National Poetry Day

"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling" - Oscar Wilde

In the spirit of  National poetry day 2013, here is some of my own bad poetry, I just hope you can all spot the genuine feeling from whence it sprang. I wrote this whilst up on the ice cap and hope that you enjoy it.... or at least don't judge me too openly.

Nunatak

Nunatak,

Tumbled stack,

Reaching up to peaks of black

Ice below,

Slowly flow,

Tumble rumble creak and groan

Sunlit sky,

Blue on high,

'Neath midnight sun no night is nigh

Rocky peak,

Icy creek

Sunsoaked ice cap ever bleak

Photograph by Emma Godson

Week 3 : Managing Expectations

"The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way" - Robert Kiyosaki

With thoughts of ‘our’ sunsoaked ice cap still fresh in our minds, My fellow TLs and I met with our mentor amidst the Glum faces and despondent demeanours of base camp. In the absence of further ice cap travel in the foreseeable future we had to re-arrange our plans as a group. Thus we received another lesson in on the recurring theme of our expedition leader training: Rolling with the punches.  Throughout our trip it became apparent that at all times when leading in an expedition context having the flexibility to abandon plans A through G  at a moments notice in order to make a new plan is a skill of paramount importance. With some amongst us still suffering with the injuries from the previous weeks and an advance base camp on the ice cap loaded with supplies and tents which were no use to man nor beast where they were, our original roster for our first week working with the Young Explorers (YEs) was subject to changes. The new plan resulted in some people returning to the ice cap with the tent rescue party, others remaining at base camp and still more of us heading out to various new locations with YEs to find adventure in the absence of the ice cap. 

 It was someones unenviable task to chase the storm battered remains of this beast 

around the ice cap.

I was going to get my first chance to work with the YEs this week and I couldn’t wait, although Id have to. They were heading out straight away and I still had umpteen thousand filthy socks and other bits and pieces to corral and clean and re-pack after our week away on the ice. So the (Gnarly Gnarly) Otters and their leaders set off for the Nůvvavum peninsular to the north west of base camp leaving us to our washerwoman inspired beating of socks on rocks. Me, the TL mentor and three other TLs were to set off to follow them the next morning. So I scrubbed and washed and soaked and cleaned, and eventually came to the realisation that on exped cleanliness is relative, and though my socks still wiffed faintly and looked as though they might up and walk them selves out of my tent at a moments notice, I could at last bear to be in the same tent as them, so that would do. The following morning dawned and I eagerly packed up ready to head off the 7k to the peninsular where we would be spending the rest of the week. For a short walk it  was not without its excitement. First after reaching the end of the ‘road’ we set off cross-country and up a neighbouring valley to find a river crossing site. Despite its relative proximity this valley was fascinatingly different, it was, as our geomorphologist informed us a former glacial lake which had broken fourth from its headwall and drained at some point this meant that in comparison to our ‘home’ valley it was relatively wet at seemingly fertile, extensive dwarf birch forests amongst the wetland and lakes. 

The neighboring valley.

As we climbed higher up the valley towards a gorge of the river, the land dried out and we started searching for a safe place to cross. Insert calamity no.1, some of our group were less confident in and around water and so I eagerly volunteered to help our TL mentor scout out some crossings and then get people safely across. In my eagerness to prove my competence (coupled with my eagerness to get in the water as any member of my family will attest) I hurried in to plant myself firmly up to my waist so that I could help my colleagues across moments later our mentor came across to put my pack on the further bank for me. As I helped her past me I spotted, firmly attached to the outside of my bag the lightweight fast drying pair of trainers which I had packed specifically for river crossings. I looked down and there, thoroughly submersed and fully soaking wet beneath the water where my feet, wearing heavy, leather gore-tex line B2 mountaineering boots….. Nightmare.

So we all got a cross and I soldiered on with now sodden feet feeling a prize idiot.  On the way back down the valley however we encountered calamity number 2. One of our group who had just been forced to miss out on the ice cap week due to an injured ankle , re-injured the ankle on the uneven terrain. This required evacuation to base camp. The evacuation came in the form of the chief scientist detouring the day’s oceanography study to pick up the injured party by boat. SO after waiting by the fjord side for a while and trying desperately to dry my socks out, we left minus one member of our crew to meet up with the others you on the peninsular. When I got there I was both pleased and surprised to meet a group of YEs with huge grins and excited attitudes.

Given that 36hrs before I had seen tears and anger from a number amongst the expedition I was not expecting to be greeted so warmly by the group. But to their credit (and I dare say that of the leaders who managed to keep them bus) the group was boyant and eager to investigate their ‘paintpot’ valley. 

 Home sweet home, the Otter's den !

Our sun-soaked little corner of norway, 'Paintpot valley'

Over the next week I would come to know all of the group better. They taught me to fish (although I was very unsuccessful) they taught me the words to their ‘marching’ song ‘the gnarly gnarly otters’ and above all they taught me (although I’m not sure they new it) a huge amount about leadership in an expedition context. Simply by working with them I learned a lot about myself, about where I am successful in leadership, and where I am less so, areas to work on and which habits to maintain and which to see off rapidly. Above all by watching their interation with their leaders and the other TLs who were working with otter fire and other fires, I learned that as a leader, you must never assume the respect of the people you are leading. With all the experience in the world and 15 everest summits under your belt if you neglect to give a group the time and attention they desire, or if they become aware of your weaknesses or shortcomings, then even the (seemingly) nicest group of people can turn on a person. 

Learning invaluable lessons from a seasoned and accomplished outdoor leader.

As well as learning through experience with the YEs, I was very lucky in that Otter Fire had a most excellent leader team. Comprised of the Deputy chief leader and the Chief scientist, there was no shortage of experience or expertise, and I was very fortunate to get to work with them both and learn a lot from each of them. The DCL, is a seasoned outdoors man, bushcraft instructor and serving member of the RAF, so I managed to glean, by watching him working with the YEs, Brilliant methods for taking the more military style of leadership that I learned working with the Air Cadets, and tweak those skills to apply them in a civilian context. as a Mountain Leader, Winter ML and soon to be international ML he also had an encyclopedic knowledge of knots and practical outdoor skills to teach. The Chief Scientist has spent years working as a career, outdoor science teacher, taking young people on exciting but none the less scientific, trips into Scotland's wild places. In essence my dream job which I was previously un-aware of the real world existence of. From him I learned about the variety of exciting options opened to me, asd well as some invaluable tips about delivering scientific teaching in an outdoor context, and keeping a groups focus when you are literally surrounded by distractions. Two fascinating and thoroughly inspirational outdoor leaders whom I feel privileged to have worked with.

A pretty epic place to study science and have adventures

Our Job as TLs was made particularly difficult by our relative closeness in age to the YEs (some YEs were older than a few members of the TL group) without the bonus of respect through seniority in years, I witnessed particular members of the TL programme struggle to earn the respect of the YEs and others who earned too much of their ‘respect’ and became overly friendly  rather than acting as ‘leaders’ during this time. and I hope I managed to learn from their short comings and treat the group with a mutual respect that indicated to them that my intentions were honest and despite our closeness in age that I had earned my place as their ‘leader’ (although I actually found that by establishing a careful balance between being their equal and being ‘in-charge’ as it were, I managed to get the best out of the group[I hope]).

All in all I was simply thrilled to spend an exciting week in a fascinating place, getting to work with a thoroughly Excellent group of young people who most certainly handles their disappointment with grace and a brilliant attitude.

I leave you with the view out too sea from my humble Bivvi Bedroom.

Who gets to go on Expedition ? #YET18

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.

-Nelson Mandela

Pearls of wisdom from arguably the most Noteable leader  in a generation. A sentiment also that I strongly relate to, I have never been an 'alpha' when it comes to leadership. 'packs on and follow me' just doesn't sound like the sort of thing you are likely to hear from me. Due in part to the way I have always preferred to learn throughout my education career and also by dint of my tendency towards being a softy red socialist I believe that in educating young people a back seat approach allows them to develop best. Of course different situations require different reactions and the ability, confidence and skills to come to the fore and take over in a crisis are paramount for the outdoor leader.

Today I had cause to consider the implications of different leadership styles compared with different types of expedition groups as well as the importance of a support network of professionals guidelines and practices whilst taking groups overseas as I eagerly followed the The Young Explorers Trust's forum on Inclusive expeditions.

The The Young Explorers Trust is an association which encompasses many of the leading youth expedition providers and gives advice and support to explorers, leaders, and corporations as well as offering professional support and good practice evaluations to expedition leaders. They have played a fundamental role in monitoring the progress of British Standard 8848 (named for the height of Everest 8848m) which sets out safe practice guidelines and baseline procedures for all corporations which offer adventurous activities and expeditions outside the UK.

In their Bi-annual forums the The Young Explorers Trust discuss a variety of key issues to do with expedition with young people. From BSI standards to leader selection and development the work of the YET forum is influential and often results in standards being developed to which many companies conform.

This year the topic at the forefront was of Inclusive Expeditions, a title whose brevity belies  the vast range of topics it covers.

Inclusive, good-quality education is a foundation for dynamic and equitable societies. 

- Desmond Tutu

For me Inclusive Expeditions refers to a simple and broad concept that ALL young people should have equal access to the opportunities provided by overseas expeditions. By nature of my past experiences with expeditions and youth development The first aspect of Inclusive expedition which concerns me is the Provision of expeditions that manage to escape the current, seemingly elitist, principles dictated most obviously by the sheer cost of a single expedition. But also more subtly in the manner of the advertisement of international expeditions.

I can certainly say that In my entire time at a state comprehensive in Essex no one ever came to talk to us about the opportunities available on an expedition with companies Like British Exploring or World Challenge or any of the other providers large or small. This is not to blame the companies specifically for this missing information as both rely on members and former explorers passing on the message, and so in a self defeating circle of bad fortune schools like mine, struggle to get 'into the loop' as it were. That said even if a expedition weary furry faced adventurer had arrived at school, no matter how adeptly he could wet out appetites for adventure, would not necessarily have left with a horde of would be explorers following him, pied piper style out of town. Sadly for me at that tender age and I dare say the vast majority  of the other pupils at my school, A £3000-£4000 bill for the expedition not including flights or personal equipment  as is the case with most of the large providers, would have meant plans instantly getting scrapped. Granted fundraising is an acceptable option, Indeed in order to fund my training I am relying heavily on fundraising to cover costs *points to donation widget* ----->> *wink*. However as has been shown with the effect of recent university fee increases on recruitment from low income backgrounds, even in the presence of bursaries, assistance, fundraising or a variety of other payment options, for many people on low incomes the sight of a bill in the £1000's is enough to put them off from even inquiring further.

From Anders 2012 

(http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-5890.2012.00158.x/pdf)

So in my mind the way to make expeditions more inclusive is a two fold approach;

Increase publicity of all forms of expedition schemes for all young people. Talks in schools, and youth groups should be universal. Essentially the more young people find out about the schemes the more chance we have of including a wider range of backgrounds. talks in SEN schools, At risk youth groups, Youth counselling and development organisations and a variety of other non-standard educational institutions will again increase the inclusivity of expedition.

The second 'fold' of this approach is to develop and build the bursary and funding portfolio and increase awareness of the funding options both in young people who we want to go on expeditions but also in groups and organisations that can help with funding. I believe a set of corporate bursaries to assist young people from low income back grounds to enjoy an expedition would not only benefit those young people but also by developing a more inclusive and therefore diverse group on expedition hopefully widen the perceptions of all members of the group by introducing them to the different pressures and struggles of a variety of lifestyles and backgrounds. 

In essence I believe inclusive expeditions are not just fairer but objectively better for all those in attendance. The development of a 'gap- yah' set (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22294205) is not in my opinion beneficial to society or young people as a whole. We should be sending groups on expedition that are representative of modern British society, a variety of backgrounds, incomes and ethnicities will introduce the young people to a realistic concept of their future, working as part of a group with a myriad different lifestyles and former experiences that one's self can only be a good thing for young people.

Many groups are running 'accessible' or 'outreach' expeditions to assist the most vulnerable or at risk Young people and these all make an invaluable contribution  to the lives of their participants. From specially catered trips for children with special educational needs, or physical disabilities to programmes for At Risk or vulnerable Youths. For example British Exploring's Brilliant Dangoor next generation programme which works with NEET (not in education employment or training) Young people (which I hope to be lucky enough to work on in the future). And so there are now a huge variety of options for young people with difficult issues to over come in terms of  expeditioning.

But we mustn't for get the middle ground. If expeditions are to be truly inclusive we cannot simply run 'normal' programmes for those that can afford the bill and 'outreach' programmes for those with specific issues. We must cater in a fully inclusive manner and make the thrill of expeditions available to everyone. 

Because essentially Expeditions are Excellent, even if you exclude the invaluable personal development aspect  everyone deserves a chance to go to Excellent places and do Excellent things !

Sleeping comfortable and sleeping warm.

'I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting' - Mark Twain

My Bed for the Week

'I have never taken any excersize except sleeping and resting' - Mark Twain

 Mark Twain it would seem could have been a successful and well respected mattress tester, and hell would he have written the most urban and engaging of mattress reviews wouldn't he? However in a world all the poorer for no longer containing Mark Twain you, my readers, and multimat will have to make to with me. I'll do my best, I do sleep quite a lot.

Just over a month ago I was very excited to be tweeted by multimat with regards to taking some of their great sleeping mats to the Arctic with me this summer. Needles to say I leapt at the chance to daub myself with the title of 'Kit tester' particularly when the helpful staff I was in contacted with me directed me to summit 25/38 and the summit-xl, the mat arrangement Rannulph Fiennes and the Coldest Journey team were using. Which needless to say makes me feel all the more like a proper explorer, albeit one with significantly more regard for his fingers.

Straight out of the box I was already impressed by the thoughtful little features which make these mats really user friendly.

My two favourite features

The foam roll mat has two large metal eyelets at the top with tape attached for fixing the mat once rolled. And the Self inflating mat comes with a fleece lined storage sack (possibly the most useful feature of any piece of gear I have encountered to date) so that once the mats are out and bed beckons the days clothes that you have taken off go into the inside out stuff sack and form a fleecey comfortable pillow. Neither of these features is integral to the manufacture or function of the mats but both indicate the care and attention given to the design of the products. It is reassuring to feel that the outdoor sporting products you are using have been design by people with an understanding of the needs and wants of the end users. These two small add ons re-enforced for me that the products I was using were designed by outdoor enthusiasts to be used in the outdoors.

These two features are very easily forgotten if the mats to which they are attached do a bad job of keeping one, comfortable and warm in ones, sleep. I am pleased to be able to say that these  features were not forgotten however as the mats performed brilliantly all week.

I am yet to put them through a full Arctic conditions test but over the 5 nights camping at my recent training course the mats proved functional, comfortable and warm.

Check out the multimat website for more on their mats.

I have always been a particularly mobile sleeper, it not being uncommon for me to wake up at the other end of the bed in the middle of the night. As such I have struggled with other mat combinations in the past not being able to cope with that mobility. At the previous training weekend I had a terrible nights sleep as I had to wake up every hour to drag my inflating and roll mats back onto one another to go back to sleep. There was no grip between the two and I was woken up frequently lying on the cold floor. 

This week however I am pleased to report no such problems. The non-slip water repellent base fabric lived up to its name ans gripped onto the roll mat with great sturdiness and I spent all night comfortable and well placed on the mat.

The two thicknesses in the inflating mat helped to reduce pack size but will require full blown Arctic testing to test their limits. for this week though it performed admirable and kept me warm and comfortable.

The only real draw back with the mat set up was my own impatience with the self inflating mat. I have never been one to wait around for the mat to inflate. This is not too much of a problem with most of my camping as I simply inflate it with breath ( Although this is an ill advised tactic in general). On the icecap however this will be particularly counter productive as the cold temperatures could freeze the moisture in the air I breath in to the mat forming crystals which can damage the mat and cause it to de-laminate. As such I need to work on my patience or find a way of getting cool dry air into the mat. Any suggestions welcome !

All in all the mats performed brilliantly and I am happy (and excited) to take these mats with me to Norway this summer !

A huge thank you to Multimat for all their help so far !

BatCat the notorious First Aid moggy

"When written in Chinese the word "crisis" is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity." -John F Kennedy

If the content of this quote from infamous linguaphile JFK (of German doughnut fame) is to be believed then the Chinese people seem to have quite adequately summed up the exploration mindset. Last week I had the 'opportunity' to learn how to assess, manage and minimize the 'dangers' to life and limb which can come about in a 'crisis' situation.

As part of the British exploring Trainee Leader problem we were put through a 16hr expedition first aid course with Expedition Care Program. The course was comprised of practical training  test scenarios and a certain amount of the obligatory death by powerpoint needed to get such a volume of information across in the short space of time. 

bandaging leg wound

Expedition Care Program have a huge amount of experience in expedition first aid and so the course was brilliantly tailored to meet the needs of a first aider in a remote location. A variety of adaptive techniques were delivered with great focus on how to deliver vital life saving care in the a situation where conditions and supplies could be less than idea. Gaffa tape came in to play. A lot.

A fetching head wound dressing to be combined with a nasopharyngeal tube to maintain an airway

In terms of my journey to expedition leadership the course has provided invaluable insight into the world of expedition first aid and medicine. Not only has the developed my personal skill set to allow me to cope in emergency situations (not to mention legally use any outdoor certifications I gain in the next three years), but also it has opened my eyes to a potential new line of interest for me in the world of expeditions.

First aid has always interested me, Since early days of being a practice student for my wonderful Mum when she worked as a first aid trainer and member of the festival medical services. Through Youth first aid qualifications at school and into work were I inevitably end up getting involved in any incidents which occur. I must admit I enjoy dealing with the situations. So perhaps a career in expedition or outdoors first aid/medicine could be calling. I have long planned to join the local MRT when I finally get settled in a home and job somewhere in the highlands so perhaps continuing down this line could prove interesting in my future.

And so I sit here planning potentiall exciting courses and far flung situations were i can break out the torniquets haemostatic dressings and gaffa tape to save someones life! 

And then to the title... a little strange as it may be we had some seemingly expert assistance from a certain feline resident of the scout camp we were staying on. This four pawed first aider let eagerly into the middle of a practice first aid situation to sit on the face and chest of the casualty clearly indicating to the other trainees exactly which order they should be administering CPR in.

The infamous first aid assistant (it has a batman symbol on its back)

Worringly I sometimes find myself hoping for a situation to arise to put my skills to the test. (not hoping so hard as to cross the line into sociopathic you understand).....

On which frightening note  I will leave you whilst I continue to write up the ongoing adventures I had in the last week learning and developing as an explorer and (hopefully) a leader. 

Don't pee in the sea

'The joy of leading is not born of pushing one's own limits but seeing

the sense of achievements in the eyes of others when they believe they are pushing theirs'

-Me , yesterday

My climbing pal, a seasoned climber and qualified instructor

leading Amen Corner D*

Yesterday I spent a vaguely windy and wave splashed day on Grey Mare  slabs north of Cruden bay Aberdeenshire. The rock was grippy the angle was shallow and in general the climbing was nontechnical  However for me having not climbed outside in ten or more years and certainly never on a trad route with gear to consider, the experience was great.

Whilst pondering on my lonely wave battered belay I realised that the art of leadership is not in strapping on a pack and leading a group of novices up the multi-pitch E5 6b,precarious mountain ridge, double diamond black route or continuous grade 4 river run. It is a case of facilitating others in experiencing and enjoying the outdoors to whatever degree of their ability's limits that they wish to. Certainly one should never be leading outside one's own ability that is, as my training with BE has taught me, a source of many Lemons.

My pondering place

The climbing yesterday, A couple of D* routes from the guidebook and one S route which we have yet to find a listing for, may not even have been within my technical limits but it certainly taught me a lot. Practicing  abseiling and rope work, confirming thing I already thought I knew with a qualified instructor, setting up belays and rope systems, and getting ready to start leading trad soon. All valuable lessons for me as a leader and as a climber

The final and most valuable lesson I learned is that Peeing into the see from you little belay slab seems to anger the sea god and so he minces you with a huge wave that has not crashed in before and will not crash in again for the rest of the day. A genuine one off, don't pee in me or else threat. Lesson learned Poseidon, my bad.

As an aside Whilst searching for a crag map that I could upload to mark my routes on to show you here I found this Bomber little climber putting me to shame ! 

It just goes to show you don't need to leave Dave Macleod quaking in his boots to have a great day on the rock.

On a rope on a rope...

'it is only in adventure that some people succeed in knowing themselves- in finding themselves'

- Andre Gide

My adventure, despite its infancy at this point in the Journey, has already lead me along way down the road to knowing myself. This weekend was no exception.

Arriving home Sunday night around 19:30, exhausted and armed with a vague air of damp and a faint waft of unshowered body, I plonked myself on the edge of the bed and removed my left shoe. Upon completion of this task, I proceeded to fall into a deep, contended and certainly very welcome sleep. Awakening only once before 8 o'clock this morning for just long enough to struggle out of the right boot.

The weekend was damp and grey and tiring and busy and..... One of the most rewarding experiences in the last six months of my life. 

Meeting with the Leader Team for our expedition and getting to grips with rope techniques left me with a lot to think about in the run up to the expedition. The weekend has really brought home to me the reality of the situation and I can feel a palpable sense of excitement beginning to smolder  and as time goes on and more preparation and plans are put in place that excited ember can only grow into an ever greater flame.

Friday was taken up mostly by travelling down, and short of  a couple of sketchy moments due to an apparent lack of road signs, and one successful attempt to ford a river in a Mondeo the journey was quiet and uneventful. Arriving just in time for dinner I took a place among my fellow trainee leaders one of many long benches laid out in the Barn like kitchen at the Great Tower Scout Camp. I eagerly tucked into  my plate of chilli con carne and for a time little other than brief greetings were shared as many of us hungry from our travels merrily filled our bellies with warm hearty fare. Soon enough the meal was finished plates were cleared and we had time to catch up with each other about our exploits since our first meeting. Similar such discussions were being had in numerous other groups and the barn was a hive of hustle and bustle.

most of the Finnmark 2013 team

Soon after we divided into our relevant expeditions and retired to our training rooms to be introduced to one another. The evening that transpired was, for me at least, a fascinating experience, as we took a whistle stop tour of the Careers and experience of each of the members of our leader team. Frankly I would have given an arm and a leg to have one of just about any of the careers they described. Lives of excitement and adventure coupled with educating and inspiring young people were described in a myriad different combinations, all of which I found particularly inspired me to get back to University and get qualified to go out there and do all this.

Soon enough it was bed time and we retired to our campsite (or as it shall more appropriately be referred to hereafter 'The Rockery') in order to to pitch our tents in the best and most persistent rain Windermere had to offer. Needless to said ubiquitous drizzle eliminated the chances of Bivvying out for the night. Instead I chose to throw all my gear into the Bivvy bag to keep it dry and Dive into a larger tent with a friend.

Awaking early on Saturday we were met by the sick-makingly fresh face of Dr nick ( Hi everybody... )  one of our expedition doctors (a serving paratrooper and fitness fanatic) eager to lead us all in a merry yomp around the scout camp with regular stops for plenty of military-esque jumping and shouting. Then quick spot of breakfast heated up on a camp stove and it was time to spring board into the day.

The day was spent practicing, re-practicing and then continuing to practice the techniques for crevasse rescue and glacier travel. Ascending ropes on Prussilk slings and then descending by Lowering off  or abseiling took up 90% of the day.

 One of the TL's  'Dumaring' up a rope on prussiks

Two basic prussik knots on a rope

The remaining 10% was taken up by an introduction to the plans for scientific study on the expedition followed by a heavily Antipodean themed pub quiz... maybe the Australian Science Leader had something to do with it ?

The explanation of the science was more than enough to wet my appetite despite the fact that it was heavily centered on geology rather than biology. And I was given the opportunity to put forward the numerous Ideas I had for zoological Research ( My personal area of study) Aided with support from the afore mentioned Australian science leader I was able to make a strong enough case to the chief scientist that I have I am being allowed to plan and run a schedule of Zoological study for the whole expedition. To date this is the single most exciting prospect I have encountered. In appreciation of this I have appointed myself the title of chief expedition zoologist (an entirely unearned moniker mostly there to massage my ego).

The infamous Aussie-phile Biologist

Basking in the glow of my prestigious position and warmed by wine a night on 'The Rockery' Flew by and it was soon time to go back out on a run minus the fitness mad Dr Nick. That morning however my shin splints were back with a vengeance and I barely manage to struggle through a short section of the run. This was annoying to say the least as it says nothing for my ongoing training to get fit for the  expedition. A situation not helped by a pinch of patronizing tone for the fat guy who 'can't' run.

Embarrassment aside it was time for a little more 'Dumaring' and rope work to round off a thrilling weekend.

Me (in blue) about to lower down a crag.

One last lunch all together and the weekend was sadly over. Far too quickly if you ask me. A quick summary and a few goodbyes and it was time to pack up the tents and head home back to civvy street to prepare materials for my zoology study program.

As for the drive home I don't believe there were any river crossings but I couldn't comment on much other than a dusting of snow on the Lakeland hills as we left:

Because soon after this picture was taken, My weekend caught up with me:

preparation. ready. aand......

'Before anything preparation is the key to success' 

- Alexander Graham Bell

With that in mind I am rushing around at the last minute packing for the training weekend. I'm making up for this last minute rush by bringing plenty of spare gear for my fellow Trainee Leaders. pictured below is my personal gear: bottom left pile. The rest of the picture contains  an additional 3 tents and 2 sleep mats.

My weekend in Windermere (incidentally the title of my first hill-walking romance novel) will be accompanied by the best of the lakeland weather. Three days of rain.

Will orate for cash

'Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion'

-Cicero

I'm not sure that my fluency is up to the standards of a Classical Roman Orator and I know for a fact that I'm have far to much of a loud mouth to be considered discrete. And so with a little trepidation I have started offering my services as a 'speaker'. My family will happily reassure you that for me speaking will provide no challenge at all. Shutting up on the other hand....

As part of my Fundraising for the Expedition I have taken to letter writing, sending out a description of myself, the society and our expedition along with a request for donations to any local charitable groups, Round tables, Rotary clubs, Organisations and people on the street as I can find addresses for. In Return for any potential donations I am offering myself as a provider of post consumptorary oration and light entertainment, i.e. an after dinner speech and maybe a juggling act or magic show.

Batch no.1 hot off the press and ready for shipping out.

I am also organising  to provide talks to a few schools and Youth Groups about the Expeditions British exploring offer and benefits, costs and funding options, in order to further the cause of the society and hopefully recruit a new generation of keen young explorers to take off on adventures around the world.

So with these in mind I have to start planning speeches, rehearsing charming and hilarious anecdotes and preparing for potential hecklers. Luckily for the school talks I can rely on the thrilling prospect of adventure and a certain degree of authority based largely on the size differential between me and the children I am talking to, to keep my audience silent and attentive.  Talking to large groups of adults who are not legally obliged to remain in the building with me until at least the home time bell, is  another kettle of fish.

Pitching to crowds which could potentially be so varied really is leaving me with a knotted feeling in the pit of my stomach. As already mentioned most people who have met me will attest to the fact that I will win gold the day verbal diarrhea makes it into the Olympics  Despite this, and the fact that I seem to receive relatively good reactions to a greater proportion of the sentences which spew fourth; I have, to date, employed a conversational technique inspired by the US military, i.e. put enough conversational rounds in the air and eventually some will land where you want.

After dinner speaking is going to call for some sharpshooting rather than Full auto spraying and for this I will have to resort to practice. Well planned speeches, rehearsal in front of the mirror and a pocket full of flash cards just in case will all be called into action. But developing these skills can only serve to benefit me in later life, and so begins the first of many Areas of personal development which this trainee leader scheme is going to assist me with.

You never know, by the end of the process I may be able make a blog post that takes less that half an hour to read. I might even start reining in sentences under 100 words . And one day, if I work hard I may be able to accurately express myself in 140 characters or less ( I mean come on twitter can't I go a little over Even my dissertation allows 10% either way on the word count. My messages to Stephen Fry are so groundbreaking they need to go over that limit I'm sorry).

But as Shakespeare said through the lips of Polonius (or the actor playing him):

 'Brevity is the Sole of wit'

First steps

So here I go setting off on the journey of a life time. And I don't just mean 6 weeks In Norway. I mean Me, Grabbing My life in both hands and taking it in the direction I want. No more sitting back and letting it wash over me.

 'A genuine Leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus'

-Martin Luther King Jnr

I hope through British Exploring's 2013 Trainee Leader Programme to foster and develop within Myself the skills required to become a 'molder of consensus'.

The road ahead stretches before me and I still have many miles to cover before even leaving UK soil. However I hope to return from 6 weeks in a tent refreshed (even If I don't smell as such) and determined to redouble my efforts to achieve all my goals. Armed with a host of experiences and arsenal of skills to bring to all the aspects of my life.

My two great passions In life are the study of science and  experiencing the great wide world we live in; Climbing/walking/cycling up things, sliding/running/rolling/jumping off said things and just being in and around the wonders of nature that are all around. The concept of combining these two things into a fruitful career has always lingered in the back of my mind as a great Idea.

'My Heart is in the Highlands' -Burns

However since starting A new Job At an Outdoor sports Retailer in 2011 and Meeting a host of Amazing and Inspiring People It has become more and More apparent that with the right combination of qualifications and sufficient experience that great idea is not an untenable dream.

So with Trepidation I set out on my journey and was very pleased to be excepted on to the British Exploring societies Trainee leader scheme, A set of 4 weekends of training followed by 6 weeks expedition In Norway and a final set of assessments designed to develop within me the skills experiences and attitudes required to Lead a new generation of adventurers into the wilderness and foster within them the same love of wild places and thrilling activities that I am so grateful to have been introduced to.

On the 15th of Feb I set out on the unnecessarily epic (due to public transport difficulties) journey to an ominous looking scout camp (Lots of barbed wire, Silos and Military checkpoint style gates) to attend the first training weekend.

A great weekend of introductions, to each other, the staff and the expedition, despite a certain degree of death-by-powerpoint. As a whole they weekend was brilliantly informative and the concepts of Leadership we were introduced to really hit home for me. I could Identify strongly with the ideas and theories and see how each thing related to the good and bad 'leaders' I have come across in my lifetime as well as being able to spot within myself my position on the spectrum of leadership and how to learn, improve and develop what I already have to be the most effective Leader I can be.

I have been very fortunate In my life to meet, travel with and be lead by a variety of inspirational people who have really molded me into the person I am today, I do not need to name them, I hope most of them Know who they are and How important they are to me but I would like to thank them for all that they have done for me.

" I a younger mountaineer,

With thoughts of adventure,

Betroubled by failure and danger,

My greatest wish is not to discourage,

For what I know of his breed-

There is little risk"

-W H Murray

As part of this thanks I wish to repay the debt I feel that I owe to them. And in order to that I intend to work long and hard to be able one day to provide that inspirational leadership to someone else, who will hopefully in time look back and reflect positively on the role I played in their  personal development.

Next step.... Fundraising to pay for this mammoth adventure that lays before me.......