Updated 2021 Probably the question that comes up most frequently on outdoor first aid courses is “so what should be in my first aid kit?” & you may well be surprised to know there’s no specific answer. HSE, first aid providers and manufacturers of pre-packaged kits all have suggestions but there is no specific requirement. And that […]
With the slow steady easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK many people are itching to get back into the hills – and whilst we totally understand and applaud that, here in Cumbria it’s already leading to exceptionally busy honeypot areas and causing many people’s day out to be spoiled. So we thought we’d give […]
The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) have updated their guidance for healthcare professionals in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of Lymes disease. If you’ve been on a Mountain Services Outdoor First Aid course then you’ll know that this is a risk that those who work and play in the outdoors in […]
I spend a lot of time teaching and assessing navigation and one of the things I’ve noticed is that I often see the same mistakes being made by complete beginners AND by people getting ready (& sometimes actually on) their mountain leader assessment. For navigation to be right it needs to have a good foundation. […]
We fully appreciate that you might well have some concerns about attending a course potentially with strangers in a new-to-you location. So we thought we’d let you know what measures we’re taking to help keep everyone safe during this challenging times. In line with UK Govt. measures announced Oct 12th: We will be basing our […]
So I first wrote this blog 3 years ago – I’ve done a lot of teaching night nav now so I thought I’d update it. New comments are in italics and the links have been updated. I’m sat here writing this post on the balcony in the Alps – it’s September and as soon as […]
Saturday October 12th is the date for this year’s Real 3 Peaks event. If you’re not familiar with this – it’s the UK’s largest organised littler collection for mountains, and it’s now in its 7th year. It’s a free day out in the hills helping keep them beautiful….. This is a volunteer led event – […]
Headlines were made recently when GP’s on Shetland started prescribing walking in nature for patients. I suspect many readers of this blog cast a wry smile – many of us choose to work and play in Boukreev’s cathedral because it feeds our soul. As a collection of people who know the benefits of simply ‘getting […]
The internet (well the little corner of it we mountain folk tend to visit) is awash with ‘how to pass your ML’ type blogs – so I thought I’d write one from the other side of the fence; what it’s like to make the journey to becoming an Assessor working on a Summer Mountain Leader […]
We walk past them all the time – and I bet most people don’t even notice. Yet they’re the very building blocks of life – some of the most amazing, and old, living things on our planet. Lichens – I love them and I’m going to tell you why….and maybe persuade you to come on […]