In September 2010, a team of 20 from PKAVS and the wider Perthshire community will be undertaking the ultimate fundraising challenge - climbing Europe's most active and awesome volcano, Mount Etna, in Sicily.

Over five days, the PKAVS Team will trek 55km to the summit of the 3,350m high volcano, aiming to raise over £20,000 for PKAVS

PerthshireOnline will be featuring a diary of their progress, from the events leading up to the expedition, and dispatches from Etna itself! 

Hear Helen MacKinnon of PKAVS interviewed on Perth FM

Find out how to pledge

Exclusive interview with Helen MacKinnon

PerthshireOnline caught up with Helen at the end of this week and we filmed an exclusive interview with her. Come see..

 

Watch PerthshireOnline's interview with Helen MacKinnon, Thursday 23rd September 2010

 

Photo Gallery

The PKAVS team have provided some of their favourite photos from the Challenge - they're great!... and tune in later this week when we will have an exclusive interview with Helen MacKinnon... 

 

Our first glimpse of the Volcano from the ground, as stood beside the lava rock flow from 2002 eruption

 

 

First trek day – taking on the hard rock lava fields

 

 

View of Etna with her many craters

 

 

Debbie at the entrance to the Grotto Dei Lamponi cave (aka a giant Lava tunnel) 

 

Our guides Andrea and Turi join Karen and “Ben” (our team mascot) for a photo

 

Saturday trek

Helen gets up close and personal with the fiesty crater !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etna Team arrives at the South East crater, ready to climb to the highest point of their journey

 

The massive volcanic basin with its steep volcanic ash slopes surrounding

 

 The team sets off to take on the ash slopes

 

 So much steeper than it looks!

 

 The view from the breakfast terrace as we say goodbye to

 

Sunday 19th September - Scotland bound!

Last night we arrived at Taormina for a celebratory Sicilian meal with our guides. We were entertained by a local Sicilian band and laughed our socks off as Andrea and Turi tried on our Etna kilts. The evening ended with a conga and cancan round the streets of Taormina. The Sicilian authorities may not let us back into the country... 

Our PKAVS mascot Ben (aka Karen's teddy, aptly named after the Etna Team's first corbett Ben Vrackie) enjoyed a rest last night following his hard trekking week. 

 

 

Today started with breakfast on a roof terrace with Etna as a backdrop, and ended with a safe arrival back in Scotland. Emotional farewell to our guides Andrea and Turi who had become very special friends to all of us. Turi's interpretation of what 'flat' is, will always stay with us, as will Andrea's jokes and singing. ("luuuuve"... (private joke for the team)) 

The team's high spirits continued all the way home, demonstrated by yet another rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody on the aeroplane and indeed more singing in the airport. It may not have been in tune, but we made sure that us Scots left our mark on Sicily! 

 

Arrived home this evening to the arms of our families, and still as buzzing as ever from the experience. Can't wait to share all the stories. Videos and lots of photos to follow now we have proper access to internet! 

One final word to everyone who's reading this... Thank you for sharing this incredible experience with us and for all your support. 

Over and out from an exhilarated and slightly shattered Helen 

 

 

 

Saturday 18th September - Summit Day

Helen's blog - received Saturday afternoon.... It's GREAT News...!

News this morning from the Volcanic Commission was that the summit of the east crater we had hoped to climb (as per our itinerary) is still closed. This is the first time since 2008 it has been closed. The volcano is very active and they're still trying to work out what she's going to do...  

But, never fear! Our guides and volcanologist Giuseppe organised an alternative route that took us as close to the summit of the most active South Easy crater as possible - further than any other trekkers were getting to go. 

We left at 9am and trekked towards the crater, feeling the effects of the thin air - it felt sharp to breathe in.

The crater stood tall in the distance, firing gases right up into the air. We saw the lava tunnels and fractures in the ground where burning hot steam was firing out. Turi called it 'the oven' 

We reached the high point of 2950m, with a bright yellow slope to one side. We were so close we could smell the sulphur. Then all of a sudden, it erupted ash right in front of us!! Part of the inner wall had collapsed. It was awesome in every sense... To be so close to this act of nature was truly special.

There were lots of tears and elation as we realised what we'd achieved and what we were seeing just metres away from us. We celebrated, Stewart flew the Scottish flag, and we took hundreds of photos until finally we were hauled off the volcano to ensure we kept to schedule. We could have stayed there all day.  I hope that memory stays in my mind forever... 

The route back down was a hoot!!  We had kilometres of steep ash slopes to get through and Giuseppe taught us the only way to do it... you run like you're ski-ing, as fast as you possibly can, and hope for the best! It was the most hilarious thing we've ever done and we all ended up in a heap on the ground! Again, Ryan has some great film footage! 

On the route home we trekked above a vast volcanic basin, seeing craters spattered across the ground and lava fields that stretched as far as the eye could see. Words can't do it justice. 

At 4pm, we arrived back at base, having sung all the way home and having murdered an A to Z of artists. I think we scared the other trekking parties. Exhausted and covered head-to-toe in ash, we celebrated with a well-earned beer before being transferred to Taormina by bus. 

It was the experience of a lifetime for all of us and we're so grateful to everyone whose support got us through this challenge. Thank you all!!!

Here's what the gang had to say at the end... 

Stewart - Perseverance and determination results in the ultimate reward, conquering Mount Etna 

Lyn - When you need that extra little oomph, SING! 

Karen - PKAVS team was brilliant and we loved every second 

Hannah - There just aren't any words to describe it ... 

Ryan - Toughest gig I ever shot! 

Anne - Truly amazing 

Chad - It's been a fantastic 3 days, especially been chased down the lava flows 

Sam - Unforgettable 

Helen - One charity team, one volcano, 55km, 3days.... WE DID IT!! 

Debbie - Running down lava was the most fabulous experience of my life 

Mo - Exhilarating and inspirational 

Lorri - Their faces said it all, I'm so proud of them 

Our guide Andria - Leading Scottish people walking has been like writing the best rock song of my life- rock'n roll hiking! 

Our guide Turi - In these 3 days I spent one of the best moments of my life, it was like being back again in the romantic age of my youth. 

PS. I'm writing this on the bus to Taormina and our guides have just pointed out a new gas stream coming out the side of the volcano. Apparently this should NOT be happening and they're saying it could erupt tonight or tomorrow!! Talk about lucky timing... watch this space and I'll keep you posted.  (But don't worry, Etna Team all well, safe and away from volcano now!) 

Friday 17th September

Friday Evening - Late Update

Helen's blog update...

Last night at the mountain hut, we had an amazing dinner of meat, cheese and veg cooked by our fabulous guides, followed by hours of singing (in about 12 different keys all at once!) round the campfire. Andrea and Torre our guides got to see the crazy PKAVS team for what we are!

Bohemian Rhapsody was a classic, and to the embarrassment of the team, cameraman Ryan caught every second on film. Wearing every layer of clothing we owned, some of the Team then slept outside under the stars. Freeeeezing but what a view! Etna behind us, the unpolluted night sky above us... and 4 snoring trekkers round about us! For Debbie and I, it was our first time ever sleeping outdoors. And what a place to do it... 

Up early for an 8am start. Today we trekked approx 15km past the south east crater. As we looked up we could see what Torre called the 'new crater' - more recently formed and with a yellow sulphurous colour. Then, about an hour into the trek, we saw a live ash eruption!! The white gas from the crater turned smokey grey, as the volcano erupted inside. A bit later, the smoke turned a dirty red colour- Torre tells us this is a part if the crater collapsing inside and we're seeing the red colour of the iron. It's amazing to see this happen with your own eyes and be kept informed by the experts. Such a unique experience! 

We crossed more lava fields and saw the daggola (may be spelt wrong!) - a green space that for some miraculous reason, avoided the molten lava flows. 

At times we kept reminding ourselves how crazy it seemed that we'd just witnessed an ash eruption and here we were, walking closer and closer to this massive force of nature ... 

The team were tired with sore feet and stiff muscles today, but what troopers they all are. Lyn and Hannah sang their entire repertoire of 80s hits as we marched through the national park area and kept us all laughing. 

After what felt like the 'climb of death' uphill for the last hour, we trekked to the riffugio sapienza at nearly 2000m, where we finally collapsed exhausted and celebrated with a well-earned beer! The air is noticeably thinner and a few of the team felt short of breath. 

We were reunited with Lorri and shared all our stories over dinner. Lorri was giving out shoulder and head massages- the team formed an orderly queue! 

Tomorrow is summit day and we'll find out what the situation is regarding the summit restrictions.

Whatever happens, this is proving to be the experience of a lifetime ... 

Helen over and out from a place very near the summit of Mount Etna. 

 

 

Friday Evening

Message has been received from PKAVS team and all is well - they are well fed and all the team are fine.

Hoping to get a blog message from Helen soon....

Friday Morning

We're awaiting an update from the team, however, given the status of Etna as advised in yesterday's team update, a communications signal may be a challenge in itself.  The formal itinerary for today is as follows:

Today you will continue your trek around the Pista Altomontana towards the Southern side of Mt Etna with a more wooded path cloaked with broom and chestnut, oak and beech trees.  Your route today will end at a hotel where you will have dinner and a well earned hot shower!

Here's hoping that the team get that well earned rest and relaxation this evening.

Continue to follow the diary as we will post any news, pictures etc as soon as we can on receipt from the PKAVS team.

Local personal trainer Steve Bonthrone who trained the team for the Etna Challenge advised: "The team have worked really hard in their preparations for this. I was lucky enough to join them in climbing Ben Nevis as part of their training and what struck me was their positive attitude towards the whole challenge and having spoken to them since, they have all still held the positive belief that they will get to the top of Etna

For everything that they are going through just now, it is important to keep focussed, keep up the spirits of the team and work with the conditions they are given. Ben Nevis was tough but their encouragement to each other made it all look easy so they need to replicate that now."

 

 

 

Thursday 16th September - News!

Helen's blog...

Early start today at 7am...20hr trek from north to south side of Etna. Walking with very full backpacks for couple of days trekking... 6hrs in and we're feeling the pain! So heavy I almost keeled over every time I put it back on! Walking through kilometres of fields of lava rock today- the most incredible sight I've ever seen. We've seen lava from two major eruptions in 1981 and 2002 as well as large craters and lava tunnels (large tubular caves) that stretch hundreds of metres into the earth. The roof and walls of the caves were covered in sharp stalagtites like razor blades. I found out the hard way as I slipped coming out the cave and ended up with 3 painful puncture wounds in my hand. I look like I've been stabbed by a fork! 

We then took 5mins break in the sun and took individual photos of each team member on the newly-named 'posing rock'. 12 team members ... perfect for a PKAVS calendar 2011! 

After 6hrs of trekking, we FINALLY stopped for lunch - the team was famished!! 'Mangiare' (Italian for 'to eat') had been the cry of Hannah and Lyn for about the past 5km! The guides knew better than to resist our hunger cries. Another 3hrs trekking afterwards until we reached the mountain hut. 

Unfortunately Lorri couldn't walk with the team this morning - her feet problems are too bad, especially with the hard lava underfoot, so we've had to leave her at base until tomorrow. The locals are taking good care of her and she'll still be able to visit other volcanic craters at a lower and more manageable altitude. 

We had amazing views of the summit today - gas steaming out the top! We're told that's a good sign. When the gas stops...we should worry! 

Andrea and Turi, our guides, have the grill and dinner on their backs. Cheese, meat and aubergine is on the menu. Sleeping out under the stars tonight...looking forward to some rest for our already weary bodies!

Mid-day Update 

The PKAVS Office have had contact from the team - it's tuning into a much greater challenge for the Perthshire PKAVS team than could ever have been imagined!

There’s fire coming out of the top of the volcano, and at the moment there’s a 300m no-go zone around the top and they’ve been told that they’re “walking on a bomb and it could go at anytime!

The team have left their belongings behind at the hotel and only packed the essentials as it’s now two days of trekking and sleeping under the stars!!! Their trek is a circular path starting at the northern side of the volcano, reaching a maximum altitude of 1880m and through a route surrounded by forests and lava flow.  

However, it’s unlikely that they’ll appreciate the beauty of the landscape,  there are flies everywhere and the imposing size of the volcano is intimidating.

The team is exhausted, temperatures are rising, both meteorologically and emotionally, the noise emanating from the craters is deafening and all the time, niggling at the backs of their minds, will Etna erupt???  

Ryan Dewar from Baudelaire Productions (team cameraman) caught the attached picture of Etna...

Local photographer Fraser Band who recently completed the Ride to Etna charity challenge commented "When we arrived at Etna in the middle of August the first thing that hit us was the dramatic change in the landscape.  It's more like a moonscape and treacherous underfoot. The walking is         hard going, with the surface either a fine dusty powder, loose small rocks or it's large boulders to contend with. 

We also noticed at the height we went to, 2900 metres, that the air is thinner and we had to work harder to get a full breath!"

Morning Update

Unfortunately, no news has been received from the PKAVS Etna team. See below yesterday afternoon's blog update re the challenging situation for them...

However, if all is going to plan, here is the itinerary for today:

Thursday: Pista Altomontana, Northern Side – 17km trek

This morning you sort out your kit and only take with you 50-60 litres for the next 2 days of trekking (sleeping bag, mats, food).  You are going to trek the Pista Altomontana, a circular path that goes around the Southern, Western and Northern side of Mt Etna.  Your trek begins from the Northern side of the volcano and will arrive 2 days later on the Southern side.  

The Pista Altomontana is a long forestry track with no steep parts and a mazimum altitude of 1880m. The route is surrounded by forests and lava flows, with a beautiful contrast between the vegetation and the lava that goes from the grey to the very black.  

Tonight you will hike to a mountain hut where you will spend the night – Mt Scavo Hut or Mt Maletto Hut. Your dinner will be had in the hut and will be made by your guide with all local products.  You will stay overnight in sleeping bags inside the hut, or outside if you wish to watch the stars from your bed!

Afternoon Update from Helen and the Team... 

Team had first sighting of Etna from the plane! Summit was obscured by clouds and what we think must be the ash plume, but outline of one dark and very ominous-looking silhouette stretched high and wide across the horizon. 

Arrived in Catania and were met by our Italian guide Andreas who is now answering a million and one questions about Etna! 

Ok - good news from Andreas first... the cloud is set to clear from tomorrow to give good views. 

Worrying news next - Etna is currently very, very unstable... So much so that the volcanologists are getting worried about impending eruptions. Bad news for the team is that we may not be allowed to go up to the summit ... 

Andreas tells us: As a result of an earthquake approx 100km from Catania 3weeks ago, Etna had a significant ash eruption. The quake and eruption have left the volcano unstable with increased activity. Access to the summit area is currently being denied to all. This may change on a daily basis and Andreas is waiting to see if they'll give special authorisation to PKAVS ... 

Team is feeling a bit stunned by the news. We knew it was active but the reality of just HOW active hadn't really hit home... until now... 

Currently being transferred to a mountain hut on the north side of Etna. We wont see the full scale and summit of Etna until we trek to the south side tomorrow. 

Apparently North Etna is big on red wine due to volcanic soil ... Andreas has promised a tasting session.

Oddly, the team have suddenly perked up!!!! 

Another plus... We were reunited with our kitbags! Phew.........! 

Just one drama after another so far... What's next?! 

The Etna team is on the plane to Sicily - delayed for an hour due to ATC strike in France.  The Air Steward has advised that there seems to be some sort of ash eruption as we speak...!

A giant ash cloud is in the air.  Waiting on update from the pilot.... The excitement and the adventure begins....

Tuesday 14th September - E-Day is here!

Challenges at Gatwick Airport - Tuesday Evening

Helen's blog...

Arrived at Gatwick and four of our checked-in bags have gone missing!! Ryan, Helen, Karen and Stewart are without our kit bags.... Not a great start!

We THINK they're en route to Sicily but we won't know until tomorrow. Thankfully Sam has about 20kg worth of toiletries, so we should get by. May have major problem tomorrow however if the bags don't arrive...no sleeping bags, clothes, water packs... Fingers crossed!! 

The Leaving Party - Tuesday Afternoon

 Helen's Blog...

 

 

After 9 months of training & fundraising, E-Day is finally here!

Strange buzz around the office this morning - mix of nerves and excitement, (verging on hilarity at times!) Constantly checking we'd packed everything... duct tape, toilet roll, hydration packs... still not sure what half of this stuff is for! 

Fantastic 'going away' party this afternoon. Pizza, godfather theme music... all great cliches to prepare us for Sicily! Thanks to all who came along - our friends & family, local press reporters & photographers, colleagues and clients at PKAVS; it's YOUR support that will get us through this challenge! 

On minibus now to Edinburgh airport. Quick detour as Ryan our cameraman forgot his flight ticket!!

We're all a bit hyper. Hannah's travel-sick and we haven't even reached the Forth Road Bridge. Poor Lyn's got tonsilitis but she's armed with antibiotics and is fighting through it. Chad's looking dashing in his specially-made Mount Etna tartan kilt and will no doubt attract attention for the charity as we travel. Hmm... maybe I should've taken a collection bucket with us... just incase... 

Flight is 7pm to Gatwick, followed by a few hours kip at airport hotel (last night in comfy bed for a few days!) and then on bus back to airport at 5am. Bets are on to see who's grumpiest PKAVS staff member  at 5am! (Cough...Stewart McFarlane) 

 

OVER AND OUT FOR DAY 1.

NEXT STOP... CATANIA IN SICILY ! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week Commencing Monday 13th September

Before you can leave a comment you must first login. If you do not have a login, then please register.