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Expedition details
- Objective. Expedition primarily to cross the Nefud desert of Northern Saudi Arabia ("The Sun's Anvil"). Secondary objectives to explore remnants of ancient civilisation (research in progress).
- Time frame.
- Expedition to take place during Spring 2023.
- Expedition logistics and planning; team recruitment; sponsorship present to end of 2022
- Expedition duration. 3-4 weeks (to fit in with work schedule with extended leave)
- Expedition logistics
- to be completed in a minimum of two off road vehicles.
- vehicles to either be driven from UK or shipped to Red Sea/Gulf port. Extract via Jordan.
- Expedition team members required (4 people minimum including organiser/leader (A Crofts)
- Mechanic - fully skilled and experienced in field mechanics both engine mechanics and electronic engine management
- Team member, Navigation, driving, Skilled in GPS and traditional navigation and direction finding in arid areas.
- Team member, Logistics, planning and driving
Also require a team member with experience and able to demonstrate results in public relations, corporate sponsorship and fund raising. All team members will be expected to contribute here through contacts etc
- Equipment. Expedition needs to acquire two vehicles and full equipment. Costs offset through fund raising but also personal contribution.
More About Me: Alan Crofts PhD, FRGS
Having an interest in desert lands from his early years, Alan first explored the North American
deserts during his position as a post-doctoral researcher in Baltimore. Returning to the United
Kingdom in the mid 1990s, he organised his first independent expedition and crossed the
Western Sahara desert from North to South (via Mauritania and Mali); recruiting a specialised
team and purchasing a used Land Rover to accomplish the project.
Since then, and taking advantage of skills learnt as an Intelligence Officer in the Royal Auxiliary
Air Force he has organised from scratch, independent exploratory expeditions to cross the:
Central Sahara desert (Libya and Chad);
Karakum desert of Turkmenistan;
AL Rub al Khali Arabian empty quarter (Oman, Saudi, UAE);
Kalahari and Namib deserts of Botswana, Namibia and Angola;
Thar desert of Northwest India;
Gobi desert of Mongolia;
Chihuahuan desert of Mexico;
He has also conducted solo expeditions in: Chad, the Atacama desert in Chile, crossing the
Simpson desert in Australia using the Hay river track and taken part in a desert survival
programme in Jordan run by the Royal Marines. He has been sponsored by industry to path find
routes and water sources throughout the Eastern Sahara and the Central Asian Kyzl Kum. Alan is
a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and has been invited to present at the desert
workshop of the Royal Geographical Society’s annual Explore congress on a number of
occasions.
A biochemist by profession, Alan gained his PhD at York University in England and took up a
post-doctoral research post at Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, United States of
America. After returning to the United Kingdom, he has had an unbroken career in the
biotechnology industry as a Medical Affairs Manager, designing and implementing clinical trials
and evaluations of new pharmaceutical products.
His book, “Desert exploration for the busy professional” that describes expedition planning and
implementation specifically in arid areas, is in editorial with Gibson Square Publishing, London.
He lives in Southport, England and has a 7 year old son, Joseph.
If you’re interested please email here alancrofts928@icloud.com