Expeditions
Namibia (and South Africa)
November 2011
Jake and Saskia travelled out for a 2 week adventure to Namibia (with a few days in Cape Town in SA as well). We drove 6700km, much of it off-road in a Ford Fiesta (when nearly every other car we saw was a large 4x4). As well as the sightseeing and safari, I also managed to sqeeze in a quick visit to Brandberg (2,606m). 22 miles, 12 hours, in up to 40 degree heat was a little testing (with this trip, and Jordan earlier in the year these 'hot mountains' is certainly a change from the usual cold climbing that I'm used to!). We also nipped up Table Mountain (1,087m) whilst we were in the Cape. It might only be a few hour round trip, but it was a really enjoyable climb, and great views (if the 'table cloth' of crowd isn't engulfing the plateau).
Jordan
April 2011
Jake and Saskia headed out to Jordan for a cultural adventure, which as well as including the usual Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum tourist hotspots, also included a trip out to rarely visited Jebal Umm al Dami (1,854m) the highest mountain in Jordan. Located just over the border from Saudi Arabia, a short but hot day's climbing resulted in beautiful views out over the desert and Saudi Arabia. Jordan is a wonderful and welcoming country, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for more than just the standard holiday destination.
Mt Kenya
November 2010
In November 2010 Jake headed back to Africa to climb the second highest mountain in the the continent, Mt Kenya. A whistle-stop tour took him over Pt Lenana (4,985m), Nelion (5,188m)and Batian (5,199m). The final summit day was a 17 hour monster with exciting rock climbing in pretty shoddy conditions (usual summit day is closer to 8-10 hours!).
K2
June/July/August 2009
Jake was part of an international team of climbers attempting to climb the SSE Spur (The Cezen) during the summer of 2009. After nearly 2 months he, and 6 remaining climbers made a last ditch attempt on the summit but were hampered by deep snow towards the top of the mountain. After Jake's oxygen system failed at 7300m, he carried on climbing to 7650m with a 25kg pack before deciding to turn back. 3 members of the team made it to 8000m, but were unable to carry on to the summit due to the snow conditions.
March 2009
Jake led a team of 34 out to the Sahara in western Morocco on an expedition to build a bridge in a remote Berber Community. As well as the building project, they also undertook a 2 day camel trek into Erg Chebbi, one of the largest sand dune systems in Northwest Africa.
December 2008
Jake and Saskia traveled to Morocco to do a winter ascent of Jebel Toubkal (4165m), the highest mountain in North Africa. It was Saskia's first ever 'proper' mountain!
July - August 2008
Jake was part of a team who spent time climbing in an unexplored valley in the Tien Shan Mountain Range in Kyrgyzstan. They also made an attempt on Khan Tengri (7010m) the highest mountain in Kazakhstan, but after climbing a 6300m mountain to reach the highcamp in a col, they spent 5 days trapped in a storm before being forced to abandon their attempt.
June 2008
Jake climbed to the highest point in every one of England's 82 counties in a breathtaking 7 days 4 hours and 20 minutes. Several members of the American Freestyle team (Saskia, Wally and Beany) aided him by driving between the points. Notable ascents include Hull (11m above sea level!) and Black Chew (Greater Manchester) which had horizontal rain and zero visibility!
November - December 2007
Jake travelled to South America to climb in Venezuela and Ecuador, and amongst other peaks climbed Pico Bolivar and Chimborazo (the highest mountain from the centre of the earth).
September 2007
Jake paddled 65 miles down the River Thames in a bathtub to raise money for the Redcross Flood Relief Fund. This is still an open-ended expedition, and oneday, he hopes to return to complete the journey. n.b. Bathtubs are not the most hydrodynamically designed modes of transport - he averaged about 1.5-2 mph!
July - August 2006 Aged 22
Jake led a team of 6 British adventurers around the USA in a bid to break the world record for climbing the highest mountain in every state in the lower 48. The previous record had been set only the year before at a seemingly unbreakable 29 days and 20 hours. On the 2nd August Jake reached the summit of Mt Katahdin in Maine, his 48th highpoint. 48 States, over 100,000ft of climbing, 350 miles of trekking and 15,000 miles of driving in 23 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes.
April-June 2005 aged 21
On the 4th June 2005, Jake stood on the summit of Mt Everest, becoming the Youngest Briton to climb Everest and the Youngest Man in the world to climb the 7 summits. He reached the summit at 6.30am Nepalese time along with his expedition leader Di Gilbert and 2 Sherpas. Battling against the worst weather the mountain has experienced in 45 years, the team summited on day 64 of the expedition.
December 2004 aged 20
On A/Ps first ever expedition to Vinson, the highest mountain in the Antarctic, Jake became the youngest person in the world to climb the mountain aged only 20. Despite temperatures as low as -70ºC, and having to have a team mate evacuated after he fell down a crevasse, Jake, Martin Doyle and Lee Farmer made it to the summit.
September 2004 aged 20
Australia’s highest mountain, located in the Great Snowy Mountains in New South Wales is regarded as by far the easiest of the 7 summits. However, when Jake decided to attempt a solo winter ascent of the mountain, the unusually severe weather conditions forced him to have to make two attempts and was nearly the end of him. Expecting a walk in the park, and experiencing ‘the worst conditions he’d ever encountered in the mountains’ made the trip, ironically, one of the more memorable of his adventures.
June 2003 aged 19
With a team of Dutch climbers, Jake managed to climb North America’s highest peak in half the time of a usual ascent. After only 11 days, they reached the summit, and Jake still had the energy to do a headstand on the highest point in the Alaska Range.
November-December 2002 aged 18
Jake returned to South America’s highest mountain in Argentina for a solo unsupported ascent. After 10 hard days of battling through storms and unusually cold weather, he reached the summit, and became the youngest person in the world to solo the Aconcagua (the highest mountain outside Asia).
July 2002 aged 18
With his father Hugh, Jake travelled to the Caucasus on the Russian/Georgian border to climb Europe’s highest mountain. All of the international team (which included British, American, Australian and German climbers) summited.
December 2000 aged 16
With a team made up almost entirely of 16 year olds, Jake was struck down by severe altitude sickness at the final camp at over 6000m. With the help of his team, he descended back to Basecamp, and rapidly recovered. Unfortunately, none of the expedition summited, but the trip proved invaluable as an experience of teamwork in the mountains.
December 1999 aged 15
Footloose Expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro 5,896m/19,340ft. The first of his continental high points, Jake travelled to Tanzania with Hugh, his father, to climb Africa’s highest mountain. Jake (then aged 15) and Hugh arrived at the summit to watch the dawn of the new Millennium; the 1st January 2000.
November 2011
Jake and Saskia travelled out for a 2 week adventure to Namibia (with a few days in Cape Town in SA as well). We drove 6700km, much of it off-road in a Ford Fiesta (when nearly every other car we saw was a large 4x4). As well as the sightseeing and safari, I also managed to sqeeze in a quick visit to Brandberg (2,606m). 22 miles, 12 hours, in up to 40 degree heat was a little testing (with this trip, and Jordan earlier in the year these 'hot mountains' is certainly a change from the usual cold climbing that I'm used to!). We also nipped up Table Mountain (1,087m) whilst we were in the Cape. It might only be a few hour round trip, but it was a really enjoyable climb, and great views (if the 'table cloth' of crowd isn't engulfing the plateau).
Jordan
April 2011
Jake and Saskia headed out to Jordan for a cultural adventure, which as well as including the usual Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum tourist hotspots, also included a trip out to rarely visited Jebal Umm al Dami (1,854m) the highest mountain in Jordan. Located just over the border from Saudi Arabia, a short but hot day's climbing resulted in beautiful views out over the desert and Saudi Arabia. Jordan is a wonderful and welcoming country, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for more than just the standard holiday destination.
Mt Kenya
November 2010
In November 2010 Jake headed back to Africa to climb the second highest mountain in the the continent, Mt Kenya. A whistle-stop tour took him over Pt Lenana (4,985m), Nelion (5,188m)and Batian (5,199m). The final summit day was a 17 hour monster with exciting rock climbing in pretty shoddy conditions (usual summit day is closer to 8-10 hours!).
K2
June/July/August 2009
Jake was part of an international team of climbers attempting to climb the SSE Spur (The Cezen) during the summer of 2009. After nearly 2 months he, and 6 remaining climbers made a last ditch attempt on the summit but were hampered by deep snow towards the top of the mountain. After Jake's oxygen system failed at 7300m, he carried on climbing to 7650m with a 25kg pack before deciding to turn back. 3 members of the team made it to 8000m, but were unable to carry on to the summit due to the snow conditions.
Morocco
March 2009
Jake led a team of 34 out to the Sahara in western Morocco on an expedition to build a bridge in a remote Berber Community. As well as the building project, they also undertook a 2 day camel trek into Erg Chebbi, one of the largest sand dune systems in Northwest Africa.
Morocco
December 2008
Jake and Saskia traveled to Morocco to do a winter ascent of Jebel Toubkal (4165m), the highest mountain in North Africa. It was Saskia's first ever 'proper' mountain!
Adventure Peaks Kyrgyzstan Expedition
July - August 2008
Jake was part of a team who spent time climbing in an unexplored valley in the Tien Shan Mountain Range in Kyrgyzstan. They also made an attempt on Khan Tengri (7010m) the highest mountain in Kazakhstan, but after climbing a 6300m mountain to reach the highcamp in a col, they spent 5 days trapped in a storm before being forced to abandon their attempt.
England County Highpoints
June 2008
Jake climbed to the highest point in every one of England's 82 counties in a breathtaking 7 days 4 hours and 20 minutes. Several members of the American Freestyle team (Saskia, Wally and Beany) aided him by driving between the points. Notable ascents include Hull (11m above sea level!) and Black Chew (Greater Manchester) which had horizontal rain and zero visibility!
Venezuela and Ecuador
November - December 2007
Jake travelled to South America to climb in Venezuela and Ecuador, and amongst other peaks climbed Pico Bolivar and Chimborazo (the highest mountain from the centre of the earth).
Thames bathtub adventure
September 2007
Jake paddled 65 miles down the River Thames in a bathtub to raise money for the Redcross Flood Relief Fund. This is still an open-ended expedition, and oneday, he hopes to return to complete the journey. n.b. Bathtubs are not the most hydrodynamically designed modes of transport - he averaged about 1.5-2 mph!
Freestyle Challenge 48 sponsored by Standard Life Bank
July - August 2006 Aged 22
Jake led a team of 6 British adventurers around the USA in a bid to break the world record for climbing the highest mountain in every state in the lower 48. The previous record had been set only the year before at a seemingly unbreakable 29 days and 20 hours. On the 2nd August Jake reached the summit of Mt Katahdin in Maine, his 48th highpoint. 48 States, over 100,000ft of climbing, 350 miles of trekking and 15,000 miles of driving in 23 days, 19 hours and 31 minutes.
Adventure Peaks Everest North Ridge Expedition 8,850m/29,035ft
April-June 2005 aged 21
On the 4th June 2005, Jake stood on the summit of Mt Everest, becoming the Youngest Briton to climb Everest and the Youngest Man in the world to climb the 7 summits. He reached the summit at 6.30am Nepalese time along with his expedition leader Di Gilbert and 2 Sherpas. Battling against the worst weather the mountain has experienced in 45 years, the team summited on day 64 of the expedition.
Adventure Peaks Vinson Massif Expedition 4,897m/16,067ft
December 2004 aged 20
On A/Ps first ever expedition to Vinson, the highest mountain in the Antarctic, Jake became the youngest person in the world to climb the mountain aged only 20. Despite temperatures as low as -70ºC, and having to have a team mate evacuated after he fell down a crevasse, Jake, Martin Doyle and Lee Farmer made it to the summit.
Mt Kosciusko 7,316 ft
September 2004 aged 20
Australia’s highest mountain, located in the Great Snowy Mountains in New South Wales is regarded as by far the easiest of the 7 summits. However, when Jake decided to attempt a solo winter ascent of the mountain, the unusually severe weather conditions forced him to have to make two attempts and was nearly the end of him. Expecting a walk in the park, and experiencing ‘the worst conditions he’d ever encountered in the mountains’ made the trip, ironically, one of the more memorable of his adventures.
7summits.com Expedition to Mt McKinley/Denali 6,194m/20,230ft
June 2003 aged 19
With a team of Dutch climbers, Jake managed to climb North America’s highest peak in half the time of a usual ascent. After only 11 days, they reached the summit, and Jake still had the energy to do a headstand on the highest point in the Alaska Range.
Cerro Aconcagua 6,962m/22,835ft
November-December 2002 aged 18
Jake returned to South America’s highest mountain in Argentina for a solo unsupported ascent. After 10 hard days of battling through storms and unusually cold weather, he reached the summit, and became the youngest person in the world to solo the Aconcagua (the highest mountain outside Asia).
7summits.com Expedition to Mt Elbrus 5,642m/18,481ft
July 2002 aged 18
With his father Hugh, Jake travelled to the Caucasus on the Russian/Georgian border to climb Europe’s highest mountain. All of the international team (which included British, American, Australian and German climbers) summited.
Marlborough College Expedition to Cerro Aconcagua
December 2000 aged 16
With a team made up almost entirely of 16 year olds, Jake was struck down by severe altitude sickness at the final camp at over 6000m. With the help of his team, he descended back to Basecamp, and rapidly recovered. Unfortunately, none of the expedition summited, but the trip proved invaluable as an experience of teamwork in the mountains.
Footloose Expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro 5,896m/19,340ft
December 1999 aged 15
Footloose Expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro 5,896m/19,340ft. The first of his continental high points, Jake travelled to Tanzania with Hugh, his father, to climb Africa’s highest mountain. Jake (then aged 15) and Hugh arrived at the summit to watch the dawn of the new Millennium; the 1st January 2000.
