Southern 50 Mist-covered Challenge Hike

We’d heard about the snow, the pelting rain and the frost but no one told us about the thick fog on this year’s, Southern 50 challenge hike,  writes Megan McIntosh.

Four Mad Hatter Network Scouts, Jack McFadden, Megan McIntosh, Georgina Barrett and Luis Aldorino, spent a weekend in the cold, mist and mud walking around the lovely but hilly Chiltern hills. Doing a lovely stroll of 50km starting off at just before 8am and     then finishing at 10:30pm.

The thick fog meant we had no visible landmarks. And it was a case of stick together as a team or get hopelessly lost.

After walking through different towns and villages, along a canal and up and down many hills the Mad Hatter Network finished in a good time of 14 hours 34 minutes having just  walked 50km with only a map, compass and list of grids references to guide us.

Thanks to all the guys at the well-stocked checkpoints and to the ever-enthusiastic Fozzy and his team at HQ who looked after us so well.. You were wonderful.

  Will we do it again? You bet we will.