In defence

I was browsing blogs the other day, as you do, and came across a post about some young people that had been met whilst doing their Duke of Edinburgh expedition. Whilst the youngsters were admired, there were some issues and questions raised about their training and preparedness for expedition.

I do not know the blogger himself and felt a bit rude commenting directly on his post, but at the same time my feathers were a little ruffled and I felt a need to reply. I can of course only comment with regard my own Duke of Edinburgh area, each area tends to be run slightly differently, although the main training and guidance is the same.

Firstly, in Moray, Expedition Supervisors have completed Mountain Leader training (usually qualified) or Low Hills Award and Moray Award Supervisor training. Assessors will have completed Mountain Leader training (usually qualified) and Assessor training. Leaders also complete their relevant course but as they are not necessarily concerned with expeditions, they do not have to be Mountain Leader trained. As a Leader I have completed mine but also the Supervisors course so that I can assist on an expedition but not supervise alone. All supervisors, assessors and assistants will complete their Outdoor First Aid certificate.

Secondly, all participants must complete their Expedition and Navigation Training before each Award Level Practice Expedition. In Moray, this entails one practical training day at the local award centre in March where kit, first aid, nutrition, camp craft, route card and basic map reading skills, environment and country code and emergency routines are taught. A second day is spent in the local woods with map and compass learning navigation skills.

At our local Open Award Centre, we have found this slightly inadequate, there is a lot of information to be imparted in just a few hours and with at least a couple hundred young people not really giving their full attention, on their mobiles and chatting etc., so this year our local Open Award Centre ran separate training. One night a month for six months was devoted to the ‘soft skills’ and a day was spent in Culbin Forest practicing navigation, a bit of camp craft and emergency routines. This worked well and David and I have also taken two groups out separately to a different local estate to practice navigation further which they all appreciated and enjoyed. This new system was much improved and will be implemented again in the new season. (My Guide and Ranger groups got extra as I covered most areas at a few Guide meetings too.)

As to kit, they are recommended to buy/borrow the best they can afford with regard quality and weight, however, they do have a D of E kit list which they are expected to use. There are points I disagree with, but we go by the book. They are shown and advised how to pack and carry a rucksack, but if they chose not to do so, it’s up to them. The main point is it is Their expedition, Their adventure, Their choice and Their responsibility. We give remote supervision (unless otherwise required) and They do it Their way. They have to follow the route card and timings to a tee, that’s the safety net.

Ultimately, the young people learn from their mistakes, what hurts, how to get lost and find yourself, how to be safe, but with a grown up in the background just in case.

There is more to it that that, but anyone wanting to know more or get involved, this is the place to go. I got involved because I felt very strongly that I couldn’t criticise if I wasn’t prepared to help and share my own knowledge and experience, little though it is.

So there. And sorry for any offence caused!

ABBA - Slipping Through my Fingers (video)

Stormy weather

Strictly speaking, I don’t suppose my Guiding stuff is of interest, but I did find our last little adventure quite amusing, perhaps for all the wrong reasons.

We had a Guide Camp at the weekend, organised by two of our Guides doing their Camp Permit, so the Leaders took a back seat in the organisation of it other than a bit of guidance through the relevant clauses that they had to complete.

In preparation for the event, I perused the weather forecast for the weekend so that I could pack relevant kit. This takes a bit more planning than the average camping trip as I don’t just need to take clothes to keep me warm and dry, but that I don’t mind getting smoky as we obviously have to spend an amount of time around a campfire, being Guides and all that. I have an old down coat for this purpose, it’s nice and cosy and I don’t need it for standing in a windswept playground with small children anymore. It would be no use in wet weather, but then, we wouldn’t be sitting around a campfire then, would we? The weather forecast was not too bad for Friday night and Saturday, but from the early hours of Sunday they were predicting heavy rain and gale force winds. Deep joy.

When we arrived at camp the forecast was mentioned and it was suggested that certain areas in the camp field were maybe a little exposed, but we’ll come back to that…

Anyway, we had no campfire Friday night as it rained and the two Guides couldn’t light the fire. That meant that when us Leaders were up earlier than is decent for a weekend (and at least two hours before any of the Guides!) we had to prove that we could do it and between us (and a couple of firelighters…) we managed to persuade some damp leaves and twigs to burn a bit and slowly, gradually, we built it up to a bit of a fire. I was then appointed Fire Master, utterly hilarious as I was always the kiss of death to the stove we had in the last house. I took my position very seriously and despite only having damp wood available, I managed to keep it going and ended up with a beautiful blaze, woo hoo!!

I am the Fire Master! (or Mistress?!)

We had quite a bit of fun during the day on Saturday, completing tasks and challenges with our teams (patrols) all within the theme of Fairy Tales. They had based the challenges on various tales with a twist, including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. We laughed a lot. We knew we were going to suffer for our exertions… We had a great time around the roaring camp fire before retiring to our tents.

I didn’t sleep well on Saturday night, although I’m not sure why. I wasn’t worried about my tent, I’d pitched in a nice sheltered spot, and I wasn’t really worried about the Guides’ tents and utilities. They were not pitched well or sensibly (I’m not warranted, I don’t know anything) but they were in no danger, what was the worst that could happen? There was rain in the night and I heard the pots and pans go at some point, but no screaming. I stayed snug in my bag.

The Leaders were again up nice and early and I soon realised there was more talking and less laughing than normal, so I got out of my nice cosy bag and started to pull my waterproofs on over my baselayer and Ronhills. Sure enough, a rather stressed sounding Leader called from outside my tent to say they had “an emergency situation” and could I come and help…

So when I got there, the gear from inside the utility tent had been moved to a sheltered spot and the girls told to dress, grab their kit and move into the Leaders’ tent. We took the utility down (with no problems) and I was told “it’s wrecked”. I think the webbing that helps keep the form at the bottom of the tent may have come adrift from the pegging points. Disaster, obviously. The Guides tent looked a little misshapen, but I think on close inspection, there may have been one or two bent pole sections, but nothing disastrous. I don’t think that at anytime the girls were in any danger, we had shelter by way of other tents and the toilet block, the worst that could have happened would have been gear wet and blown around, but no one as in danger of injury.

Windswept and interesting…

There was no one sleeping in that pod, luckily

Er, that’s not right

And nor is that

Mountains out of molehills were made, but then I know nothing. I’ve hardly done any camping with Guides and they have years of experience. I haven’t survived high winds and torrential rain in a tiny tent in the middle of nowhere….

The ‘expert’ arrived. One of the husbands, a Mountain Leader and D of E Supervisor/Assessor. I do agree with him that repairs won’t be too difficult, maybe replacing a couple of pole sections, but I’m not sure that replacing all the poles with fibreglass ones would be the way to go. Speaking from experience, they do break and when they do, they shatter and fibreglass splinters are not fun! The worst these girls could have had was a clonk on the noggin with a hollow aluminium tube. I also happen to think threading a new aluminium section is far easier than the fibreglass ones. They are a nightmare. Anyway, what do I know? I’m not a Warranted Leader or a Mountain Leader with years of experience.

Maybe it was just the lack of sleep made me grumpy.

I kept quiet and came home after camp tired, damp, cold, bruised and aching. Such fun! I suspect we’ll do it all again sometime…

I should have known better…

I had a surprise telephone call from the Lovely Laura on Monday and the suggestion was made that we got together for another attempt on Carn Mor, just east of Tomintoul.

I should have known when the travel news mentioned a closed road on the journey to drop David off at work so I could pinch the car.

I should have known when the little car pulled out in front of me at Aberlour, making me brake a little more sharply than is comfortable.

I should have known when there were unexpected road works.

I should have known when there were cows in the road.

I should have known when we got caught behind some slow farm traffic, which I ended up overtaking twice.

I should have known when I parked at the car park at East Auchavaich and couldn’t see our intended hill for cloud and rain. And Laura wasn’t already parked there….

I really should have known when I checked my mobile (no signal) and found a text from Laura to meet in Tomintoul instead.

I should have known that the walk was just never going to happen!

Not only do Laura and I walk together well, we also share a lot of other things. Including our feelings about walking in the rain. It’s fine if you set off and it then rains during the walk, you deal with it, but it is utterly pointless setting off when it’s already raining and there is no hope of a view from the top. So we didn’t! We popped into the Old Fire Station Tearooms in Tomintoul for a nice cup of tea. And a chat. And a look at maps.

After a while, the rain was still falling and the clouds were still low, so we had a second cup of tea.

After a while longer, it was time for lunch, so we left the tea rooms and took ourselves off to a pleasant lay by where we sat in Laura’s van and had our packed lunches and more chat.

At least I was home early.

Mind you, I really could do with some more walking…

Happy Birthday!

This little blog is now five years old! I can’t believe it’s five years since I first heard about The Great Outdoors Challenge, via The Adventure Show, and decided it was ‘the thing for me’. I have loved the planning, the research, the walk, the people I’ve met and everything about it! And this blog has been mainly about the adventures I’ve had along the way. One day, I hope to be able to share the Big Adventure with TTS as that was the idea at the very beginning, but that’s not yet feasible. I’ll just keep plodding on with the best friends I’ve ever had until my Bestest Ever Walking Buddy can join in all the fun (but I still get to do all the planning…)

Yep, should be fun!!