The Mountain Leader training course at Blue Peris (Snowdonia) was really good fun and allowed me to improve my confidence at navigation, particularly in difficult visibility and learn new skills such as rope work for walking groups.

We learnt a lot about ropework on glaciers and rock routes, crampons, ice axes, crevasse rescue etc. and had extensive practice with all of these, but also gained experience in planning and executing longer alpine tours. We also refreshed our knowledge of basic navigation and first aid in the mountains. Spending time in the mountains with a guide has really improved my confidence to now go and plan my own routes and alpine tours. I would certainly recommend it to anyone planning getting into alpine mountaineering.

The Mountain Leader training course at Blue Peris (Snowdonia) was really good fun and had an excellent mix of learning new skills, such as rope work and river crossings, and practising old skills, such as navigation. It’s a great course for people who just want to improve their skills for themselves as well as those who plan to lead groups in the future. I would definitely recommend it to all members of CUHWC.

This highly successful course was run by Jon Parry to enhance all of our skills in Outdoor First Aid and in particular to increase our ability to respond in situations where First Aid or Medical Assistance is needed in really remote situations such as on expedition. We learnt about a full range of First Aid, from dealing with severe cases of trauma to how to avoid, and the importance of not ignoring early signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion, all important and useful knowledge to have in situations both on CUHWC trips and on other hillwalking or mountaineering trips with CUHWC members.

Louise Worsley provided an excellent course teaching participants how to respond to a variety of emergencies in the outdoor environment. The two-day course began with classroom theory sessions during which we were taught the basics of diagnostics and treatment. The best part of the second day was spent practising our newly acquired skills through role play. During role playing a variety of potential injuries were encountered - open fractures, hypothermia, sprains, blisters and exhaustion. In every instance the casualty recovered remarkably quickly.

I am confident that the course participants are now much better equipped to help in a real emergency than they were before the course.

After navigating to the start of Pinnacle Ridge, a grade-3 scramble, we spent an hour practising emergency rope work for helping nervous or injured walkers from the hillside. We then donned harness and helmet before starting up the ridge. On easy terrain at the bottom of the ridge we practised setting up belay stations with various combinations of slings, nuts and cams. The scenario we were set was that “a competent group” member should lead a pitch, set up a belay station then bring up less confident group members. Each of us was given ample opportunity to play the role of the competent member. As we approached the crux, a 5m section graded as a moderate rock climb, we were shown how a leader might place gear for protection during a climb.

Overall the four participants were very pleased with the content of the course.

For a second description of the course, go here and scroll down to Mark's course report.