Filling you in on January

Jake dealing with a drowned paddler

January has seen me work with M training & consultancy to provide two outdoor first aid courses looking particularly at dealing with incidences when your further from help. I’m sure there are plenty of outdoor/expedition leaders who know how a simple accident has the potential to become serious because of the time and resources required to get help. We look at how to deal with prioritising injuries, how to prevent conditions getting worse and giving emergency aid. Pretty much we want people to go away confident in doing the best they can – That’s all anyone can ask of a first aider!

Morrocco inc Mnt Toubkal

Feeling good on the top!

Peak number 3 – Ras

Having finished my work on the film set I decided to take a winter break and head out to Morocco ; somewhere I have wanted to go for a while but never seemed to get around to doing!

I felt I couldn’t go to Morocco without visiting the Atlas mountains and going up Mnt Toubkal (N.Africa highest peak sitting at 4167m)

On arriving in Marrakech I was pleasantly surprised by how relaxed it felt; Maybe it was just the time of year but it seemed quiet!!

We had the morning there before heading to Imlil and up into the mountains.

The plan had been to do a winter ascent but unfortunately the snow never arrived 😓 The conditions however did work in our favour because it was neither to hot not too cold.

Completing this a day ahead of schedule we headed up to the summits of Ras and Timesguida: both sitting just over 4000m.

I haven’t gone into details about timings and route etc… but if you are thinking of putting a trip together yourself then please just drop me an email.

Morocco is certainly somewhere I will be returning to!

 

 

Ncompass Training is live!

The day has arrived that Ncompass training is set to go!
We offer training in navigation, kayaking, canoeing but also in managing your mind. Take a look at the website for more details. http://www.ncompass-training.co.uk

Medic on Film set!

This is a new one for me but I have been introduced to the world of filming!
Providing first aid cover for the actors and crew whilst “The Hatching” is being filmed. Keep an eye out for it spring next year.

ALPS

Managed to squeeze in a quick trip to the Alps this summer. Joining Pete, Cyrano and Jamie for some alpine rock climbing. It was a first for me to go climbing rather than mountaineering but I will be doing it again! The rock is solid (most of the time!) your feet stick and its hot!!

Traverse on Chapelle de Gliere

Alongside a few mountain routes we also got to the Valloricine Slabs and Dallas de la Remuaz.

A fantastic week!

A very busy summer!

Having had a very hectic few months I thought it was about time I stopped for a few mins and filled you in.

June saw me do a lot of first aid training. Running these courses for M Training and Consultantcy I spent my time between Swindon and Bristol. Met some great people, heard a lot of first aid stories and found a really cool new CPR APP – Take a look at BHF CPR…. worth the tiny bit of space it take up on your phone!

Next saw me on a flight to Turkey with Canford School. Leading for Far Frontiers, we had a 10 day itinerary of Marine Biology, mountain biking, walking and some resting.

Not a bad view from the office!

The students were looking at the conservation of loggerhead turtles and the invasion of species from the red sea into the Med. We spent lots of time in the water with snorkles on. Had two fantastic boat trips and an insanely hot day mountain biking.

Coming bac to the UK for 3 days to wash clothes and pick up some slightly different kit I was then on my way to Heathrow to meet Red Maids school and lead another trip for Far Frontiers to Nepal!

In total 44 of us piled onto the plane and then landed in Kathmandu where the exped really started. The girls had a full on itinerary seeing them go across to Pokara and onto Birethanti where they started their trek. Here we split into two teams. I set off with the year 10s for our trek. We had a demanding 3 and a half days which consisted of over 3000 steps on day one. 52 hours of continuous rain and a few leeches thrown in for good measure! The girls showed true determination a the ability to complete whatever they put there mind to.

Our full team of Sirdars, Sherpas and porters preparing for trek!

At the end of day four they had reached their project site where the school had worked two years previously. We tested out labouring skills by moving rocks, mixing cement, digging soil, collecting potatoes. By the time the girls left the school had a new drainage system, a rebuilt dry stone wall, floors laid and wall painted. on top of which the children had been entertained through out…. very well done!

Labouring and Playing!

Having finished project the girls then had to trek out…. testing will power to the max. Thankfully we woke up to sunshine and got to see some o the incredible mountains that had been hiding in the cloud for the last week!

Finally the girls got to reunite….. and stop walking! our next stop was Chitwan where we had a few days of jungle activities, the highlight to all was the elephant safari, particularly for Mr Seamark and his naughty elephant!

I gave myself a few days off on return from Nepal… just enough time to once again wash clothes and change kit…. Next stop was the Alps…. Cringing a little at my carbon footprint!

just awaiting some photos and I will post the details of this trip…..

Its been a while!….

You may have noticed there has been a little gap in my chat. The only excuse I can use is that life got busy with work, training and playing around the country!

Here is a very quick rundown of just a few things i’ve been up to.

In Novemeber I was very priveledge to speak at the “Explore” conference for Far Frontiers Expeditions at the Royal Geographical society. The RGS put this conference on every year to offer inspiration and advice to anyone thinking of putting an expedition together. If thats you then take a look at their website and get yourself to the next one!

It was another trip to London as I headed to Islington boat club to run some First Aid for M Training & Consultancy.

December started with some more First Aid work for M-T&C but this time it was an outdoor course being held in the Mendips.

With things going a little quieter close to Christmas it was time for a road trip to Scotland. Myself, Kate, Jake and Nick jumped in the car and joined James from Woodhouse mountaineering on the West Coast for a 3 day Exped.

Our trip took us onto the summit of Stob Ban and Binnein Beg.

A great few days even with poor weather condiditons.

Next it was off to Sheffield (The miles on my car are stacking up!) Working for D3 Active as part of an events team for Redbull.

Hopefully you are starting to see why this hasn’t been updated for a while!

Next Stop Brighton. Having taken a keen interst in NLP for the last 3 years I decided to do my NLP Practitioner. This was an amazing course run by NLP World. Watch this space for what I can offer you now!

Back from Brighton and back up to Scotland (Cringing a little at my carbon footprint!) for my Winter ML Training with Glenmore Lodge.

The weather certainly gave us a tough learning envirnoment with high avalanche risks, Strong winds, lots of snow an poor vis….. what more can you ask for when training?!?! Thanks to some great Instructors we made the most of what we had and learnt lots along the way… Particuarly the importance of Avalanche Awareness.

Testing Bucket Seats!

Snow holing!

So we are close to being up to date.

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions or want any info please get in touch…..

 

ML Training weekends

Working for Goldsmith Mountaineering on a Summer Mountain Leader training course.

 

This training is split over three weekends allowing the group to experience different terrains, get input from  atleast a couple of different instructors, and allows time to consolidate the skills being learnt.

The Mendips weekend saw the team start to look at navigation techniques, emergency procedures, interpreting weather and rope work.

Two weeks later we all headed to South Wales. This was the Expedition phase of the training. We had a slightly wet start but were soon welcomed with some cracking weather! The trainees spent a lot of time on micro and macro navigation techniques and spent time out on a night nav exercise.

The final weekend was spent up in North Wales. The trainees headed for Moel siabod whist the assesses headed up onto the glyders via Seniors Ridge. A very wintry cold crisp day. beautiful!

A huge contrast to yesterdays weather with the trainees. With winds gusting and freezing temperatures we did  some security on steep ground work in the lee of Gribyn Ridge.

A great few weekends of work!

Red Bull Flight School

A slightly different week to norm. A team of us from D3Active drove to Suffolk to work alongside Redbull during their annual staff conference.

Based from Woodhall manor, D3 worked with Redbull to provide some mountain biking, Canoeing, Black tie dinner, Casino night and much more…

A long week enjoyed by all.

St Therasas Gold DofE Training.

Moving to the next valley I met  up with some other Staff from Dynamic Adventures and headed to Pen Y Dre Farm to meet St Therasas for their Gold Practice Expedition.

A great learning experience for these girls, especially when it came to the amount of food they would need!

Will never forget this team after the VERY loud scream at 1 am about a “rat” in their tent. On later investigation it was a cute hedgehog having a snooze!

A great few day and all the best in the real thing.