Mountain Leader Training.

About a week ago I went off to Grantown-On-Spey for a week of "Summer" Mountain Leader Training. This was somewhat inaccurately named given that it was infact November and we experinced snow, ice, and -5 degree temperatures. But despite the harsh conditions, it was a thoroughly enjoyable week and I came away having learned a great deal, both about the mountains, and myself.

ML training is basically one step in the route to becoming a Mountain Leader - a qualification which allows you to take your average party of numpties up in to the mountains, and, most importantly, to bring them back again. Any idiot can lead a group in to the hills, the skill is in the bringing-them-back-home-safely part.

The course is designed to hone pre-existing mountain craft and group management skills, and practice what to do in the worst "what if...?" scenarios. We covered everything from navigating without a compass, to river crossing, to abseilling without a harness, to improvising a stretcher using rusksacks. All this whilst being able to keep your group motivated by giving them captivating little talks about grouse poo (you just knew there was going to be some involved sooner or later).

My instructor for the week was Pete Hill MIC. Pete is famed in the mountaineering world not only for being very tall, funny, bearded and ginger - but for doing stupidly exciting things like spending six days on the north face of the Eiger. In winter. Pete now ranks up next to Ray Mears and David Attenborough on my hero list.

Anyway, rather than go on about the week, here's some pictures instead. I will leave you with one last final word of wisdom that I will take with me from this week onwards to the grave: You can NEVER have enough pairs of gloves.


This is just above where we camped. Yes, that is ice on those grass hummocks. We woke up to find a frozen Ptarmigan just by our campsite. Brrr.


Actually, despite the cold we were very lucky with the weather. It at least allowed us a few spectacular views of the Cairngorms before unleashing it's worst on us. This is the view from the summit of Ben MacDui (the 2nd highest mountain in Scotland. Infact at 1,309 m, it is also the 2nd highest peak in the UK too don't you know).


My course-mates and Pete (second from left) in some freezing fog.