6th Sept, BMC Gower Climb Festival

On Sunday the Gower Climb Festival still had lots of climbers about - including lots of visitors from North Wales - sometimes we actually have less rain than North Wales - but this summer it seems to be raining everywhere.

Today I was with Ed Abbley, knocking off some VS routes for his MIA. Above he can be seen in good form on the classic Osiris ***. Thankfully he climbed through the spots of rain and found a way round that massive roof ! An awesome route - only one of many we have on Gower obviously :)

31st Aug - 5th Sept, Gold D of E Practice Expedition

During the training the bothy bags were invaluable because we had such terrible weather. In this session, both groups chose to get in their bags. Apparently space was limited and one girl couldn't fit both arms inside..

At this point both groups were in their bothy bags and the dog was in his (no dogs were harmed in the making of this photo).

At last one of the groups realised it wasn't raining any more..

Here's the same group of girls in poor visibility but looking confident approaching the top of the hill.

The week started with some navigation practice.

This was a week for an Open Gold D of E Practice Expedition. 15 candidates attended. The weather was particularly terrible this week, with rain followed by rain and Thursday was very testing with strong strong wind. The groups all made fantastic decisions in testing situations, at least one group had to use an escape option on Thursday to escape the wind. 1 candidate pulled out on the third day, but all the others managed to get to the end of the expedition in Abergavenney. Huge congratulations to them all, and best wishes for your assesments..

24th - 29th Aug, Gold D of E Assessed Expedition

A group just passing me, with Pen Y Fan and Corn Du in the distance. A couple of groups will be going over there tomorrow.

I'm left wondering whether the group will get caught in another massive downpour - oh, and me too, hood up..

A better day today looking over the reservoir at Pen Y Fan again.

I had a chance to lay down (groups never turn up when you expect them to) - this is the way a sheep would see Pen Y Fan, if it were bothered to look around.

The group arrived at the wild camp, and asked where they could camp, the dead sheep put them off the best spot. The group were happy enough with this flat spot, running water and fresh air.

This week was an Open Gold D of E Assessed Expedition with A to Z Expeditions. All the candidates arrived on the Monday afternoon, when Andy and I met them. We had to quickly get them all acquainted and working in teams - they were future best friends but didn't know it yet.

Eventually after 2 days of final training and preparations they were ready for the actual assessed expedition. Unfortunately the weather was going to be a massive test - RAIN RAIN HAIL and WIND :(

After day 1 with constant unrelenting wind and rain, the strain was showing on them all, especially those arriving at their wild camp - no luxuries there. Everybody got personal showing blisters and war wounds. Unknown to them all - by the morning 1 would drop out.

In the morning, I met them at 7am (I'd come from the luxury of a campsite with 'taps'), and yes the strain of the day before and the mess of blistered feet became to much for 1 candidate.

Day 3 saw the final moments of another candidate, hip pains, exhaustion and sore feet becoming too much to bare. The others pushed on and finally in the final day, when we all experienced 'SUN'. they arrived at the fabled End of Expedition.

The assessors passed them all - congratulations to them all.

21st Aug, Sennybridge

I took the group of soldiers canoeing today. Another great day on the Wye. They all learnt the skills fast, and progressed down the river, deciding when and how often to capsize. Smiles all round. We reviewed the 6 army core values and went for a cup of tea, great...

20th Aug, Sennybridge

The Soldiers today were in for a challenge - we were going climbing. But the weather conspired against us and it was set to rain, so we went indoors to Llangorse Climbing centre. Llangorse have finished their new wing, which is excellent. The day went well, except that a couple of soldiers found the abseil a challenge, and got lost in the cave...

19th Aug, Sennybridge

Today we took the Soldiers under training (SuT's) caving, to Porth yr Ogof. It was a great session. they rose to the challenge and made themselves proud.

18th Aug, Sennybridge

My first day of work at the Group development Wing. Today we went canoeing in the Wye from Glasbury to Holybush. The weather was perfect and the Soldiers under training spent as much time swimming at they were canoeing it seeemed.