Following a very successful event two years ago, Fire and Ice will again be running The Lorna Doone Challenge on Saturday 15 October 2011. The event takes place on stunning Exmoor, and includes a choice of two walking routes: either 12 or 24 miles. The challenge is open to all comers who can either enter as individuals or teams (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). To find out more, or to print an application form, either click the Lorna Doone button on the left or click here.

The Lorna Doone Challenge is a superb walk through the stunning scenery of Exmoor; England’s only National Park with a coastline. The route starts on the breathtaking cliffs of the rugged North Devon coast before moving inland, through ‘Doone Country’, out onto high open moorland and finishes in spectacular style through the stunning East Lyn River valley. Along its way, the route passes the Foreland point lighthouse, the ancient spring at Sisters Fountain, the spectacular waterfalls at Watersmeet and many of the sites made famous by R.D. Blackmoor’s classic novel Lorna Doone.

This is a charity walk organised by our good friends the Fire Service Sports and Athletic Association and will take place on Saturday 23rd July 2011. It is in aid of The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund and the Fire Fighters Charity, and, in addition to the entry fee, (covering costs from the weekend), all participants are required to raise funds in the region of £100 individually, or £200 as a group of 4 or more.

The is a very demanding 30 mile(48k), multi-terrain, ultra challenge, including open moorland and exposed sections. This is designed as a team event and for safety reasons to be organised into teams/syndicates of 4 or more. The routes will be over footpaths, bridleways and quiet country roads over Dartmoor National Park, from Okehampton Camp to Moorlands Bridge. For further details click here..

Fire and Ice are very sorry to anounce that this year's Lorna Doone Challange has been cancelled due to unforseen circumstances. We fully intend that the event will be next run in October 2011. We apologise for any inconvenience or dissapointment.

Following a very successful event last year, Fire and Ice will again be running The Lorna Doone Challenge on Saturday 2 October 2010. The event takes place on stunning Exmoor, and includes a choice of two walking routes: either 12 or 24 miles. The challenge is open to all comers who can either enter as individuals or teams (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). To find out more or to print an application form either click the Lorna Doone button on the left or click here.

Long time friend of Fire and Ice (and team member of our Mongolia 2006 exped), Mark Ainsworth, has turned his back on the trudge of working a high-pressure 9 to 5 job and has embarked on a new career as an International Mountain Leader. He has set up an exciting new company, and is now offering a range of well put together and well organised trekking holiday’s in Spain’s Sierra Nevada, most of which he is leading himself. If you would like to know more, please visit the Sierra Trekking website at .www.sierratrekking.co.uk

The new climbing wall at SHQ is now completed and has been officially opened by ACFO Pete Smith. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service funded the building of the wall as a training aid for the four specialist rescue teams, and for use in community youth projects. The wall is also open for use by Fire and Ice members, and all other employees of DSFRS. Pete didn’t bat an eyelid when he saw that the ribbon he needed to cut was at the top of the wall, and showed no fear as he scaled its heights to do his speech and declare the wall open!

Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell (and president of Fire and Ice) has joined a team of other explorers in an attempt to reach the Arctic Pole (Northern Pole of Inaccessibility). This will mean, skiing approx 200 miles, pulling over 100kg by pulk (sledge) at temperatures down to minus 40 degree Celsius, and hopefully avoiding the polar bears on the way. He is doing this as part of a personal leadership challenge, whilst hopefully raising a significant sum of money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

This Pole has never been reached, and represents the last true “World First” polar expedition. Explorer Jim McNeill will lead four teams as they face nearly 800 miles of treacherous Arctic Ocean. At the same time, the teams will be gathering crucial sets of data for the scientific community. This will be an incredible journey, made even more extraordinary as it will be undertaken by ordinary people from all walks of life with no previous experience. To follow Lee's progress, and to make a donation please follow this link: www.leadingfromthetop.co.uk