The Lake District – Mountain Leader (ML) Training

Summer Mountain Leader Training

Memory-jarring early starts from opposite ends of the country brought Dave and I together in the Lake District this week for 3 days of summer mountain leader training prior to his ML assessment next month. The term ‘summer’ is a relative term at this time of year of course and so it proved as the full spectrum of UK February weather descended upon us and helped fully concentrate our minds!

Day 1: The Lion & The Lamb – Ropework Skills on Helm Crag

Hot-foot from the M6, we chose the model mountain of Helm Crag (405m) to practise some navigation, group management skills and ML ropework. Sitting modestly above Grasmere, this shapely wedge is a popular landmark with it’s distinctive summit rocks long ago christened the Lion & the Lamb.

Helm Crag

A good, well-marked path climbs comfortably up through bands of crags and on to closely-cropped grassy slopes that lead to the narrow, if short, summit ridge. A landslip has created a rocky trench above which 2 sets of rock pinnacles guard each end of the summit ridge; the southern formation earning the big cat/small sheep sobriquet when seen from the valley.

Helm Crag - Summit Rocks

The rocks provided an ideal spot for Dave to practise his deft rope skills sheltered from the biting wind. The entertainment was greatly enhanced by the surprising and impressive sight of a peregrine falcon flying strongly against the wind immediately above us before diving out of view! After expending his repertoire of direct and indirect belays, Italian hitches and abseil techniques, Dave pronounced himself competent. I agreed (naturally) and by way of some navigation legs, we duly returned to the valley floor via some conveniently placed ring contours and well-concealed ruins whilst discussing everything from access legislation to map scales!

Day 2: You’re Only As Good As Your Last Sheepfold!

Atrocious weather created the ideal conditions for Dave to get to grips with a day of micro-navigation: navigating short legs using map, compass and pacing. It is a key element of the summer ML syllabus and one that catches many folk out. You cannot practise it enough! Loughrigg Fell (335m), a scenic area of low hills, hummocks and miniature water features immediately above our base in Ambleside, proved to be an ideal location for our activities - particularly in the cloud.

Should be a Gate Somewhere Around Here....

During the course of this wild, wet and windy day, Dave successfully negotiated all that I (and the weather) could throw at him by way of insignificant contour shapes, sheepfolds and tiny tarns! This was no mean feat in appalling conditions and in a discipline requiring concentration, accuracy and excellent map-reading skills. He found every one of the chosen points and was still going strong when the mind of this observer had long ago turned to thoughts of steak and chips and a long, lazy glass of red........

Blencathra From High Rigg

Day 3: More Ropework; More Nav!

The final morning saw us in greatly changed weather with snow on the tops and a bitter wind blowing storm clouds our way. Again, relatively low ground provided all we needed – grassy hummocks, tiny water features and small crags. We chose High Rigg (355m) above the delightfully named St John's in the Vale. You don’t always need to go to the tops of the mountains to achieve your aims (which was just as well given this week’s weather)!

Storm Clouds Over Thirlmere

We beat the rain though, and consolidated all the previous days’ activities leaving Dave all set for the rigours of his ML assessment. He also managed to pick a likely looking spot for the family to go wild camping when they come back for their summer holiday – although I’m not sure if he’s actually told Paula yet............

Easedale

Check out my future plans for this winter on: http://www.hillways.co.uk/winter/winter.htm