Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Just got back in from the first day of a Hill and Moorland Leader Assessment on Dartmoor that I am directing for Wet and High Adventures Ltd . Wet, misty and eventually dark gave me plenty of opportunities to test the the candidates navigation ability.

On the second day of the Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment I am directing for Wet and High Adventures Ltd , we headed to The Dewerstone where yet again we got away with the weather and only in the last few minutes did the rain come in hard. Today everyone sighed in relief at the much gripper Granite. Yesterdays slippery Limestone was pretty hard work all round. The candidates led routes, set up Top Ropes, Bottom Ropes and Abseils as well as dealt with various problems that I threw their way.

Today I have been at Dart Rock and Chuleigh Rocks directing the first day of a Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment. We managed to stay inside from the worst of the weather before dodging showers later. The evening was spent running a navigation refresher on Dartmoor for a client with a pending Hill and Moorland Leader Assessment.

The last few days we have been in the Jungle near Tena where we completed some more trekking and a splash about under some waterfalls. We also spent a day with the Serene Community learning about medicinal plants. Sadly this day was blighted by torrential rain fall which did impact on our day slightly. A long bus journey yesterday back to Quito for a nice meal out and now at the end of the expedition I am leading for True Adventure , we are all at the airport awaiting our very long flight back to the UK.

This week we have been at The Yanacocha Rescue Centre where we have been working with a range of animals. Well, the students have but after one day on general duties, I was given the task of spending as much time as possible with "Stitch", a Band-Bellied Owl who needs to fly again after a wing injury. Basically spending all day sitting on my wrist getting used to me, the glove and taking food (dead chicks) as I walked around the centre. By the end of the week I could get him to fly from my wrist back to a perch but although he would climb on to my wrist if presented to him, the few times he flew at me, he missed and landed on the floor. At the start we had a visit to Tamandua the part where they release the animals and enjoyed a "Blow Pipe" competition and a night jungle walk. The centre survives due to volunteers as there are only a couple of full time staff with around 54 different species and over 200 animals in total. ...

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.

Second phase of the Ecuador Expedition I am leading for True Adventure is complete. 4 days in The Galapagos Islands. With a trip to the Darwin Research Centre and lots of snorkelling we were lucky to see: Sea Lions - on land and underwater Marine Iguanas - on land and underwater Lava Lizards Sally Lightfoot Crabs Green Turtles Giant Tortoises Blue Footed Bobies Frigate Birds Black Tip Reef Sharks Galapagos Sharks White Tip Reef Sharks Pelicans Land Iguanas A number of the Darwin Finches and a variety of fish life Now back in Quito to re acclimatise for some trekking.