Night Navigation In June

 I was asked by Ian from Striding Ahead to help him with his preparation for his ML assessment for some Night Navigation Practice; in June! Its not dark till 11.30ish so we opted for an overnight camp also.
 Gary Fletcher came along also and we met in the Lake District for our mini adventure.

 We set off into a fantastic warm evening toward our overnight campsite via few sneaky and not so sneaky features. Ian and Gary did really well as we had twisted the emphasis of the Navigation to help delivery. 

The Valley below us got smaller as ascended the night sky got redder a great sign for the day ahead also. This gave us chance to fit some mortar around the navigation brickwork. 

This mortar included flora, fauna, weather interpretation, coaching methods etc all vital for a broad knowledge base for mountain leaders.

We arrived at our campsite around 02.00 in the morning after a great night finding some difficult features. Ian set up his tent and went straight bed to wake up earlyto go for another walk and get some more pics

Gary and I opted for the bivvy bag approach on such a warm night. NB condensation in the morning after a warm night still can dampen your kit. Strange occurrences happen as the hot days over the last week had depleted the water supplies from the river. 

Another of the mortar issues was campcraft and clean water. I had been looking at Sawyer Water filters for a trip to the source of the Ganges later in the year. This would of been ideal for the dribble of water we found at the outlet. Then today a colleague Paul Lewis of Peak Mountaineering was talking about them. I will definatley look them up now after a serendipitous moment.  Could of done with a whole range of their products; sun cream and bug spray!

                                        Day two dawned bright and we off again at 08.00 on another mini adventure.Working our way back to the cars, the weather was kind to us. We even managed to save a young herdwick from certain death after being stuck in pool of muddy water. A very smelly affair trying to pull her out, she managed to wobble away on unsteady legs to find some grass. Good Karma?

 We had a great mini adventure in the lakes and covered a lot of topics. Please let me know if you have an adventure in mind. 

 

 

Natures Works in Borrowdale

Jim Langley from Natures Works normally based in North Wales came to Borrowdale in Cumbria to give some invaluable CPD for mountain Leaders on the ecology of the upland environment. 

Jim's knowledge and passion are infectious as he put across in  great style what we can see and identify around us. 

In a place that I work regularly, this opened my eyes to not only the flora and fauna but the geology of my area of work also. 

This the fault line in Combe Ghyll not far from Raven Crag Borrowdale.

Dog Violet enjoying some shade

Good to meet Ian from Striding Ahead  Clare from Alternative Adventure Rachel and Amy.

If you get the chance to get out on a course with Jim and Natures Works please do so. As Mountain Leaders and lovers of a fantastic workplace this will certainly help you enhance your own and your clients days out in the hills. 

As Jim wasn't to busy on the Sunday we went with his dad Richard to have a look at Striding Edge on Helvellyn. 

Another stunning area alive with features that we sometimes forget to look at while we are gripped to the rocky ridge.

It seems to have a been a play day for a lot of folk including the RAF

Keela also joined in by sitting on the trig point. We met some great groups out. Particularly the ladies from Rainford who filled the car up on the way back to Glenridding! Great end to a fab weekend. 

All pics can found by clicking  here