COURSE SPECIFICS

The Mountain Leader Training Course will be run by independent providers at Schackleton Lodge. It will be heavily subsidised in order to help develop a strong leader base at Brathay Exploration Group and lead expeditions in the future either in UK or abroad.

You will be expected to proceed to pass Mountain Leader Assessment within the following 3 years or else pay back the subsidy (£250) and will sign a contract binding you to this.

On completion of the Mountain Leader Assessment you will be expected to lead at least 2 expeditions for Brathay Exploration Group within the following 5 years.

Dates : 19th - 24th April 2010

Accommodation : from Shackleton Lodge until expedition then Members Hut on return for debrief

Cost : £80 for potential BEG leaders or £350 commercial fee (including BEG membership)

Food : Self catering
You will require 3 days breakfast, packed lunches and dinners and 3 days full expedition food

Equipment : All personal equipment must be brought (list available on request),
 there are 3 man tents and Trangia stoves and fuel bottles available to borrow on request

Contact : Gillian Tuddenham brathay.exploration.club@googlemail.com

PRE-REQUISITES

You must be registered for the Mountain Leader Award which costs £35. You can register online at Mountain Leader Training England. You must register before booking onto a training course.

To register you must meet the pre-requirements of 12 months mountain walking experience and be a minimum of 18 years old and a member of a Mountaineering Council.

Brathay Exploration Club is already affiiliated with the BMC and for an additional £14.75 you can become an individual member BMC Club Upgrade

Training

Before attending a training course you should have logged a minimum of 20 quality mountain daysIn terms of experience, the quality of a mountain day lies in such things as the conditions experienced both overhead and underfoot, the exploration of new areas, the terrain covered and the physical and mental challenge. Such days make a positive contribution towards a person’s development and maturity as an all round mountaineer.

Usually some or all of these criteria would be fulfilled:
• the individual takes part in the planning and leadership
• navigation skills are required away from marked paths
• experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish hills
• knowledge is increased and skills practised
• attention is paid to safety
• five hours or more journey time
• adverse conditions may be encountered

COURSE PROGRAMME

Day1  Introductory Navigation

Maps  1:25.000 SW, NW & SE

            1:50.000 Sheet No90

Please pack your sack as if you were leading a group on the mountains for the day.  This should include what you consider to be suitable emergency & first aid kit as well as personal kit. Please do not go out and buy if you do not have as there will be opportunity to discuss different equipment and what is best suited to a leader

There will be a chance to look at first aid kits at some stage in the week.

Evening  Weather lecture

Day 2 Security on steep ground

Please bring a helmet if you have one. You will also need leather gloves of some description.

Evening  Access and conservation lecture

Day 3  River crossings and expedition planning

We will cover river crossings in the morning so please bring spare boots.

In the afternoon we will look at expedition food, tents and route choice as expedition planning.

Day 4-6 Expedition
You will be out for 2 nights, 3 days.  We will return for lunch on day 6 after which we will have a review of the week and round up. 

Individual debrief and action plans before assessment.

Please bring your own tent, food and stoves. We will have a look at all the different tents and it may be that you share with another course member if you are happy for this.

We will be out for at least one night navigation, Please ensure you have sufficient batteries should we be out for a 2^nd night.