start to wonder where the winters of our childhood have gone. "Frozen pipe" days off and sledging on plastic bags down your road. Well blame it on Global warning or whatever you like but you can relive them just a short plane ride away here at the Carnegie Alpenrose. Tucked away up a mountain road, the Carnegie Alpenrose spends it's winter season nestled in the snow covered mountains.

There's just something about snow that just whisks you back to those care free days. Whether it be whizzing down a hill on a sledge or just crunching through fresh snow and sinking knee seep into the white stuff. From the doorstep the walk to the top of the sledge run may be a bit of a puff but you will have the biggest grin on your face by the time you get back down! Gone are the days of Trays and Plastic sacks; in Bavaria every family owns a well loved wooden Sledge and weekends are spent on beautifully pisted tracks to the mountains huts where hot chocolate and Mulled wine give you a quick energy boost before your spectacular speedy descent. Some of these sledging routes are up to 4km long so you really get your walks worth!

If you prefer a calmer more tranquil way to enjoy the snow then test out your architectural skills on an igloo building course. Don your snow shoes and head out into the backcountry to find the best snow and then get to grips with this ancient shelter building skill. Alternatively, why not learn some true backcountry skills on a Mountain skills day. You will learn about the snowpack, how to build a variety of emergency shelters, how to avoid avalanches and how to react if you get caught out. Using transceivers, probe, ice axes and shovels in a safe and secure environment with experienced mountaineers you will soon feel like Mont Blanc is within reach.

For those who enjoy a good walk in the hills but want to experience a winter version, snow-shoeing is a great way to get around the mountains. Gone are the days of tennis rackets tied to your feet! These lightweight plastic shoes are strapped onto your walking boots and aided by poles, away you go.

All of these non skiing snow based activities are available with My Peak Potential in the Bavarian Alps, Southern Germany. With accommodation provided at their stylish Alpine Lodge the Carnegie Alpenrose Prices start at €50.00 per person per night for full-board accommodation. For more information and to discuss a package please call us on +49(0)8321 788 4854 or e-mail jo@my-peakpotential.com

Unilever train with My Peak Potential

Unilever’s European Sustainability Training Platform team came together at the Carnegie Alpenrose last month. Arriving from all corners of Europe these senior managers took part in a two day leadership and teambuilding programme with My Peak Potential. They also used the Lodge’s superb facilities to hold their Sustainability Training Platform meeting.

Tony Dunnage, Sustainability Technology Platform Leader for Europe said;

“..an overall thanks for the two and a bit days - the experience surpassed my high expectations. You have a first class set up & team at the Alpenrose, up there with the best I've seen. The food, accommodation, activities and location were nothing short of superb, and perfect for what we wanted to achieve.

… it generated much interest which will see Unilever return to the Alpen Rose with a number of different teams. I myself would hope to bring the STP team back again, maybe next year.

There's a lot we can learn from the seamless teamwork from the My Peak Potential team.
…The leadership scenarios you have experienced could teach us some very important lessons.”

Stephen Fletcher, Engineering and technology Director for Unilever Europe also wrote;

“An incredible experience, in a fantastic environment, with a truly inspirational team. I will certainly come back with my team!”

More from the Himalayan Team

Tengboche (3860m) 18th October

After spending their acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar today the team hiked to Tengboche at 3860m. Dave Bunting reported in that all team members are well and in great spirits.

Tengboche is the site of an important Buddhist monastery, home to around 60 monks, and is also famous because of its spectacular and unique location offering the first clear views of Mt. Everest at 8848m. From here the team will also look out on some of the other world's highest mountains including Ama Dablam [6,812m], Nuptse [7,855m] and Lhotse [8,516m]. The ice walls of these mountains dominate the landscape where avalanches can frequently be heard rumbling high up the glaciers.

Tomorrow the team will be moving up to Pheriche at 4200m where they'll spend another day acclimatizing and by doing a short local hike. In Pheriche they also plan to visit the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) who have established a clinic there. The clinic is staffed by volunteer Doctors from all countries who meet with climbing and trekking expeditions to treat and offer advice on altitude and other mountaineering health issues.


Waiting to take off for Lukla


Stratis make friends with the locals


Namche Camp


Lukla Airport

Joe above Namche

Ian and Dom take a shower

Helen

Greg, Rachael, Chris, Alison and Kate

First view of the Himalayan Mountains

Dave braves the Rope Bridges

Bev explores the village

View from the plane to Lukla

More pictures from Kathmandu and Him 09 Exped team

The Team at Heathrow Airport

The Exepedition team arrive at Kathmandu Airport

Dave Green , arriving at the Summit Hotel, Kathmandu

The arrival ceremony at the Summit hotel, Kathmandu

The ceremony gets underway

Children playing at the SHGCP

My Peak Potential at SHGCP

Children and mothers at SHGCP

Greg and Anna met the children who wil benefit from their fundrasing

The children at SHGCP

The building begins

Kate Pitchforthdoing as the locals do

For Andrew!

Working hard

The teams first night out in Kathmandu

A well derserve beer for the boys!

Richie - Demolition man!

Dave meets Bimal

Victoria, Kate, Chris and Dave present Bimal with fundraising cheque

The boys get stuck in

A night out in Tamil, Kathmandu

Cargnegie Great Outdoors at SHGCP

Kate presentents SHGCP with the donated toys

Anna hard at work, nice head gear Anna!

Himalayan Expedition 09 arrive in Kathmandu

The Himalayan Expedition 09 team has arrived tired but enthusiastic in Kathmandu, Nepal over the weekend. A team of Leeds Metropolitan University staff and students are embarking on a three week expedition which is being led by the University’s Outdoor partners My Peak Potential Ltd. Expedition leader and Director of training for My Peak Potential, Dave Bunting MBE, worked closely with Leeds Met on a Military expedition to Everest’s West Ridge which he led in 2006. He and his deputy Richie Painting, arrived in Kathmandu on Weds last week as the advance party. One of the most important roles has been visiting the Charity which the Expedition team is helping; the Self Help Group for Cerebral Palsy. Here they met Bimal who is heading up the project they are helping with. They viewed the area that the team will be helping to clear and chatted about the project ahead.

Once the team arrives in Kathmandu they will settle into their hotel and then start work the following morning at the Self Help Group Centre. Here they will present the Group with a cheque raised by the team through a variety of fundraising projects over the last year. When given the news about the fundraising the team had done, Bimal said “I can't believe it !!! you made me cry .... I see blank but thankful eyes of our special children.. we will use best of this contribution.”

They will also be helping the Group with various building projects at the centre and meeting some of the children and families that use this valuable resource.
It is then onto the next stage, a trek to Everest Base Camp. Where they will experience the rarified air of this high altitude region and stunning scenery where they will be able to see some of the world’s largest mountains and meet the wonderful people that live in this harsh but beautiful place!
Please keep posted for the next installment!

The Original and the best Christmas Markets

Every year in the sleepy mountain village of Bad Hindelang in the Bavarian Allgau, just a short drive from our Alpine Lodge the Carnegie Alpenrose, they hold the most beautiful Christmas Market.

With over 200,000 Christmas lights strung through the narrow streets of the town the event is probably the most Christmassy thing you have ever seen!

The event is opened with a magical Fairytale Christmas parade of Angels, Elves, Snow Queens, and many more - You will be transported into an enchanting, snowy winter wonderland.
Wander the maze of streets lined with delicious food stalls with a warming mug of Glühwein (mulled wine). The aromas of the Christmassy spices from the numerous stalls are hard to resist.

From beautiful handmade decorations to the perfect gift for your loved ones there are stalls throughout the market that will spark your imagination and get you in the mood for the festive season ahead.

There is something for everyone here; from Nativity plays and various workshops for the children to romantic walks and fireside drinks with your loved one.

The Carnegie Alpenrose Lodge is offering a three night break on the 27th Nov – 30th Dec and the 4th Dec to the 7th Dec. Prices start at €150.00per person or *€450 for a family. This includes half board accommodation a continental breakfast buffet, packed lunch, and a four course evening meal. You will also receive complimentary sledge hire and a glass of Glühwein (mulled wine) with traditional German Christmas biscuits on arrival.

Cheap flights from London Stansted to either Friedrichshafen or Memmingen are available with Ryan Air. Cheap car hire through Ryan Air is available at both airports.

Please contact us at info@my-peakpotential or on +49 8321 7884854 for availability and further information

*Based on 2 Adults and 2 Children (under 14) sharing.

Himalayan Training in the Yorkshire Dales

The morning of 12/9/09 was an early one for the Carnegie Himalayan Expedition team. The group gathered in the Yorkshire Dales village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale to attempt the 24 mile mixed terrain route best known as the Yorkshire 3 Peaks.

The trek created an opportunity to raise public awareness regarding the expedition, and in addition provided the team a chance to demonstrate the positive effects of the various physical conditioning programmes in which they have been involved.

With the weather being fully supportive from the outset, many of us were denied the opportunity to field test our various pieces of newly purchased equipment. Although remaining slightly disappointed that the conditions fell short of the desired -20 degree coat-testing-environment, the vast majority of the trekkers on the route were in fabulous spirits, and helped to create a fantastic start to the day.


Pen-y-Ghent was the first obstacle the team hit, but it failed to faze the expedition members and offered the first magnificent views of the day. A long walk followed from the summit, across stone walls, cattle grids and bogs, the latter of which firmly christened any new boots in the party.

The climb towards Wernside was an extended one, but relatively gentle compared to the previous peak. The visibility on the day provided brilliant views throughout, but still didn’t fully prepare us for the sight of the Dales from the top of our second peak. With summit photo number 2 completed, we set out for the final climb up Ingleborough. Although the author’s legs had already been fully tested, the prodigious achievement of completing the 3 Peaks challenge, and the commendable determination of the team helped to keep everyone going forwards, with smiles on their faces

The team aptly, if crudely nicknamed the steps which composed the final climb of the day, but a cracking leg burner and some soggy base layers later, the whole team had made it to their third Yorkshire Peak of the day. The final walk back was eventful, but neither the grints nor the local cows which littered the path could prevent every team member returning unscathed (relatively).

A brilliant day. Congratulations to the team for the work they put in to meet the physical demands the day required. Another significant step closer to reaching our Himalayan goal.