So what's this all in aid of?

What ho!

Welcome to the Challenge a Gentleman Adventurer blog! If your new here then this letter to Her Majesty the Queen will probably explain what is going on. If you're on facebook then do join the group! Oh, and please do "Rate My Hat!".

Further hat related news, I have now tipped my hat at a passing hearse and removed it inside a place of worship! The etiquette has yet to get the better of me.

So, you may be wondering why I'm raising money and what all this money will go towards.

In short, the money raised will go towards getting Mt Roraima in Venezuela, also known as the lost world, UNESCO World heritage status as well as twelve charities.

Mt Roraima is a table top mountain that is surrounded on all sides by 600 metre cliffs. The ecosystem is that of South America 30 million years ago and is not found anywhere else on earth. This mountain has a whole host of species that are unique to it such as carnivorous pitcher plants, that catch and digest insects and other small animals, as well as spectacular "living fossils", species that have persisted unchanged over millions of years atop this mountain. New species continue to be discovered there which I think is pretty dashed cool! The mountain is also host to echo locating birds that live in a deep sink hole known as "The Pit".

Atop Mt Roraima there are also spectacular geoplogical formations. Valleys of crystals, strange cloud-like rock forms, streams lined with blood red jasper, and some of the tallest waterfalls on earth. In short it's a mountain with a considerably high concentration of awesome things.

So what does the money go towards? Well the thing about awesome things is that people want to go and visit them. In my opinion travelling is a fantastic experience and certainly a worth while one. However the problem with Mt Roraima is that tourism is not properly managed. Foreign species have been introduced and this threatens to upset this delicate and ancient ecosystem. I am I saying don't go? Certainly not! (It would be rather hypocritical of me to try to get your support to send me there, only to turn round and say don't visit yourself!) What I am saying is that the tourism this fantastic site attracts must be responsibly managed. Another threat to Mt Roraima is mining. Having the mountain classified as a UNESCO world heritage site would help protect against these threats.

So if you like awesome things, and like keeping awesome things awesome, then please do donate a few pounds to help protect this truly fantastic lost world!

Yours sincerely,

Alistair Linsell- Gentleman Adventurer!