Winter Mountain Leader Training - Day 2

An earlier start this morning saw us heading into Coire Cas to work on Movement skills and boot work on various terrain, snow and ice. We also spent time cutting steps with our ice axes and arresting a fall/slide also with our axes. Giles and Sandy gave us some good pointers on the way to teach these skills to our clients. The timetable for today also included 2 more evening lectures which were avalanche part 2 and winter navigation.

The - 6 air temperature coupled with 40mph (gusting 65) winds made it very chilly again. Lots of snow being transported by the southerly winds made the northerly aspect slopes prone to avalanche and this was proved with the head wall of the coire avalanching in the early hours. A sizable avalanche which had a 700m long x 1m deep crown wall.

Winter Mountain Leader Training - Day 1

Today was the first day of six that make up the MLTS Winter Mountain Leader Training course. The course is based out of Glenmore Lodge, Sport Scotland's National Centre for Outdoor Activities. The Lodge is set in the beautiful location of Glenmore Forset at the foot of Cairngorm Mountain.

The First day was made up of an introduction to the course, some time out in Coire an t-Sneachda and two evening lectures. We spent some time in the coire working on crampon skills and methods of teaching them. Winter Hazards and Avalanche part 1 were the themes for the evening lectures.

Overall it was a good day but a biting wind transporting snow in the coire made it a difficult learning environment. We were however blessed on the walk out with a lull in the wind and a break in the cloud.

Plymouth College PE lessons - Kayaking

Today was the start of another 3 day stint working for Plymouth College. With a rare free slot in the busy pool Jay and I took the year 7's and 8's Kayaking for their PE lessons. This week we introduced them to the boats and played various games to give them boat confidence and finished the sessions with some capsize drills. Jay claims to detest Kayaking but he clearly seems to be enjoying himself, even managing a roll.

BCU 2* Paddle-sport course, Day 2

Back out on the River Tone with Gwilym for day 2 of the BCU 2* working for Wet and High Adventures.
The morning session consisted of half the group paddling open canoes and half the group paddling kayaks to French Weir, on the return journey the clients swapped craft. The Stiff breeze made it hard going for the solo open canoeists but they did really well. After a spot of lunch we went through all of the Wet skills that are part of the course (scaff had already been in once today and twice yesterday), we looked at rescues, capsize drills re-entry to the boats. Overall a successful course.

BCU 2* Paddle-sport course, Day 1

Today I have been working for Wet and High Adventures assisting Gwilym with a BCU 2* Paddle sport course for a group of people from Somerset Divers. The venue for the course is the River Tone in Taunton.
We split the group into two teams, one team in Kayaks and one group in Open Canoes. The groups spent time learning various skills in their craft and swapped after lunch. The stiff breeze and strong gusts made life interesting for the clients but they all did really well and enjoyed the day. Solo canoe skills, wet drills and rescues tomorrow.

Kayaking the River Walkham with Plymouth College students

After yesterdays effort to clear "the Slot' on the River Walkham, Gwilym and I took a group of students from Plymouth College kayaking on the section that starts at Bedford Bridge. We then followed the river down to "the slot" where the students had a couple of goes on this sections most technical rapid. We then continued on down the Walkham until it's confluence with the River Tavy and the get out near Denham Bridge. All of the students showed improvement throughout the trip, reading the water and making lots of small eddy's.

River Walkham - Tree Clearing

Back out on the water today after a Christmas break. Myself, Gwilym, Dave, Doug and Deb went to the River Walkham armed with bow saws, ropes, pulleys and Carabiners with the aim to remove the large strainer just below the rapid known as "the slot". After enjoying the top section of the river we got out above "the slot" to have a good look at the strainer. we set about moving all the branches that we could and cut off some of the smaller ones. Luckily for us four more paddlers turned up and offered to lend  hand, so with nine lots of muscle power and various Z drags set up we managed to pull the tree most of the way up on the bank. The river is now clear to paddle but could do with a willing person and their chain saw to finish off the job. Overall a successful day, tomorrow I am assisting Gwilym with a group from Plymouth College and we intend to take them down this section of river.

Haglofs Open 5 - Quantocks

The Quantock Hills Staged the most southern event of the Haglofs Open 5 adventure race series. With roughly 200 entrants navigating to various controls foot or by mountain bike.
My Company, Discover Moor were the official bike hirers for the event. We had seven bikes out and met some great contacts so a day well spent.
If your interested in taking part in one of these great events go to www.openadventure.com for dates and locations.