Safety coordination and activities for Polar Expedition

Based up at Rothiemurcus Lodge from Friday evening until this afternoon I have been working on the filming of a promotional video for a trip to the South Pole to commemorate 100 years since Shackleton's attempt in 1915.  The trip is being led by Polar expedition leader Charlie Patton.  So far Rig Deluge has sponsored a large part of the expedition, recruitment and training process.

This weekend's activities were delivered to an eager team that were willing to be put through their paces for the day.  Meanwhile a film crew (equally as eager) were capturing the goings on and chat throughout the day.

My job role was to assist in creation of the plan for the day, delivery of a number of activities and overall safety of the participants and film crew.

After a 4am start to deploy two sledges somewhere on the hillside I joined the more civilised folks for breakfast and we all departed after 6am walking in the dark to search by torchlight for the sledges.

Throughout the day the teams were given various tasks to push themselves and test their ability as individuals and a team both mentally and physically.  The day was kept in focus as best as possible to a number of aspects that they may well encounter if they were to join the expedition team.

Recruitment will be open soon for this brilliant trip!  Keep an 

eye out for more of my work with this project.

Looking North towards the Rothiemurcus estate.

Lots of standing around watching one person pull the sledge...

One team on the skyline taking the high road.

Dealing with the hazards of moving on rough terrain.

Walking towards the sun.

Map route check under the many lenses of the camera team.

The two teams using their initiative to keep out of the ice cold melt water on the hostile Polar landscape.

One Matt and his drone.

The leader has frostbite and cannot use their hands whilst the rest of the team have 

snow blindness and cannot see; oh yeah and please put up the tent!

End of the day!

Wet and Wild DofE for Meg's and Albyn

Alison talks to Group 2 on day 1 (Victoria, Rachel, Hannah, Sophie, Ailsa, Lucy, Harriet).

This last week I was working for Adventure Expeditions and Alison Culshaw in the Cairngorm National Park (Grampian Mountains). On Thursday we met the girls from Albyn School and St. Margaret's school for girls who were ready to start their Gold Assessed D of E Expedition. After preparation on the Thursday we got things started on the Friday. Above Alison has caught up with group 2 to see how they're getting on. The weather forecast for the 4 days was not good - rain (lots) and wind (lots), but the girls were ready for it all..

A balanced diet - of processed sugar for dessert!

The groups had some doubtful meal choices - but it's important to have some comforts from home to look forward to eating!! We ALL had luxury items in our rucksacs - but mine weren't marshmallows!

Camp site on night 1 for 2 groups.

Everybody got to camp 1 successfully and managed to find some flat ground that wasn't too boggy. The scenery was awesome, but a little windy and wet - day 2 was planned to be the high mountain day for most groups.

St Margaret's Girls choosing exactly where to put their tents for night 1! - Anjumol, Victoria, Isobel, Ashleigh, Charlotte and Emily.

This is where they decided to camp on night 1 - a beautiful spot.

With Ben Alder as the backdrop, you can't go wrong with this as a campspot.

The high ridge along Beinn Bheoil for the Meg's girls on day 2. It was windy and there was only fleeting visibility, but the girls used their training to stay relaxed, on schedule and confident - very impressive - a strong performance.

Meg's making good use of the bivvy shelter for lunch.

Group 2 proudly sitting at 1034m on Carn Dearg - the highest point they have ever reached. They did well to get here - a long hard hillside to climb - seemingly never ending - but a great reward at the summit - the highest point of their lives to date.

Off now to get to their campsite -they got there in under 2 hours from here - well done.

Group 1 - on day 3 wanting to get to camp before the heavy rain hits - Lauren, Lucy, Fiona, Rebecca and Rosie. They were easily in their tents before the heavy rain struck everybody.

The camp spot for group 2 on night 3. They were so comfortable nobody came out to meet me when I said hello! - It was pouring with rain!

Day 4 had some sunny spells. The heavy rain has passed - only showers were left.. (so yes, we did say the girls might get showers this week - but no we didn't tell them to take shampoo!!! - not that kind of showers!!!)

The Megs girls in fine form - only 6km to go.. They gave a really strong performance over the 4 days - everything perfect (except 1 wrong grid reference - we can forget that lol)..

Alison welcomes group 1 at the end of their 4 day expedition.

Everybody was very happy to finally get to the end !!! Group 3 - Fayne, Kim, Julie, Katie, Minty and Ellie.

Group 2 - Victoria, Rachel, Hannah, Sophie, Ailsa, Lucy and Harriet.

Massive congratulations to all the girls. They all worked so hard in such difficult conditions to complete their expedition. The weather was sometimes awful, and the conditions difficult nad everything was wet - but they all stayed strong and pulled it out of the bag. They always lookd after each other and stayed motivated - They have all deserved to pass with flying colours - WELL DONE... Congratulations from Alison and myself...

Gold In Scotland

Di Gilbert

For the last 5 days I was working for Alison Culshaw (@GoldExpeditions), with Di Glibert (blog), on a Qualifying Gold DofE expedition near Ben Alder. We were with 6 well trained and prepared groups of girls from Aberdeen, who all set off in good weather and spirits last Friday.

Di moving her bike trailer across the bridge

Alison and Di made good use of their bike trailers for the trip while I made good use of my back! The weather proved to be chilly but almost perfectly dry (except for the above photo!) - and I got away without the need for goretex for the entire trip - but extensively used primaloft and fleece!

Cycling into Culra Lodge

Blue skies, a perfect wild camp?

Day 2 and 3 were also perfect days - dry and cold (although a little windy yesterday). The groups and I managed to collect a few of the local munros, with fantastic summit views.

Group 1 high on the hill

Lochan na h-Earba. The view from a wild camp 2 nights ago

Group 6 setting off on their day 3 yesterday

Thank you to Florence for this grass bracelet

All of the participants from all the 6 groups planned and executed terrific expeditions and arrived at the finishing point dry and in good spirits. Thank you to all the groups who made my assessment job easy, and managed to make me laugh at the same time.

The look of success - seconds after completing their Assessed Gold exped

Group 1 singing in front of Di Gilbert

Congratulations to everybody and good luck with your next challenge, whether it be getting into Cambridge to read Economics, reading medicine, or getting into Nandos in Aberdeen this week!

Golden Sun D of E

Tom, Mayon, Anna, Luke, Malcolm and Dan on their way down Faire Clach-glais on day 1 of their Practice Gold D of E.

Gold-Expeditions.com , Off Piste Performance Ltd

This week I was working with Alison and Alex with students from Albyn and St. Margaret's schools on their DofE Gold Training Expedition. Luckily the weather was hughly in our favour, so I didn't have to pack my bag with a great deal of clothing, but I more than made up for it with extra food treats, and a bike repair kit. I think I may have only seen a couple of midges all week, so my midge net still hasn't been used this year yet. However, it was a week for suncream, and I managed to stay protected, but Grace in particular managed to get a definite 'glow' from the sun - hopefully she's had her aftersun bath now! Visibility was excellent all the time, exept for the last morning. The mist came in and lowered over the last night, and by 8am on Sunday, there was zero vis on the hills. The groups on the hill that day were psyching up for a full on test of their nav training, but then the mist lifted to be patchy for the rest of the day - Sandy's team in particular performed some excellent navigation across a string of hills to complete their exped in fine style.I'm a big fan of monculars and good quality radios for use by DofE supervisors now, they made observation and communication so much more efficient this week.

I hope all my work this year will be this much fun and enjoyable.

On day 2 of training, the group constantly have situations to deal with - to learn what to do, what not to do. This group learnt that straight line journeys are not always the best plan!

A group at the top of the hill on the right

Group 4 on Antler Ridge, on their way down from Carn Torcaidh

I had a great time on my bike this week - but finally the tyres have given up and the inner tube is making a break for freedom. The bike managed to limp home to the end in Braemar.

Ellie, Meggie, Grace, Sarah, Victoria, Madeleine and Carmen going strong on their biggest hill day - here walking NE from Coire na creige

Looking down at Bynack Lodge

I had time to check out a few properties - here is Mar Lodge

At the end of the exped in Braemar, the groups finally got their boots off and revealed their blisters. There had been very little complaining all exped, despite the resonable level of suffering.

No, this isn't compeed (compeed.co.uk) - this is the blister under the compeed!

Winter on the Hills

The Northern Corries of the Cairngorms from Loch Morlich

Coire an t-Sneachda on 12th May

Coire an Lochain on 12th May

Cairngorm Mountain ski resort on 12th May

12th May

East Face of Aonach Mor from the Cairngorms on 11th May

Creag Meagaidh from the Cairngorms on 11th May