College Exped With The First Years

 ( Hunter Mountaineering will be launched soon )

At the start of the 2 day mini exped

Today was day 2 of the mini exped with the UHI WHC ATM1 students. Craig and I took our groups out together to Steall meadows, then up to Coire Giubhsachan to make camp. The groups were looking at navigation, group leadership, decision making, route choice and personal movement for the 2 days. The rest of the day took us to the top of Aonach Beag, and route choice to find a way down. Today on day 2 we took a more in depth look at a little micro nav, before we headed up Meall Cumhann, and then back to the college in Fort William. A great 2 days, good weather and good company with the new first years at the University and Craig McDonald.

The group searching for a campsite - plenty to chose from

Kristen doing some map-work on the ridge

Natalie and Becky studying the map

A great view over towards Aonach Mor

Ben Nevis pops out of the clouds

Andy Nelson and his group from Ballachulish

Jess taking a drink

Our groups pack up ready for the rest of day 2

Meall Cumhann

Meall Cumhann - Just Below The Snow Line

The Grade 2 scramble up Meall Cumhann and Steall Falls in the background

WHC, UHI

Today I was working with Gillian Culshaw and the First Year ATM Degree Course students - on their assessment of  Leadership on the hill. We wanted to keep below the low snow line, and yet still have a simple scramble to a summit with a little nav back to the van, so we headed to Glen Nevis and Meall Cumhann, which was just below the snow line, even though it's only at 698m. The students had to plan the route, manage the safety and the group and demonstate different effective leadership styles and communication. Well done to the whole team. We had some wintery showers low down, which would have been a little more snow higher up. On the higher hills winter is still here...

One of the steeper slippery sections of the ridge

Walking off from the summit of Meall Cumhann (698m)