Gwilym's Adventure Blog

I have just got back from a great week in The Lake District assessing a Gold DofE Expedition for Bristol Cathedral School .  It was mainly dry at the start but got wetter during the week to end with a very damp days. The pictures are from the first 2 days before the rain set in.

  Back on the hill with the Mountain Leader Training course looking at putting everything together that we have covered so far.  A mountain journey staying below the summits to avoid the worst of the weather, encountering steep ground, navigational challenges, flora, fauna (infamous Tryfan goats) and glaciation.

  Leaving the assessment team in the capable hands of Dewi, I was out with the Mountain Leader Training course today looking at all things steep ground but as always, the natural environment was discussed with loads of butterwort seen today. Anchors, spotting, belaying, abseiling and route finding were all part of what we covered today

  Day 1 of a Mountain Leader Assessment I am working on for Wet and High Adventures Ltd . Today was a wet day on Tryfan's North Ridge looking at managing a group on steep ground.  It was very wet and slippery which added to the challenge.

Yesterday was dry and very pleasant up high in the Brecon Beacons with a summit of Fan Y Big with a Gold DofE training group from Bristol Cathedral Choir School . Today was very wet and somewhat windy, so it was a short 3 hour "wet weather" experience for the groups before we turned and ran downhill back to the minibus and the journey back to Bristol

This week I have been doing something a bit different. I have been in Austria working for Sprachcamp Allgaeu teaching German students English through the Outdoors. We have made fires, been rock climbing, used High Ropes and climbed the Walmendingerhorn (1990m) whilst all the while, learning and improving spoken English.

Phase three of the Ecuador expedition I am leading for True Adventure included trekking the Canon del Rio Toachi and Quilotoa Loop before heading to Banos to look at some waterfalls (including the very impressive Cascada Pailon Del Diablo) and have a go on the Casa del Arbol (a swing and a treehouse). I also managed to get a Guinea Pig lunch which is something I have been planning for some time.

Just finished my first phase in Ecuador working for True Adventure with a group from Bedford Modern School. 1 very long flight followed by 2 days in Quito to acclimatise, looking around the city, visiting the old town and finding a nice coffee shop. The it was off to Otavalo for a few days including a visit to Parque Condor (Bird of Prey centre) and Cascade Peguche (waterfall). We had a very long day trek (28km) to around 3700m at Lake Mojanda followed by a shorter one the next day up to 4000 and a visit to the Ruins of Cochasqui

With the Mountain Leader Assessment candidates out on expedition with Si and Stu, I was back out on Tryfan for a second day with 2 other candidates who needed a one day steep ground assessment provided by Wet and High Adventures Ltd to finish off their qualification. I am please to say both performed at the required standard and passed. Well Done!

On Day 2 of the Mountain Leader Assessment I am directing for Wet and High Adventures Ltd , we headed to Tryfan's North Ridge for all things steep and ropey! I had the group of 3 today and the other 4 who I had yesterday were out with Stu. Lots of decision making, route finding, spotting, coaching and of course the occasional use of rope throughout the day. A damp humid and muggy start that cleared up nicely and turned into a pretty good hill day.