Final Instructions - Please Read

Please read carefully, as there is some important information contained here. Please act upon it promptly.

Transport

Phase One – Going up on the evening of Friday 12th February

There are 67 of us on Phase One. We are going up in 5 minibuses, to give us maximum amount of room for luggage. However, please try to get everything into ONE bag (your rucksack could go inside a larger sports bag) When it comes to placing your gear in the minibus, ensure that any spiky things, such as walking poles, crampons, ice axes are taken off; these will be stowed under the back seats. Note: All gear should be clearly identifiable, with either your name or coloured tape.

Detailed below are the minibus loadings, it shows each of the five minibuses, who the nominated driver is for each minibus and their contact numbers, followed by the second nominated driver and their passengers. EVERYONE on this list must make a CALL to their nominated DRIVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, to confirm their pickup point (ideally people close to each other should arrange a local meeting point), and for the driver to let you know what time he will be there. This is likely to be around 5pm. The earlier we leave Lancashire the earlier we arrive in Nethy Bridge. Ideally everyone will be at Nethy House before midnight.

 

7th Blackpool	Great Towers	Preston	Longton	High Adventure
Stuart Peat	Mark Wilkinson	David Kirkham	Ash Green	Phil Acklam
07876 703177 07534 681215	07793 424858	07971 031023	07986 467802	07724 343541
Geoff Lyons	Matt Griffin	Marita Kirkham	Anthony Brown	Kev Day
Bob Aspland	Jon Buttle	Karl Bamber	Jacob Forshaw	Lewis Abbott
Lou Davies	James Campbell	Jonathan Churchill	Jess Hunter-Barnett	Nathan Diamond
Kelly Giles	Josh Hoyle	Steve Clough	Sean Kelly	Stephen Diamond
Oliver Hall	Harriet Kilgallen	Jon Haddleton	Pete Mcgee	Jack Hotton
Dan Harrison	Ryan Mckeown	Loz Marchant	Matt Oshinowo	Liv Jones
Dave Harrison	Ally Miller	Peter Reid	Stuart Spencer	Jenna Whittle
Chris Hodge	Gemma Pascoe	Dan Richardson	Sally Wade	Gemma Wade
Jan Stother	Steve Williams	Cat Richardson	Sarah Woods
		Jared Vann
Route: Chorley &  Longridge	Route: Preston	Route: Penwortham & Leyland	Route: Tarleton & Burscough	Route: UpHolland, Appley Bridge & Lancaster

Arriving separately in cars are:

Julie Paton Adrian Hale & Trailor	Andy Brown
	Ian Grace
	George Rowntree Phil Emmott
Charisa Harvey Stacey White Jen Critch	Bob Wylde
John MacKey Peter MacKey	Tim Stewart
	Martin Russell
James Speakman Carl Stubbs Josh Worthington

 

Forever the optimist (or pessimist dependent upon your point of view) the A9 over Drumochter does have a habit of getting closed in blizzards. In the unlikely event of this happening our drivers' contact is Bob Burrell, GSL - 1st Pitlochry Scout Group. He will arrange an overnight in his headquarters (located in the main street).

Phase One – Returning, morning of Wednesday 17th February

The return minibus journeys will commence as early as is practical on the morning of Wednesday 17th February (not the Tuesday night). This is to ensure that everybody can have a good day on the hill on Tuesday, followed by a meal and end of scheme “celebration”. Provisional minibus loading for the return journey is as driving up, but will be finalised during the scheme. The minibuses should arrive home mid afternoon.

7th Blackpool	Great Towers	Preston	Longton	High Adventure
Stuart Peat	Mark Wilkinson	David Kirkham	Ash Green	Phil Acklam
Geoff Lyons	Matt Griffin	Marita Kirkham	Anthony Brown	Kev Day
			Jacob Forshaw
Stacey White		Karl Bamber	Jess Hunter-Barnett	Lewis Abbott
Bob Aspland	Jon Buttle	Jonathan Churchill	Jake Kelly	Nathan Diamond
Lou Davies	James Campbell	Steve Clough	Sean Kelly	Stephen Diamond
Kelly Giles	Josh Hoyle	Jon Haddleton	Pete Mcgee	Jack Hotton
Oliver Hall	Harriet Kilgallen	Loz Marchant	Matt Oshinowo	Liv Jones
Dan Harrison	Ryan Mckeown	Peter Reid	Stuart Spencer	Jenna Whittle
Dave Harrison	Ally Miller	Dan Richardson	Sally Wade	Gemma Wade
Chris Hodge	Gemma Pascoe	Cat Richardson	Sarah Woods
Jan Stother	Steve Williams	Jared Vann
Route: Chorley &  Longridge	Route: Preston	Route: Penwortham & Leyland	Route: Tarleton & Burscough	Route: UpHolland, Appley Bridge & Lancaster

Accommodation

Nethy House (Grid Reference NJ 0018.2079) consists of a number of bunk rooms, with 6 people sleeping per room. The rooms have been allocated, segregating males from females and allocating beds in age order to arrange for those of similar age to be sharing. There is a bed for everybody.

Your bed has a mattress, duvet and pillow, however there is no linen. You MUST bring a PILLOWCASE and a SINGLE BOTTOM SHEET and a DUVET COVER.

NETHY HOUSE (payphone 01479 821304)   Please note this and have it with you throughout the scheme in case of emergencies.  Leave it with your family for emergency contact purposes.

Catering

As mentioned previously this is Full Board, from supper on arrival through to breakfast before departure. Bob Harvey is Head Chef, with assistance from Stacey White, Bob Wylde and Jen Critch. They are here on the event to cook, however cannot do it all. Everyone will be expected to help out with the preparation, the cooking, the serving and the clearing up and the washing up.
Lunches will be packed lunch, which you make yourself, the evening before. You may want to supplement this with your own favourite chocolate bar, etc.

Maps

Mainly 1:50,000 Sheet 36 – Grantown and/or 1:25,000 Cairngorms. This is not essential but acquire if you can, and definitely if you are interested in developing your navigational skills.

Kit

The recommended KIT LIST can be found on the website. PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY about clothing.  No Mountain Leader will be responsible for people on the tops unless adequately kitted out. Think about layering, and pay attention to wicking properties of thermals.
 
Julie Paton and Paul Hargreaves will be acting as Quartermaster this year and will be issuing crampons, axes, boots and clothing, etc as required.  Once any item has been issued they are YOUR responsibility for the duration of your time with us. Please treat them with the greatest respect. The evening before your departure, please ensure that you’ve returned any borrowed gear.

Upon arrival, you will enter the building through the basement - immediately check the chart on the door and locate your sleeping quarters & dump your kit in your room.  Proceed to the main dining room for the arrival briefing.  After this you need to draw crampons from Julie and we will assist with fitting to your boots straight away.  They should be retained until departure. All axes & poles MUST be kept in the racks by the bottom entrance.  Leaders can keep their technical gear in the Kit Store.

Programme

We’ll see what the conditions are like when we get there. However day One on each Phase will be a formal training day so that we know everybody has at least the basics and has had a refresher. As in previous years, we have made arrangements for those who wish to see the Glenmore Lodge avalanche lecture at the end of the first day of each phase (Friday & Wednesday).  Nigel Williams (Head of Training) will be doing this. The following days, will be open for you to sign up to different activities as you wish, the evening before.

It’s up to you guys to decide what you want to do and whether or not we deem you need Mountain Leader coverage.  This is serious country (people freeze to death on the plateau, there were three deaths last month in an avalanche – nothing to do with West Lancs I hasten to add).  We have, and will maintain, a 100% safety record. So saying, we continuously review our own already good safety procedures as part of a risk management process. Portable radios are available for hill parties and Satellite Phones are taken on expeditions or trips to very remote areas.  All Mountain Leaders are first aid qualified, some to a very advanced (REC4 Advanced / REC5 Wilderness) first aid level.

Expeditioning

We strongly encourage participants to experience an overnight expedition during Snow & Ice.  All our Mountain Leaders have a massive experience of expeditioning all over the world. Take the opportunity to accompany them on a trip. The type of expedition can vary from digging some snowholes and bivvying out in them for one of the nights.  Or less exposed, take the opportunity of a walk through the forests with an overnight stay at the Ryvoan Bothy.  We also have top quality mountain tents with us so an overnight trip through the Lairig Ghru or Glen Derry from Braemar is a good winter challenge. Any of these are good training for your DofE/progressive awards.

So, loads of options, but obviously overnighters WILL require SLEEPING BAGS and CAMPING GEAR as noted on the kit list. In particular, snow holing DOES require a KARRIMAT and a BIVIBAG.

We have set a policy that helmets and harnesses WILL be worn on graded climbs.  Whilst we anticipate having a good stock of spares, PLEASE try and acquire and bring your own personal helmet, harness, 4ft sling and screwgate karabiner (if you don’t already own one, borrow from your ESU or Group, etc)

Skiing may be an option, as I know there are at least three permitted skiers with us.  So, as usual, a day on the piste may be appropriate.  If you want to do this, a bit of extra loot will be needed. The approximate costs for a day’s lift pass plus ski/boot hire at the Lecht are “Junior” (18 and under - £40, Student - £45, and Adult £60.  Students need a Student Union Card – Don’t forget otherwise you’ll be charged as adults.

Permits

It is quite possible that Hillwalking and Climbing Assessments could be arranged during the scheme.  We will have some County Assessors with us and Andy Brown is appointed by the County Executive as Technical Mountaineering Adviser.  Download and complete a form from ScoutBase, bring it and your logbook with you.

Night’s Away Permits, Home Contact & Under 18s

This event is under Phil Acklam’s Night’s Away Permit. In accordance with POR, I’ve asked that Ray Fitzsimmons to be our home contact, and he has everyone’s home details. IN AN EMERGENCY ONLY, Ray can be contacted on his mobile 07733 328986.

For those of you who are under 18 on the 12th February I should have or are about to receive your IN LOCO PARENTIS form. This has to be with me by 11TH FEB. This form can be found on the website. This gives us loco parentis authority just in case we have to take you to a Doctor.

There is a nice little private bar in Nethy House. Following the guideline issued by the Scout Association, I regret that Explorers will not be permitted to be served alcoholic beverages at the bar; however there will be soft drink refreshments available for purchase.

Tiredness and alcohol don’t mix, and for those over 18, Bar Staff will NOT serve anybody who they consider to have had enough: It’s a tough fact of life, but anybody causing any problems with this runs the risk of being blacklisted from future County events.  So don’t spoil this for yourselves and others.

Further Reading

Langmuir’s Mountaincraft and Leadership is still current.  We suggest you take the opportunity to read the winter sections. There’s an excellent book The Mountain Skills Training Handbook by Pete Hill and Stuart Johnston.  This is recommended by AMI as “a relevant and up to date work, valuable to both aspirant and experienced mountaineers”.  Recently published in 2003 is Hill Walking by Steve Long, published by MLTUK. This is now the official handbook for the Mountain Leader and Walking Group Leader Award schemes. Written by Steve Long from Plas y Brenin with contributions from work colleagues and the staff of the Training Boards this is the most up to date text available on Mountain Leadership. Recent developments in access legislation, ropework and dealing with water hazards and leadership are all included in this colourful, lavishly illustrated manual.

Amendments

If anyone has any queries about these details, please contact me asap.
Tim Stewart 07966 542663