MIAS Level 1 and 2 Training - Day 2

Back out on the beautiful Quantock Hills AONB today delivering the second day of a MIAS Level 1 and Level 2 training for Wet and High Adventures. 

The whole day was spent outside covering the remainder of the practical elements of the course and the assessment of the candidates at Level 1.

Over the course of the day we looked at mountain bike navigation, warm up games, skills circuits, pre ride checks and PPE fitment and emergency procedures. The candidates were also given the opportunity to lead legs of the route, this meant they had to decide on the best techniques to use on certain parts of the trail. A great exercise to prepare them for their Level 2 assessment.

We also spent a little time on Level 1 terrain assessing the candidates to this level. I am pleased to say that all of the candidates met the required Level 1 standard and have development plans to prepare them for a Level 2 assessment in the near future.

MIAS Level 1 and 2 Training - Day 1

So today I have been delivering the first day of the MIAS (Mountain Bike Instructor Award Scheme) Level 1 and Level 2 Training course for Wet and High Adventures. The course is delivered over 2 days and by the end of the course the candidates hope to be assessed to Level 1 and received the training at Level 2. 

We spent the morning in the classroom at Cannington Activity Centre covering all of the Theory before heading out to the Quantock Hills after lunch to look at leadership techniques, skills improvement games and the remit of the awards.

It was a great day with blue skies, little wind and a great group of aspirant mountain bike leaders.

Tomorrow we will be on the Quantock Hills all day covering the rest of the syllabus and assessing the candidates at Level 1. 

Hill Skills course - Day 2 on the Quantock Hills

Back out with the six volunteer rangers from the Quantock Hills and Mendip Hills AONB services today delivering day 2 of their 'Hill Skills' course for Wet and High Adventures. 

We headed to the Quantock Hills today for a full day practical session which started and finished from Triscombe on the western side of the hills.

Todays route covered 18km taking in Wills Neck (highest point on the Quantocks), the managed forests of Cockercombe and Ramscombe and the northern commons around Black Hill.

The weather continued with blue skies and great visibility but once again struggled to get above freezing. This gave us the opportunity to look at appropriate clothing and the benefits of layering, especially during the 'movement on steep ground' part of the day.

Over the course of the day we covered the rest of the hill skills syllabus and continued to work on the basic navigation techniques. 

The day finished with well earned refreshments in the Blue Ball pub in Triscombe.  

Hill Skills course- Day 1 on the Mendip Hills

Today I was working for Wet and High Adventures delivering Day 1 of the Mountain Training 'Hill Skills' course. The candidates are six volunteer rangers from the Quantock Hills and Mendip Hills AONB services who are training to lead walks as part of their role.

We chose to deliver day 1 on the Mendip Hills using Charterhouse Outdoor Centre as our base. The day was broken down into a six hour practical session on the hill followed by 2.5 hours in the classroom covering all of the theory.

The practical session covered basic navigation skills, affects of weather in the hills, the hill and moorland environment and walking pace management. This was delivered while taking in a 16km route over Black Down, around Rowberrow Warren and through Velvet Bottom. 

The classroom session consisted of; a weather lecture, appropriate clothing, footwear and equipment for hill walkers and the use of guidebooks and the internet for researching good days out on the hill.

Although the temperature struggled to get above freezing we were blessed with a beautiful blue sky day with views as far as the Gower and the snow capped Brecon Beacons. 

MIAS Level 1 and Level 2 Training

On Wednesday and Thursday last week I delivered my first MIAS (Mountain Bike Instructors Award Scheme) Level 1 and Level 2 Training course. Day 1 was delivered in the Bridgwater area and day 2 was delivered on the Quantock Hills AONB. The weather was stunning on both days with blue skies and sunshine.

The four candidates were staff from Bridgwater College looking to gain a qualification to allow them to take groups on non-technical terrain and assist other already qualified staff to take groups on technical terrain.

Over the two days we covered all aspects of the syllabus with a focus on the difference between non-technical and technical terrain, checking and maintaining equipment, leadership techniques and group management. The course also touched on basic navigation skills, legal responsibilities, ratios and access.

All 4 candidates successfully passed their Level 1 and are now trained at Level 2. 

If you are interested in becoming a mountain bike leader then get in touch for future course dates. 

Mountain Biking Assessments for Level 3 Outdoor Education Students

Today Hannah and I took the Level 3 Outdoor Education students for the mountain biking assessment of their skills for land-based activities module.

The students planned their route on the Quantock Hills, sorted their equipment and independently undertook the session with Hannah and I observing/assessing throughout the day.

The overnight rain made the previously dusty trails nice and grippy. The early morning cold wind gave way to a nice day with sunny spells. 

12.5 miles were covered by my half of the group stopping near 'Dead Woman's Ditch' for lunch and getting back to the minibus by 14.00. This gave enough time to return to Cannington Activity Centre to wash and lubricate the bikes before making our way back to Bridgwater College.

All the students performed really well showing the skills they have learned over the past year.  

Quantocks mountain biking with Level 3 Outdoor Education students

After a week on Exmoor with Public services students it was nice to be back out with the Level 3 Outdoor Education students on the Quantock Hills today. 

There are 16 students in the group so I split them into two smaller group of 8 taking them for a 2.5 hour session each. One half of the group were covering basic maintenance and checks of mountain bikes and associated equipment while I was delivering practical skills to the rest.

During my session we went on a 6 mile ride from Crowcombe Park Gate to Beacon Hill and back looking at techniques for climbing, descending and flat ground. While at Beacon Hill we also covered manuals, track stands, rear wheel lifts and power assisted front wheel lifts. We then discussed and implemented these new skills on the ride back to Crowcombe Park gate.

Another glorious spring day on the Quantocks!

Mountain Biking on the Quantock Hills

 

 

 

 

Back out on the Quantock hills today with the Level 3 Outdoor Education students for a spot of mountain biking. As we have 16 students I took 8 for the morning session and 8 for the afternoon session. Both groups covered the same loop from Crowcombe Park Gate via Triscombe stone and Great Wood.

 

The basis of the day being to look at various leadership techniques, appropriate use of the equipment and to enjoy a ride in a beautiful setting. The sun was shining and the trails dusty. 

Audax Uk Dunkery Dash

 

 

Today I took part in the Audax UK Dunkery Dash road cycling event with Dave and Dom from Bridgwater College.

 

The 64 mile route started in North Petherton and went via the Quantock Hills and Exmoor before returning to North Petherton. 1750 metres of climbing in total with the three main climbs being Enmore Hill, Elworthy Hill and Cothelstone Hill.

 

It was really good to get out on the road bike again and this time with a few others to make for a more social affair but the persistent light rain, head winds and road grime made it pretty interesting to say the least.

 

Really happy with a time of 5 hours averaging 14.68 mph including a good tea and cake stop at the top of Dunkery Beacon. 

 

My next planned road cycling event will be the Somerset 100, a one hundred mile route taking in the Somerset Levels and the Mendip Hills in May. 

Remotely Supervising Public Services Students on the Quantock Hills

 

 

On Monday, Thursday and Friday of Last week I was back out on the Quantock Hills AONB with Gail and Dave from Bridgwater college. We were remotely supervising the Level 3 Public Services students during their last practical training session before their assessed expedition next month.

 

The students were tasked to walk a 12km route in small groups without the support of their tutors. We spot checked them at various points to assess their progress and question them on where they had been.

 

The weather was stunning for early March and we managed to get a couple of trail runs in as a way of moving quickly between the groups. Heading out cross country resulted in seeing a 20 strong heard of Red Deer in Slaughterhouse Combe.

 

Once we were happy with the students progress we found time to pop into the Combe House Hotel for a nice brew while waiting for the students to finish their routes.