FAQs
The Trek
When will the Trek take place?
How much is it to sign up?
TREK
| Pricing with accommodation at Celtic Manor Resort |
Pricing without accommodation | |
| Total Cost per person | £365 | £135 |
| Deposit per person | £100 | £50 |
| Remaining balance per person (to be paid 12 weeks before departure for event) |
£265 | £85 |
| Fundraising Target | £800 | £800 |
VIRTUAL TREK
| Registration Fee per person | £25 |
| Fundraising Target per person | £100 |
When is the deadline to sign up?
Registration closes at 5:30pm on Friday 2 August 2024 for the Trek.
Registration closes at 5:30pm on Friday 6 September 2024 for the Virtual Trek.
Is there a registration fee and what does this cover?
What time do I need to arrive for the Physical Trek?
Will LandAid send me any important information prior to the event?
We'll be in regular contact by email with tips, hints, and updates to help keep you motivated with your training and fundraising, as well as all the important information you'll need for the day itself.
Sometimes our emails get caught in spam or quarantine filters, so if you haven't heard from us, check your junk files, and make sure trek@landaid.org & events@landaid.org is added to your safe senders list.
What do I need to wear/bring with me?
Walking Boots: Wear footwear previously worn to reduce chance of blisters. Ankle support advised to reduce likelihood of sprained ankles. Always try boots in - store. Good trail shoes are fine if familiar to this terrain. We recommend waterproof versions. Trainers are not suitable. Socks: P added walking socks. Smartwool or Bridgedale are reliable brands. Cotton socks provide little padding & become damp from sweat which can lead to blisters. Walking trousers/leggings: Lightweight, comfortable trousers that dry quickly. Jeans are restrictiv e and become heavy and cold when wet. Wear thermals under trousers if below 50. Wicking base layer top (long or short - sleeved): Running or wicking tops pull sweat away from the body and dry quickly. Cotton tops become cold when wet. Avoid vests as backpac k straps can rub on shoulders. Synthetic tops dry quick; merino wool provides more warmth. Often synthetic is worn during summer, merino during winter. Mid layer/fleece: A warm layer that goes over base layer. This adds warmth for planned/unplanned stops. Insulated jackets are warmer than a fleece but are expensive. Down jackets provide little warmth when wet; synthetic insulated jackets perform best in UK conditions. A spare fleece is recommended. Waterproof jacket and trousers: A hard - shell waterproof jac ket not a softshell jacket. Goretex or similar are reliably waterproof and breathable, improving comfort for long - duration in wet weather. Try brands such as Rab, Montane and Mountain Equipment. Ensure waterproof t rousers have entire leg side zips so can b e put on whilst wearing boots. Hat and gloves: A considerable amount of heat is lost through the head when not covered. Ensure gloves are waterproof. - Cap & sunglasses: Vital in bright conditions. Reduces chance of heat exhaustion.
- Backpack: Use a 20 to 30 litre backpack with a padded waistbelt. Backpacks must be lined with a large dry bag/bin bag. Backpack covers blow off in strong winds. Use smaller dry bags to divide equipment/clothing inside pack. Recommended backpack brands include Montane, Osprey, and Lowe Alpine.
- Walking poles: Walking poles are not compulsory but are recommended. Walking poles reduce 40% of weight on your feet, improve stability on technical sections and improve speed and efficiency on ascents and descents. These are highly recommended for long treks. Use a pair of poles, not one. Leki and Black Diamond are the most popular, but cheaper, heavier equivalents are available.
- Small first aid kit: Personal medication, blister plasters (such as Compeed), pain killers, sun
cream. There will be first aid support during the event. - Mobile phone: Fully charged and ideally with battery pack. Waterproof case if heavy rain due; Ziplock bags suffice.
- Headtorch: Always pack irrespective of walk duration. Pack spare batteries. Handheld torches can be tiring to carry for long periods of time. A recommended brand is Petzl.
- Water bottle: A refillable, 1 litre water bottle, such as a Nalgene plus a 500ml bottle with electrolytes. Water reservoirs are useful for frequent access, but amount remaining is unknown. Carry a minimum of 1.5 litres and up to 3 litres in hot weather.
How long will we be walking for?
Another factor will be if you decide to be part of a team or take on the challenge individually.
Will we have a leader with us for the whole challenge?
Can I take part as a team?
What happens if the weather is really bad?
Your leader will brief you at the start of the day so you can better
If adverse weather conditions arise, the Trek leaders will confirm if it is safe to continue.
Will there be a competition?
Yes we will have prizes for both the Trek & Virtual Trek.
For the Trek, prizes will go to top fundraiser individual, top fundraiser team, best individual trekking photo and best group trekking photo.
For the Virtual Trek, prizes will go to top fundraiser individual, top fundraiser team, furthest distance individual and furthest distance team.
Is it a race?
The Trek is a self guided walk but it is a team challenge! It is not a race. We will be aiming to walk in a long convoy for as much as possible throughout the day. Your whole team will be relying on you to walk at a steady pace and support each other as you go!
We like to keep big groups walking together as much as possible for morale and for marshalling. If you do decide to go off on your own, you won't be able access the support of our rolling team of experienced and Outdoor First Aid qualified marshals and Mountain Leaders.
For the Virtual Trek, we will be awarding the furthest distance individual and furthest distance team. We ask that all participant track steps/distance during the challenge.
Is there any support for posting on social media?
Yes our communication team have put together a comms guide to help you. Over the last few years, we have all learnt just how important and powerful social media can be. The world has gone digital – so when it comes to promoting a cause, it’s important you feel
equipped to navigate the world of social media.
See the guide here.
If you would like more resources to help you smash your fundraising, visit our page here.
Can my friends and family come?
The Trek does not offer any spectating for family.
Can I bring my pet?
Can you help with my training?
Yes of course – get in touch and we can share our training plans.
How can I track my fitness activity?
Your profile page includes your personal distance tally so you can track your distance towards your target. This is a great way to keep your friends updated on your workouts!
If you track your workouts with Fitbit, MapMyFitness or Strava your distances will automatically add to your tally.
Follow these steps to track your KMs automatically:
1. Download the Fitbit, Strava or MapMyFitness app and set up your account
2. Log in to your [charity or event name] account.
3. Under the heading ‘Connect your preferred Fitness app’, click your chosen app.
4. Follow the prompts to connect your account
5. When you next work out, select ‘start your workout’ in the app on your phone. Once you end your workout, save your workout and your distance will be published to the tally on your page the following day.
If you have synced your app already but it is not working, please log in and re-connect it.
When using Fitbit, you must ‘start’ an activity and save it. Your daily steps will not automatically add to your page. If you are having issues, try syncing through BOTH your Fitbit and the Fitbit app on your smartphone.
When using MapMyFitness, you must ‘start’ your workout, ‘stop’ your workout and then ‘SAVE’ your workout.
Your tally will be updated each day with the previous day’s distances.
Remember, you can manually add your kilometres to the tally in your My Fitness Activity tab of your profile after registering. This is a great option if you’re using a pedometer or a different method of tracking your distances.
Follow these steps to manually add your KMs:
1. Log in to your account and select ‘My Fitness Activity’
2. Under ‘Add activity’, enter the date and distance
3. The number of KMs will now appear on your fundraising page!
How do I track my progress for the Virtual Trek?
Count.It connects with wearable tracking devices and apps and will automatically sync activity. You will be able to see all particpants current distance and each other move along the route. Details will be shared closer to the event.
Fundraising
Do I need to raise a specific amount to take part?
The minimum fundraising target for the Trek is £800 per person to be raised by 15th November 2024. All participants
Find out more about how we work this out click here.
The minimum fundraising target for the Virtual Trek is £100 per person to be raised by 15th November 2024.
Can you help me to reach my fundraising target?
Yes, absolutely! Firstly take a look at the fundraising resources here. If you want to chat with us, drop us an email to: trek@landaid.org
What is the best way to raise money?
Take a look at our fundraising top tips here. The easiest way to fundraise is to simply share your fundraising page on social media or via email. You can find template emails and social posts here:
Fundraising resources
Is there a deadline to have raised money by?
The deadline for fundraising is the 15th of November 2024.
Can I fundraise as part of a team?
Yes absolutely! If you would like to create or join a team, you have an opportunity during event registration. Alternatively, get in touch with us ahead of the event and we can do this for you. If you have any queries, please get in touch.
How will my sponsors know that I’ve completed the Trek?
We recommend taking lots of photos throughout the LandAid Trek to share with your donors during and after the challenge. You could even record a series of videos to create a vlog or a reel to share on your social media.
Be sure to tag #LandAidTrek so we can reshare and help you spread the word!
