Both teams began their hiking portions of the October adventures this last week. Team One traveled from Scotland to the south of France and undertook day climbs into the French Alps. Caesar himself witnessed these mountains when he and his Roman army tackled Gaul 2000 years ago. The beauty is overwhelming. The experience is beyond exciting.

Team Two began with a short flight to the landing strip in Lukla, Nepal. They saw great views of the Himalayas. The first day was an easy walk – but it quickly became more strenuous taking the team to the celebrated village of Namche Bazaar at over 11,000 feet. The team visited the Sherpa museum and local marketplace then continued their climb to the Thame monastery. Views from here included the great Himalayan peaks of Kwangde, Tawachee, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. Everest base camp was the destination of our Trekking team and they found many kindred spirits waiting for a weather break to tackle the summit or to return to Gorak Shep and then Kathmandu.

FGA Team One arrived successfully in Inverness, Scottish Highlands, and immediately began their foray into Ness exploration ships, single malt distilleries, and haunted castles. Given little time on leg one, but motivated by a thirst for exploration, the team met a host of unique people and will be bringing a number of ‘08 ideas back to the states when they return at the end of the month.

FGA Team Two also arrived successfully in Kathmandu, Nepal and checked into the renowned Yak and Yeti hotel, a cornerstone of the Kathmandu scene. The first goal of our trekkers was an exploration of the city. Kathmandu is a sacred city to both Hindus and Buddhists. Everest lies ahead.

If you’ve been following our blogs and zines you’ll know that the 2 FGA ‘climbing’ teams have decided to split their efforts and attack two critical 07 adventures. The Everest Base camp will still be a goal for one group of 2 team members and the other group of 2 team-mates will do some climbing in the French Alps, but perhaps more importantly begin early negotiations of exploration vessels and research work in the Scottish highlands to finally prove if the Loch Ness Monster really exists. (That necessarily lengthy adventure has now become a real possibility for 08). As they will already be in northern Scotland, the 2nd FGA team also expects to mountain bike to a series of single malt distilleries and consider a second home as ‘base camp’ for 2008.

While securing a castle in the Moors (hopefully haunted), as well as a distillery should be quite challenging, securing a ship to explore the Loch Ness might prove even more difficult (the Scots aren’t always up to welcoming us American adventurers – but we hope our personalities will prevail).

But back to Everest Base Camp for a minute… Explorers, travelers and climbers alike have long been seduced by the mythos of Mt Everest and the Sherpa people. While the world’s greatest peaks, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam characterize the Khumbu region, our FGA Trekkers will be able to explore its lower majesty. Along the way our team will experience the impressions of ancient Tibetan Buddhism as well as they visit and learn from the peoples living in the inspiring monastic communities.

FGA’s October is a split celebration of adventure with the teams traveling to UK and Nepal. Their first stop is Scotland and besides some taxing mountain biking in the North Highlands (to distilleries), they plan to begin what may be a years’ exploration into the ‘truth’ behind the Loch Ness Monster. Loch Ness has larger volume of water than any other Scottish loch. It’s around 825 feet deep and the water in this great glacier-gouged trench is said never to freeze.

Is the “Monster” of the Loch true or fiction? One FGA team begin initial exploration and negotiation with vessel owners to consider a FGA ‘find’ for 08. Whether truth or fiction, the FGA team is usually successful in its endeavors. One quiet week in the city of Inverness in Northern Scotland in 1933 is when the saga began. Will FGA determine its outcome in 08? Follow us in the year to come.

A couple first reported a strange animal disporting itself in the dark waters of the lock more than 70 years ago. (Some think the couple was hoteliers trying to enhance a poor tourist season – others swear by the sightings). Sightings began flooding in and “Monster Mania” hit the international headlines. A Second World War patrolman reported the frenzy was so great that he could create pandemonium among the lines of cars by just pointing over the water.

The story has refused to go away. It has spawned books, and attracted scientists, dedicated amateurs, and hoaxers. It has generated dubious cine film and still photos, echo soundings, and sincere testimony from many eye witnesses who have seen something. There’s undoubtedly a strange phenomenon to be witnessed whose manifestation is of great importance to the local economy. (Does anyone smell the down payment on a castle and a distillery?).

Well, Loch Ness remains a very large body of water prone to mirages in still, calm conditions. The Fluge team begins by following a very old theory from the Loch. It seems a General Wade and his men were building a military road down the east side of the loch to supersede the first high-level road of 1726. They blasted out rock above the Inverfanigaig and may have created a disturbance that released a long sleeping creature. Whatever the story – stay tuned as we work our way through the lochs and highlands of Scotland.

The final leg takes our UK team to the south of France where they will stay in the luxury of Eden Roc (Antibes), but take various climbs into the beautiful French Alps.

Whether you’re interested in Nepal and Everest, or the UK, monsters and Alps – keep your computers tuned to the FGA ‘dual’ legs of October!

If you’ve never been to Thailand there’s so much to do and see. If you’re single there’s the disco clubs for all night fun at the world famous Walking Street in Pattaya and if you’re married and not into the night life there’s the tamer and very beautiful Phuket.