IN PRAISE OF GOOGLE DOCS (no not Dogs !! Picture of Freddy Mountain Dog)

When you have a team of people that you are getting together for a single event, and there is loads of preperation and information that you need to share together.. The answer is Google docs -

The great thing with it, is that to set up a Google account is FREE. And with it you gets all sorts of other FREE stuff, including Google Docs - Which is basicaly collaboration software. i.e. you can have a spread sheet, powerpoint, word doc etc and it sits in one place (probably in a nuclear bunker in deepest Herefordshire) and everyone can share this document and update it without the need to send emails and have multi copies sitting in their filing systems.

For our expedition we have used a spread sheet with the following sections, which gives you an idea of the key areas of intelligence that we felt we needed to be thorough in our planning.

1. TEST OF EQUIPMENT NEEDED
2. PLANNING ITEMS
3. WEATHER FORCAST
4. THE MOUNTAIN
5. Q and A
6. OUR ROUTE - RONGAI Schedule
7. TRAINING PLAN
8. SNOWDON TRAINING
9. REASONS CLIMBERS FAIL
10. WE WILL
11. SCHEDULE AND FLIGHTS
12. CHECK IN BAGS ON THE PLANE
13. ORGANSATION AND CLIMBER
14. MEDICAL NOTES
15. JABS/DISEASE SCHEDULE
16. TO STAY HEALTHY VISA and Entry
17. CLIMBING GEAR
18. DAYPACK GEAR
19. FINAL PUSH FOR SUMMIT GEAR
20. FINAL CHECK LIST
21. TRAVEL INSURANCE
22. FITNESS
23. PREPARE FOR ALTITUDE
24. NUTRITION
25. SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNTS
26. PAYMENT BANKING DETAILS
27. TIPPING THE CREW
28. WATER and TOILETS
29. PROBLEMS ON THE MOUNTAIN
30. ADVISE TO REMEMBER
31. CHARITY
32. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We will run through some more specific details on a couple of these key areas in another blog..