MOUNTAINEERS preparing for a world record challenge in the Himalayas have been working with the Sports Science Consultancy Unit (SSCU) at the University of Winchester.

A joint British Armed Forces mountaineering team is endeavouring to complete the first ever traverse of Makalu - the world's fifth highest mountain.

Jo Batey, sports psychology lecturer, said: "The University has been involved in both research and consultancy within this project. I've been looking at areas such as mental toughness and team development. Proven research shows that along with focus and determination, optimism and confidence have an especially important part to play in achieving success, together with self-control and strong self-belief."

The team left for Kathmandu on March 16 and the trek to base camp will take 10 days. They will be on the mountain for eight to 10 weeks and have to endure very difficult conditions. To make the challenge even tougher, members will attempt to summit without the aid of supplemental oxygen.

Jo said: "Operating at that altitude is incredibly hard, both physically and mentally. It has been essential to provide coping strategies to use on Makalu. Every team member has had to understand each others specific needs."

Training sessions over the last nine months have included team building at mountain training centres in the UK as well as in the Swiss Alps.

"I've already experienced first hand the types of challenges that lie ahead for the team," said Jo, who up until now has been accompanying them on training weekends. "On one occasion the squad even threw me down a crevasse and made me climb out with an ice pick!"

Before leaving for Makalu team members were provided with psychological resources from the University such as cue cards and information on how to deal with stress and anxiety. They will also have dictaphones to record thoughts, feelings, emotions and experiences. Interviews will be conducted by the University pre- and post-expedition to study some of the psychological experiences and challenges associated with being part of such a difficult expedition.