17th June 2012 - A little catching up...

So it has been a few weeks since I last updated this blog, and it has been pretty busy! Since my little jaunt up Ledge Route on the 25th, I have completed my Level 1 Rigging course for the MRC of S (25th-27th May). This training was provided by the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and was held in the Lochaber area. It comprised of evening lectures, practical sessions and two days on the crags at Poll Dubh putting into practice the multitude of skills which I picked up along the way. The additional equipment required for the varying types of stretcher rescue is astounding, and it was particularly interesting learning more about load bearing, shock loading and equipment ratings in a rescue context.

The course was excellently led by Stu Johnston, and aided by Bill Strachan alongside a team of experienced mountain rescue team members from across Scotland. It was a tough weekend with so much information to take on board, and the heat certainly didn't help, but by close of play on the Sunday things were beginning to make more sense in my head and I feel a bit more confident with my mountain rescue rigging abilities! Hopefully it is a long time until they are put to the test!

I also covered a day at the Ice Factor the following week, running an Intro to Rock climbing session with a couple from Cumbernauld - such a small world, they live just round the corner from my family home! They were excellent craic and really enjoyed getting to grips with the basics; tying in, belaying and movement on rock. They were keen to learn a bit more about the equipment we were using and so I spent a bit of time going over this with them. We were then joined after lunch by a group of lads for a Hit the Ice! session. The 5 in the group were keen to get hands on, so I kept the brief short and set them a few challenges to allow them to adjust to moving in crampons, trusting their front points and finding their balance. Then I introduced ice axes and got the guys hammering away judging good placements from bad, before teaming them up (with a work experience lad who was shadowing me) and getting them to put the skills together on the ice. Everyone did really well, as I drip fed more techniques and strategic considerations to the session. We even had a pop at placing ice screws to give them a chance at feeling like they were leading! It was a great session, and I think (hope) everyone enjoyed themselves and learnt something new about themselves in the process! I will be doing quite a bit of work for the Ice Factor over July and August, I am looking forward to it!

This weekend (16th-17th June) I was assessing a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifying expedition in the Arrochar area for the Lochgilphead Group. The weather on Saturday was pretty grim but the 5 candidates bore up to it well and after a bit of a chat and a look at some kit theyheaded off into the wilds. The downside of assessing is the sitting about, and given the horrific midge condition I certainly didn't want to do much of that! I wanted to drop in to the camp once they were set up comfortably, so went for a nice meal in the Drovers. Then I took my kit up from Inveruglas towards Ben Vane and set up a camp some 2km away from the team. I then dropped in to quiz them about their camp site choice, cooking considerations and see how their day had went. After a brief chat I left them to the midge, and headed back to the drovers to dry off (poor effort, I know...). It rained all night, but the tent was absolutely fine. What wasn't fine, however, was the amount of midgies waiting outside the tent. It was horrific, almost as bad as on Arran with Scott back in '07. Even now as the tent dries in my spare room the vents are covered in 'smudge' (midge mud). Thankfully I had a good midge net, so wrapped up and got the soaking wet tent down and packed double quick. All that was left was to kill some time and then intercept the group as they passed the Cobbler path intersection. I chose to have their debrief here, while I had their attention and could get some meaningful chat from them while there was a breeze (the car park was a midge haven, they would stay for 6 seconds then want to dash to their parents cars). All 5 candidates passed quite comfortably, and hopefully they will look into doing their Silver next year. Thanks to James, Andy, Jean-Michell, Julie and Douglas for their hospitality and craic over the weekend. Back to Fort William for a fish supper and a disappointing loss for Holland....

27th April 2012 - Day 1 D of E Gold Expedition

Looking south toward Coire an Lochan

Anna with her new Deuter Pack. Snow very much evident still

Some of the rough terrain covered. Easily navigable but a bit testing for the candidates with full packs on

Taking a break in a lovely spot below Ben Vane

Anna demonstrating expert supervision skills

Inside our new tent. Anna had a cold night!

Apart from the road and the dominating dam, it was a lovely camp spot. Woke up with ice on the tent though...

Day one of a four day qualifying expedition for the Cowal Duke of Edinburgh Award Group. Anna and I were there helping some of the other guys to supervise 5 girls who were hoping to qualify and go on to complete the assessment expedition. I was also there in the capacity as an assessor, giving further training and advice to the other supervisors as well as the candidates in order for them to be as ready as possible for assessment.

The first day began at Butterbridge in the Arrochar Alps, and headed north-west up Glen Kinglas, before skirting Beinn Chorranach and heading south east up Glen Uaine onto untracked terrain. Only one of the girls had completed the previous D of E awards, so four were new entrants, and it was interesting seeing how they coped in wilder terrain. The weather was glorious, and we were joined by Adam, an ML working with the D of E from Dunoon. The craic was great and the scenery superb. We left the girls for the most part uninterrupted until they arrived at the camping spot for night one - Loch Sloy Dam.

They all coped very well with the day, and were open to a bit of further training regarding route choice and navigation which was great. Anna, Adam and I camped a good distance away, almost directly beneath the dam (which gave Anna the fear!). Apart from a few dirt bikers who made the pointless trip up to the dam and back out again (!?) we never saw another soul until the next day. This was also a great opportunity to test out some of the new kit we had purchased over the last few months. I will review the camping equipment at the end of Day 4.

Day 2 would be the girls biggest test, we had to wait and see how they coped...