Gwilym's Adventure Blog

 A much wetter and windier experience on day 2 of the Mountain Leader Assessment although we managed to get some shelter on Tryfan. Today was all about the steep ground and manging people in that environment.

 Today I was out with 4 candidates on a Mountain Leader Assessment in The Ogwyn Valley. a little windy in places but mainly dry and nice to see some jest going through. I am directing this course for Wet and High Adventures .

 I have just got back from a couple of days in North Wales on a Water Skills Academy SUP Adventure Guide training course run by Dave Brown A day riding the flow through the Menai Strait and a day off the coast of Anglesey with the seals in warm weather made a a great few days of learning. Of course, come assessment time it will be wet and windy to make up for it

 This week I have been in Snowdonia running some Mountain Leader  courses for Wet and High Adventures . I was directing an assessment but swapped with Stu for a day to work on his training course. A hot start to the week meant we could spend lot of time out getting stuff done. Always hard to do night nav when it doesn't really go that dark overnight. The last picture is of some amazing Lenticular clouds that formed over Carnedd Daffyd

  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.

After another long drive back to Bristol on Monday afternoon, on Tuesday morning I drove the same minibus back up to Snowdonia with the second wave of groups from Bristol Cathedral Choir School for their Gold DofE practice. Similar routes and yet again we had amazing weather during the day but it was certainly cold at night with temps dipping below zero and ice on the tents. I really enjoy working with the staff and students from this school and look forward to their summer expeditions to The Lake District this summer.

After a long drive back from Wales on Thursday (in a blizzard), on Friday morning I drove a minibus back up there with groups from Bristol Cathedral Choir School for their Gold DofE practice. So different by the time we got there with most the snow gone other than a few patches on Cadair Idris and Aran Fawwddy. We had amazing weather for the trip with only light drizzle on the first day. Some lovely evenings in the campsites and a pleasure to be sitting around on the hills waiting for groups. Tomorrow morning it all starts again with the next cohort.

A bit of peer mentoring today on Day 4 of a Mountain Leader Training course for Wet and High Adventures Ltd . Stu was running the day and as part of my responsibilities as a director and provider, I was out with him observing him work. Lot of things covered as we weaved our way up and down Tryfan's North Ridge in a mix of sunny spells and hail showers. Some of the hail was very large and a bit painful. Whilst the candidates and Stu will be out expedition over the next two days, it will be an admin day for me tomorrow looking at Log Books for all the courses coming up this month.

On the third day of the Mountain Leader Training course I am running for Wet and High Adventures Ltd , we headed into the Ogwen Valley to the area around Clogwyn y Tarw to look at all things to do with managing groups on steep ground. Coaching, spotting, confidence roping, body belaying and abseiling were all covered.  Unbelievably sunny and warm at times though this may not continue over the rest of the course.