Mountain Leader Expedition.

The mixed and stormy weather continues. We have just finished the second half of the Summer Mountain Leader Tarining Course we started last week. On Wednesday we looked at accidents and emergencies, how to manage them, look after the rest of the group, work with MRTs, satisfy our duties of care and responsibilities to different people and bodies. We also practiced improvised self-rescue and stream crossings before palanning and preparing for the expedition. With steady 40mph winds forecast along with freezing  at the summits and bursts of heavy rain forecast we needed to plan carefully.

We went to Kinlochleven where the Skyrunning World Championships are being held currently. We didn't go quite as fast as the runners but we did have the gear to stay warm and comfortable over night next to Loch Eilde Mor after walking high around Sgurr Eilde Mor and practicing lots of navigation. We set the tents behind the walls of a ruin at the NE end of the loch and did some night navigation on the other side of the loch. The new hydroelectric scheme on the loch means the water level is a metre or two higher than it used to be. The causeway across the head of the loch is still OK to get across but the water is pretty high on it!

We enjoyed a good sleep and were away again early this morning for more navigation training. The five trainees were great fun to work with on this course and I hope they got a lot out of it. When they have done their consolidating and passed their assessments they will make exellent Summer Mountain Leaders.

The mixed weather will last into next week by the look of it. There is a hint though that higher pressure might start to bring slightly warmer and more stable weather at the end of next week. Let's keep our fingers crossed this works out!