 Candidate No.9 is inside the PAC! April 8th/9th Cwmcarn - 9 candidates completed this course to a very high standard and were a pleasure to work with.REC extended First Aid skills for isolated locations with the inclusion of travel illness and prevention training.day 1 galleryday 2 gallerythe REC L5 course content was compliant with the 2024 uimla standard
candidate feedbackThe greatest strengths of this course are: 1. Alan's experience across the globe - Alan's sense of humour - The venue was excellent 2. Experience of the Instructors - Immense amount of training aids, visual aids etc and Post-course support - Breadth of topics covered 3. Personal experience of the Instructors - Time in the industry and changes over time have been understood by the Instructors 4. Sharing stories and ideas of medical incidents and travel - Networking & cameraderie - The weather, thanks for arranging 5. Anecdotes to reinforce lessons - Participants personal stories brought into lessons - Great level of instruction 6. Fantastic experience of the Instructors - Offering lots of advice and guidance to take away - Great location, well delivered and well worth a trip from the north 7. Detailed knowledge - Great examples - Clear scenarios 8. Experience, humour and calmness of the Instructors - Many examples of incidents 9. Method of presentation - Practical instruction - Excellent demonstrations The course could be improved by: 1. Possibly less BLS/AED? 2. More practice? 3. More scenarios? 4. Nothing - Keep it simple! 
6 Comments
 Ait Ben Haddou is a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in Morocco - a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1987. February 8th: Travel to Ait ben haddou from the kasbah du toubkalI was packed for departure and after breakfast we had one last one hour training session on the LifeVac equipment for the hotel staff - they were unanimous in praising this new equipment. After saying farewells I walked down to the Kasbah du Toubkal office in Imlil. A mule transported my luggage and it soon arrived so Rashid, my driver, and I set off in the Mercedes Vito Minivan. The 4hr journey was interesting and from Tahanaoute we headed east to join the very well surfaced N9 highway to the south. A stunning drive into the snow capped mountains reached a height of 2260m at the Col du Tichka where we stopped briefly for a photo opportunity. Only two weeks previously this mountain highway had been closed due to heavy snowfall. Reaching Ait Ben Haddou, Rashid soon found the Dar Mouna Hotel for my 3 night stay. The welcome was warm and after a room viewing, I was upgraded to their best suite No. 17 with fabulous views over to the Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. After briefly unpacking I headed over to the UNESCO World Heritage site which has featured in epic movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Man Who Would be King, Game of Thrones and, of course, Gladiator. I paid my MAD 20 entrance fee, valid for my entire stay and at the ancient gateway met a local guide, Nabil, and arranged for a tour the following morning. He is from one of the five families who reside in the site and who are fortunate to receive high incomes from film companies. Back at the Dar Mouna I opted to dine in and enjoyed dinner there of cabbage soup, roast chicken followed by crepes. This was accompanied by my own gin and the hotel supplied tonic in this alcohol free town. I enjoyed a very good night's sleep in my suite. THE DAR MOUNA HOTEL - AIT BEN HADDOUfebruary 9th: in ait ben haddouAfter a very good night's sleep I woke at around 0700 with the room feeling cold. When the Manager last night asked me if I'd like the air conditioning on, I hadn't realised the unit was also a heater. I drew my curtains to the most amazing view of the Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. It could only have been a better experience if I'd had an early morning tea but there are no brew kits here. The shower was hot but the heat didn't last for long but I managed to do some washing and now have enough to get me home. Breakfast was good with a nice hot omlette and plentiful other things to eat and ample supplies of hot coffee and hot milk. Heading over to the Ksar I met Nabil for a very comprehensive tour of the site and his home for traditional tea where I met his mother. His English was fluent and knowledge of the site excellent. Being with him for almost two hours enabled excellent photographic opportunities and his fee of £20 was very much worth it. Towards the end of the tour I did some shopping for a few gifts to take back home. Between my hotel and the main gateway there were a couple of camels available to ride. Their handler was very friendly and allowed me to photograph his two camels which were obviously very well cared for. Back on this side of the river I opted for a pizza lunch at the La Terazza Italian restaurant which was run by a chef from Rome and his wife from Cassablanca. My Parma Ham Pizza was outstanding and one of the best pizzas I've ever enjoyed. A small ice cream followed which would be my one and ony ice cream in Morocco but a real treat! Returning to Dar Mouna I wrote my blog and edited some images before going for a late afternoon walk. On the town minaret I noticed a huge nest but there was no sign of the storks. Mohammed, the hotel manager, told me there used to be many in the area but ony one pair are still to be seen in the area. I later saw them down by the river. I hope to photograph them in the morning before they fly off for the day to look for food. Several gin and tonics on the terrace below my suite completed the day for me before I came upstairs to relax in my room. No dinner for me as I'm still quite full from my pizza lunch! february 10th: in ait ben haddouAfter a good night's sleep I went down for breakfast of the standard Moroccan fare but the very good coffee was a bonus with enough left over to fill my travel mug. With my camera equipment I walked back to the minaret where one stork was already perched on the nest. Across the road was a three storey cafe so I went in for a coffee and went up to the roof terrace to set up my tripod and long lens. For a long time there was only one stork visible but the partner eventually appeared for a good photo opportunity. Back at the Dar Mouna I edited some picture and wrote my blog and then phoned Helen to discuss future work programmes. I think my call took her by suprise but with exchanging messages I thought it easiest to just phone her. I walked across to the Ksar for one last walk and saw that a giant fabricated horse was being installed at a Greek looking temple which was under construction for a film production. Crossing the river I went into La Terrazza for an iced coffee and around 1230 ordered lunch of spaghetti bolognese which was very good. Several tables were occupied by film crew construction personnel from the UK. I spent the afternoon on my blog and editing pictures.  The last pair of Storks at Ait Ben Haddou february 11th: travel to marrakechThe breakfast crew seemed slow to start but I was fed eventually and ready to depart, as planned, at 0900. I'd wanted to travel back on an alternative route to the Col du Titchka but for some reason the driver preferred to use the main N9 highway. The 4hr drive was spectacular through the mountains and we briefly stopped at the Col du Titchka for a photo and, at around the halfway point for a comfort stop. Before leaving Ait Ben Haddou I'd asked Omar my driver if he knew where my riad was located in Marrakech and received a positive answer. Approaching the medina in Marrakech it was clear he was lost. At one point, quite some distance from the Riad Les Yeux Bleu he wanted to stop and get me a barrow boy for the rest of my journey. I connected my data roaming and navigated him for the rest of the journey. I was warmly welcomed by Aminata the front desk manager at the Riad Les Yeux Bleu and allocated my favourite Room 12 where I'd stayed twice previously. I'd emailed her to ask for Room 12. It's a smaller room next to the swimming pool and once used to be a kitchen. The bed linen is always wonderful to get into and the en-suite has a fabulous shower. I ordered lunch of a chicken sandwich and a couple of Casablanca Beers for a great lunchtime experience. Later on I walked through the souks into the main Jemaa el-Fnaa where market stalls and local street performers were hard at work trying to earn a living. Aminata back at my riad had recommended an Indian restaurant in the Hotel Les Jardins de La Koutoubia so I went there for an early evening curry! Les Jardins de Bala provided "Cuisines d'Indie et d'Asie" and my meal was quite good but it generally lacked ambiance with waiters who weren't particularly professional. Back at my poolside room I ordered a very large tonic and finished off my gin before relaxing back in my room for a good night's sleep in a wonderfully comfortable bed. february 12th: fly to lhr t2 via lis with TAP air portugalUp for a cold morning breakfast on the rooftop but it was good, with great coffee, whilst sitting wrapped up against the cool morning air. My transfer which the Kasbah had arranged and confirmed never arrived so the very efficient Aminata arranged for another one, a large Skoda complete with WiFi. I was soon checked in for my TP1453 and TP1358 flights to Lisbon and on to LHR T2 where Yolande was waiting for me at the Hilton Garden Inn and an overnight stay due to my late flight arrival. From Marrakech the flight service was excellent and I was soon enjoying a gin and tonic and a light pasta meal. The steward laughed when I said it was the same meal that Helen and I had had last December. In Lisbon I had several hours to wait but the TAP lounge was very comfortable with a wide range of food to choose from including the Portugese custard tarts I like. The well stocked bar was quite comprehensive. I flew TAP Air Portugal because BA couldn't offer return flights from LHR on the days I needed to travel. Flying out of LHR but back into LGW with BA wasn't an option I considered for very long! The onward flight was good and after two hours or so the A320 Neo landed and I was soon through formalities and into Room 8009 in the Hilton Garden Inn which is a very nice hotel and which is directly connected to LHR T2. Breakfast the following morning was good and we were home in Cardiff by midday.  Feb 2nd: Travel from LHR T2 via LISbon to marrakech and onto the Kasbah du ToubkalWe were on the road by 0630 for an easy drive to LHR T2 with a couple of stops on the M4. I drove as Yolande would drive home from T2. I was soon checked in and having breakfast in the Lufthansa Lounge. Flight boarding was on time on the relatively new A321XLR Neo which was very comfortable with very good entertainment systems on a large screen and free WiFi for an hour. The 2.5hr flight was smooth and a very good lunch was served with fine wines followed by port. My transit in Lisbon was just over an hour before we bussed out to a waiting Embraer 195 aircraft for the fight to Marrakech. Again, the service was excellent. Landing at Marrakech was 25mins ahead of schedule and after immigration, money changing and security I met Helen as she was arriving with our driver Ahmed. Helen had been in Morocco for a Bryn Walking for Women trekking event from the Kasbah du Toubkal. The drive to Imlil was as expected but rather than being dropped off at the Kasbah du Toubkal we continued up the road to a road head above the Kasbah du Toubkal. This was great as instead of the usual uphill trudge we actuay only had a short walk down to the Kasbah by the light of my petzl headtorch. We arrived there at about 2100hrs. Our rooms were allocated and we were soon enjoying a late dinner. After some unpacking we turned in before midnight as I'd been keen to hear how Helen's trek had gone. I was in my favourite room Tikhalinen whilst Helen was in Ouggoug in the tower block close by. HELEN'S COMMENTS: It was very exciting meeting Alan at RAK. He had landed 25mins early so we only just got there as he was coming out of the foyer. Like Alan I was very pleased that Ahmed took us higher on the road - the path up through the walnut trees was so muddy and possibly icy at 2100. My trek had gone very well with no hitches or glitches, a fantastic group. So now, looking forward to the training ahead. FEB 3rd: At the Kasbah du ToubkalIt was good to see how much rebuilding progress had been achieved and Mike McHugo, the owner, had asked me to bring my photographic equipment to record the progress. I liked the new dining room and the new reception are was good too. Some wall hangings and exterior work to complete and everything will be ready for the March grand opening post-earthquake. During the morning we finished unpacking the 50kg of training equipment we'd brought with us and set up the Conference Room ready for tomorrow. After lunch we went for a walk for a photoshoot as per Mike's request and, on our return, he expressed satisfaction with my efforts. HELEN'S COMMENTS: A nice relaxed day and good fun trying to get the right angle for the photographs of the Kasbah from a distance. I had sent Alan lots of photographs of the progress here; It's incredible what they've done. They work very hard. feb 4th: At the kasbah du toubkal - REC trekking first aid for 4 berber mountain guidesl had designed the REC Trekking First Aid course as either a 6hr or 8hr course dependent on who the candidates were. Disappointingly there were ony 4 mountain guides attending and one of those didn't show much interest all day. I'd though Hassan the receptionist and the new assistant receptionist might grasp the opportunity to be First Aid trained but this wasn't to be. The morning course content was Basic Life Support for 3hrs with Travel & Expedition First Aid for 3hrs in the afternoon. The course went well generally with several outdoor scenario sessions and the Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) demonstration up by the new tower on the raised rooftop balcony. All of the 20 mountain guides we've trained over the last two years for UIAA Mountain Skills think there shoud be a PAC up at the high lodges (3200m). Interestingly, the IML's I've asked don't think there should be - I wonder who knows best? My concluding thoughts for the day were that being only able to train 4 mountain guides was a poor result after travelling all this way for today......... HELEN'S COMMENTS: Always good fun to deliver the training here. Alan and I aim to make a good dynamic team and deliver in a style for the guides to achieve maximum learning. feb 5th: at the kasbah du toubkal - REC life saver first aid for 7 housemothers from the education for all (EFa) charity which the kasbah du toubkal supportsWe'd trained 12 EFA Housemothers back in December and they were all a pleasure to work with, such a fun bunch of ladies who were very grateful for this learning opportunity. The Life Saver First Aid was a 4hr REC certificated course. After lunch Helen, Latifa and I walked down into Imil for another photoshoot opportunity and used Dar Imlil rooftop for this before climbing back up to the Kasbah du Toubkal. Helen purchased a carpet from her favourite shop in Imlil for her son who lives in Liverpool. HELEN'S COMMENTS: The housemothers are great fun and enjoy this course which is packed with basic life support skills and some injury/bleeding management.  feb 6th: at the kasbah du toubkal day - photographyToday should have been another Life Saver First Aid course but no candidates from the hotel staff appeared for this so Helen and I spent the morning on administrative tasks and photo editing. The afternoon was at leisure for me whist Helen and Latifa went for a walk but only after purchasing a second carpet which I was given to carry back up to the Kasbah. HELEN'S COMMENTS: Great photographs Alan. I could fill a lorry with all the gorgeous carpets. Latifa and I walked to Arghen and passed the Imlil bakery on the way. I hadn't seen it before so Latifa introduced me and I bought a fresh hot bap for MAD 1 (8p) that Latifa and I enjoyed. Thank you for carrying the carpet Alan! feb 7th: at the kasbah du toubkal - Helen & latifa departlWe were all up bright and early for breakfast with Helen almost packed and ready for her evening BA669 at 1800. Latifa and her were departing for Marrakech after an early lunch. At Mike's suggestion we headed down into Imlil for an eary coffee and final photoshop opportunities from Dar Imlil Lodge and several other rooftop cafes which provided a new classic view looking up at the Kasbah du Toubkal. Unfortunately the frontage presented unfinished areas but Mike was confident that Photoshop could resolve these issues. Heading back up for lunch, Helen stopped for a jilleba she'd been admiring. (Tasdrite might be another name for it as it doesn't have a hood and is made in the Rif mountains of northern Morocco.) Helen and Latifa left after lunch and I enjoyed an afternoon nap! Helen was met at LHR by husband James and dog Cooper. I spent the rest of the day photo editing and transferring images to Mike's portable hard drive. With everything finished I decided to head to Ait Ben Haddou the following morning and Mike very kindly provided transport for me. HELEN'S COMMENTS: I always leave Imlil saying 'til next time. If it ever was the last time I would feel very sad. We have a lot to offer to the Kasbah and the mountain guides. Everyone is so welcoming and look after us very well. Thank you Mike for all the opportunities you've given us to come to this wonderful community, deliver our training programmes and make so many friends in doing so.  concluding thoughtsThe February 2025 training draws to an end a two year UIAA Mountain Skills training programme with 20 Berber mountain guides achieving completion certification. This training was delivered by myself and Helen Menhinick of Bryn Walking. Throughout the training we were assisted by Latifa Asselouf one of the area's most qualified and experienced mountain guides. Many thanks to Helen and Latifa for their valuable contributions to the training program. uiaa mountain skills feedback from the kasbah du toubkalQ1. Did the course provide the knowledge to help you as a Mountain Guide in the High Atlas Mountains? Yes, the course offered comprehensive knowledge and practical skills that are directly applicable to guiding in the High Atlas Mountains. We learned about the terrain, and safety measures necessary for guiding in this specific region. The course’s focus on real-world situations, including navigation, first aid, and decision-making under pressure, gave us confidence in my ability to lead and manage groups in the mountains. Q2. Did the two instructors help you to learn this information? Absolutely. The two instructors Alan & Helen were highly knowledgeable and experienced. They provided clear explanations, demonstrated techniques, and answered all of our questions. They encouraged active participation and offered valuable insights from their own experiences as mountain guides. Their feedback during practice sessions was constructive and helped us improve our skills and confidence. Q3. Was the training equipment good for you to practice on? Yes, the training equipment was top-notch and well-suited for the tasks we were practicing. From technical climbing gear to maps and compasses, everything was high-quality and appropriate for the terrain we were working on. The equipment was well-maintained and allowed for safe and effective practice. Q4. Do you have any more comments about the course? Overall, We found the course to be an excellent learning experience. The combination of theory, hands-on practice, and immersion in the High Atlas environment gave us a well-rounded understanding of mountain guiding. I especially appreciated the focus on sustainable and respectful practices when working with local communities. The course exceeded our expectations, and we feel more prepared for our future role as a mountain guides. Q5. Was the Kasbah du Toubkal a good learning venue experience for you? Yes, the Kasbah du Toubkal was an ideal venue for this course. Its location in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains provided an authentic and immersive learning environment. The facilities were comfortable and well-equipped, and the stunning surroundings gave us the opportunity to practice in a real-world mountain setting. The Kasbah’s close proximity to the trails and mountains made it easy to explore the region, and the atmosphere was perfect for both learning and relaxation. Hope this makes sense & let us know how we can help you & hope you are enjoying your time in Ait Ben Hadou . Lahcen & Team & Guides - Best regards rec first aid feedback from the kasbah du toubkal
REC FIRST AID FEEDBACK FROM THE EFA HOUSEMOTHERSHello I hope you are doing well.
The training it was beneficial, and the theoretical content studied was perfectly with the practical application. The trainers' approach was effective because we applied the information and discussed in the workshop. As for the skills, they were of a high standard, and most importantly, there was effective communication between us and the trainers. The workshop was of a high level, thanks to the use of equipment and the provision of examples that helped us understand the material. The practical aspect was crucial for applying the information, and I understood the content more clearly. Kaltoum Hammouche Assistant House Mother  january 21st/22nd: The course was completed by 5 candidates who were a pleasure to work with: Two international mountain leaders and 3 aspirant international mountain leaders at cwmcarn visitor centre.A useful and enjoyable CPD course (2 Points) for those developing and implementing off site trips both in the United Kingdom and on overseas trips. The course includes awareness of appropriate British and International Standards for good practice trips. Course feedback
rgs ossm - COURSE CONTENTIn addition to the normal RGS OSSM course content, this course also included Section 3.5 of the 2025 UIMLA Standard for: TRAVEL RISK MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY PLANING AND INCIDENT REPORTING List of Competences
Method of training The training was a mixture of theory and practical development for Planning, Managing and Evaluating as required by the RGS OSSM syllabus. Method of Assessment
    MOROCCO: DECEMBER 1ST TO 7TH 2024 - UIAA Mountain Hiking SkillsAs part of an ongoing training programme at the Kasbah du Toubkal, Helen Menhinick of Bryn Walking and I travelled into the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco to deliver our third UIAA Mountain Hiking Skills course to local Berber Mountain Guides. After a night at the LHR T2/T3 Hilton Garden Inn we flew to Marrakech via Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal (due to non-availability of BA flights) and arrived at the Kasbah du Toubkal in time for dinner on December 2nd. After leaving the airport we'd driven into central Marrakech to collect Latifa Asselouf, a very well qualified mountain guide with whom we work on the courses that we deliver at the Kasbah du Toubkal. Latifa is one of the few women mountain guides in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco - she is a pleasure to work with. Helen's Daily Comments: The funniest bit of the day was Ahmed holding up a client collection sign 'Helen Menhinick'. We always expect 'Alan Ward', so I felt very important. Great to be back up in Imlil, so many familiar faces and a very warm welcome at the Kasbah. Day 1 - UIAA MHS Day 1 of this 5-day course centres around the Kasbah du Toubkal (alt. 1820m) with a morning session for theory of Mountain Hiking Skills and then a 4hr walk higher up the Imlil Valley to Aremd. Today introduced the mountain guides to working with maps (1:25000 and 1:50000) and compasses and good practice skills as defined by the UIAA syllabus for this course. Throughout the course the guides would carry two group shelters and two First Aid kits. The group shelters were demonstrated on a grassy field above Aremd. The Kasbah is equipped with group shelters and appropriate First Aid kits for the guides to use but I'm not really convinced this happens. Before leaving Aremd one of the guides, Hamid Ait Lmouden, invited the group into his home, a small trekking lodge, for traditional tea and snacks before descending back to the Kasbah. The views from his terrace looking towards Mt Toubkal (4167m) were quite spectacular. Helen's Daily Comments: A lovely walk to get to know the guides. All very experienced in the High Atlas Mountains and fun to be with. Our driver Ahmed happened to pass by on a motorbike on the bridge at Aremd - for a moment I thought Alan had a lift back. It was very funny and made a great photo. COURSE CONTENT DAY 1: Introduction - Structure of Mountain Hiking Skills Training Scheme & Representative Bodies - Mountain Hazards - Mountain Environment - Maps & Compass - Navigation - Route Planning - Personal Equipment - Emergency Procedures Day 2 - UIAA MHS We set off after breakfast and soon left the Kasbah and Imlil behind. Helen demonstrated pacing and timing skills and in pairs, the guides took turns to lead a section to specific objectives along the trail. Lunch was on the Tizi n'Mzik (2480m) and was the full blown Moroccan trekking lunch with quite a variety of interesting local foods. Interestingly, Morocco is the only place in the world where I eat salads for lunch! After lunch, with guides navigating, we descended steeply to the badly earthquake damaged village of Tizi Oussem in the Azzenden Valley. From there we caught a "bus" organised by Latifa Asselouf. Latifa works with us on all the courses we deliver at the Kasbah du Toubkal and is a great help with translation. The "bus" was quite vintage but saved us 4km on tarmac to our lodge for the night at Ait Aissa. Before dinner we went for a day into night navigation exercise above the lodge. Dinner was a real treat as our guide candidates had arranged to have a goat sacrificed and prepared for a ceremonial dinner. Helen's Daily Comments: After a long day (much discussion on route) we had to wait a couple of hours for our bags because, from the tizi, one of the mules had run all the way back to Imlil. It was shocking to see all the devastating damage from the earthquake, over a year on and our second visit since. Never-the-less, you are never far from the sound of a cockerel or mule/donkey - life goes on with commendable resilience. COURSE CONTENT DAY 2: Maps & Compass - Navigation - Mountain Walk (8hrs over 2500m Tizi) - Day into Night Navigation (2hrs) DAY 3 - UIAA MHS After a good breakfast we left the lodge behind and climbed up to a spur at about 2000m for some navigation practical training before pairs of the guides led us up to the Tizi n'Oudite (2220m). Beyond the Tizi n'Oudite (2220m) we followed a newly constructed precipice path which followed the 2000m contour (undulating slightly) to our lunch stop for another traditional Moroccan lunch. From there, a steeply descending path led us back into Imlil but much care was needed on this descent. It was very dry, loose and non existent in places with steep drops. A series of new trails are appearing in the areas around Imlil. The mountain guides supervise their construction with local farmers providing the labour. On route back into Imlil, Lahcen (Manager of the Kasbah du Toubkal) hosted a Berber Tea Ceremony at his guest house in Arghan, where Helen as the honoured guest, was taught how to brew and serve traditional local tea in local costume. There was much food offered to the group so, back at the Kasbah, Helen and I opted out of dinner and we were served snacks in our lounge. The name of the village 'Arghan' means 'where the sun shines first - warmest village in the valley'. It really does get the sun at the first opportunity and keeps it all day. Helen's Daily Comments: I was surprised how much the path had deteriorated on the descent and so I made changes for the planned route in January after discussions with Latifa and Alan. Another enjoyable day. Great to see that the guides picked up all the litter, bagged it and carried it out with them. COURSE CONTENT DAY 3: Maps & Compass - Navigation - Mountain Walk (6hrs) - Movement on Steeper Terrain and Broken Ground (2hrs) Day 4 - uiaa mhs We'd discussed with the group how they'd best like to spend this last practical session and it was agreed to remain in the grounds of the Kasbah du Toubkal for final skills sessions on the core elements of the UIAA syllabus. Helen's Daily Comments: A great round up of skills and also covering remaining parts of the syllabus. The group were so receptive and eager. Some lengthy discussions which I hope were beneficial. COURSE CONTENT DAY 4: Maps & Compass - Navigation - Weather day 5 - UIAA MHSThis final day of the UIAA MHS course would see candidates complete the UIAA online assessment and certification process before completing the REC Trekking First Aid course (6/8hrs). After the course we were all invited to Mohamed Ait Idar's house for tea where traditional mint tea and cakes were served. Helen's Daily Comments: Showing all the guides how you can look after yourself or save a life in the environment they work in was a pleasure. It is important to include humour when teaching and learning important skills like this - they will remember our course for sure. We handed out the Sigg bottles which we had raised money for in the UK prior to our visit and I handed out the Bryn Walking keyrings that my son had made especially. COURSE CONTENT DAY 5: UIAA MHS Online Administration, Assessment & Certification - REC Trekking First Aid (6/8hrs)  december 8th - (Helen's birthday) Today had been scheduled as a REC Life Saver First Aid (4hr) course for staff at the Kasbah but it appeared that there were no staff who required this. Helen and Latifa decided to go for a walk whilst I remained at the Kasbah to catch up on administration and to edit photographs and start writing my blog. Their walk would be to get a ride from Imlil up to the Tizi n'Tamatert (2302m) and then descend to Tinerhourhine to follow the Inane valley downstream before crossing the river and climbing up to the Tizi n'Aguersioual (2050m). They then descended back into the Imlil Valley before returning to the Kasbah. One of the guides who we met last year was passing and gave them a lift on the road up to Imlil. This is a good acclimatisation walk for an interesting day before heading up to Mt Toubkal (4167m). Helen's birthday dinner was an enjoyable experience with gifts and a nice cake to end the day off. Helen's Daily Comments: This day was supposed to be kept under wraps, so to speak, but there was a leak amongst the team... What a special day it turned out to be. A fabulous walk with Latifa. Fantastic, breathtaking scenery and everyone we met in the villages wanted us to come in for tea. Lahcen pulled out all the stops and had one of the staff make a delicious birthday cake which we shared with the other guests and the Kasbah staff. Unbeknown to me a note had been on the wall of reception all day, saying 'Happy Birthday Helen' - it was written in arabic so that I would be none the wiser - very funny.  december 9th - 4hr REC first aid course After breakfast, Helen and Latifa walked up to Aremd to visit one of the Imlil shop keepers and his family, while I continued with administration and blog writing. After a lunch on the new terrace overlooking Imlil it was time for a 4hr Lifesaving First Aid course for 12 EFA Housemothers. Education For All (EFA). We'd been a bit concerned about how this course would be but Latifa Aliza from EFA and the 11 Housemothers were a pleasure to work with, they were fun and very professional throughout the course. Helen's Daily Comments: My experience with Ibrihim, the shop keeper, and the introduction to his family I shall always remember. To sit in their family kitchen eating a shared plate of rice pudding for breakfast, listening to their happy chatter and laughter was incredibly special. His father is a very well respected elder in the community and I was honoured to be served tea by him and share delicious Moroccan breads. We were quite apprehensive about the final first aid course for the house mothers; we didn't need to be - they were all great fun to work with; keen to learn and to listen. It was a pleasure to meet them all - a wonderful and interesting bunch of women.  december 10th - Start of journey back to ukThe day for Helen and I to travel to Marrakech for one night at the Riad Bleu where we'd previously stayed. I like staying here but there are a few issues which need to be resolved, not least being the cold reception area where breakfast is served. Ideally, rooms would be fitted with a kettle and brew kit. Before leaving Imlil we browsed the shops and enjoyed a final coffee with our driver and one of our mountain guides. We spent the afternoon in the narrow streets, stopping for lunch and browsing the souks, before arriving at the main square (Jemaael-Fnaa) where we enjoyed coffee on a roof top cafe. We then returned to the Riad Bleu for an hour or so before heading back to the main square for something to eat. On our return to the Riad Bleu, Mike McHugo (Discover limited/Kasbah du Toubkal) had arrived with a friend so we spent an hour or so catching up before bedtime. Helen's Daily Comments: Always sad to leave Imlil - 'til next time. I was pleased to see Marrakesh looking and feeling much more like normal after all the extensive damage caused by the earthquake (September 2023). december 11th - final leg of journeyWe were up and about to have breakfast with Mike and his friend Andy but one of my criticisms of the Riad Bleu is how cold the breakfast area was - warm clothing was vital for our survival! Our airport transfer dropped us off at the airport and we were soon checked in and through formalities with ease. Our TAP flight took off on time and after a short transfer time in Lisbon, the next flight took us into LHR T2 from where we drove home to Cardiff. Helen's Daily Comments: TAP is a great airline but quite an exhausting journey home with a transfer in Lisbon. 
A big thank you from us!  Photo credit - Abdellatif Azdour We would like to thank Mike McHugo for this unique opportunity, and huge thanks to the mountains guides, the house mothers, the staff at the Kasbah du Toubkal and the people of the Imlil valley - you welcome us in to your culture, your lives and your homes and we treasure every moment.
Alan and Helen  Image from the front cover of "The Escape from Singapore" by Richard Gough on February 14th 1942 my father escaped from singapore - this is his story - Singapore surrendered to the Japanese on february 15th!Dad was stationed in Shanghai and Hong Kong before the outbreak of WW2 and ended up in Singapore. Details are sketchy to say the least but this is his story and my 2025 journey to follow in his footsteps, following the route he took to Padang in West Sumatra where he embarked on the SS Tinombo to safely reach Columbo and on to Bombay.  The official escape order which allowed my father to be authorised to leave Singapore, signed by Brigadier F.H. Frazier. P.H. Ward’s Escape from Singapore I left Singapore (with an official authorisation to do so, signed by my Brigade Commander, Brigadier F.H. Fraser, D.S.O. Commander 2nd Malaya Infantry Brigade) on the R.A.S.C. motor launch “Cecilia”, on the evening of Saturday 14th February 1942, with Brigadier Paris, Lt. Col. Douglas, IEME, S/Condr H.W. Hollins R.A.S.C. and approximately 42 others. On Sunday 15th February, apart from encountering some British male civilians (Government employees we ascertained, whose morale was at rock bottom) aiming for Sumatra as were we, and a Japanese recce plane which gave us the “once over” but didn’t return, we passed a quiet day. Brigadier Paris and Lt. Col. Douglas both die following enemy action ex-Padang. During those last few days in Singapore I had been been confined (quite literally – no telephone calls or any contact with the outside world allowed) inside the YMCA in Orchard Road. I had the nostalgic pleasure of visiting the YMCA in June 1979 and found that it hadn’t changed very much structurally as far as I could make out. Note: Dad visited us whilst we were living in Singapore and I could easily have accompanied him on a similar journey to re-trace his steps but Dad never really talked about this episode in his life. On reaching the coast of Sumatra, we sailed up the Djambi River to the town of Djambi (now spelt Jambi) where the kind and most helpful Dutch authorities exchanged our (by now) unsuitable launch for a flat-bottomed river craft and also gave us a goodly supply of provisions, (by this time we’d consumed all our tinned “M and V” {Meat and Veg} from Singapore) from a local godown. We continued to Muaratebo where we had a route march and tonsorial “treatment” by the local barber. The journey continued by boat, motorcoach and railway to Padang by way of Sawah Lunto. The journey by coach through the Padang Highlands was hair-raising and memorable for the wrongest of reasons.” Brigadier Fraser escaped aboard the Dutch ship Rooseboom, which was sunk off Sumatra. Although he survived the sinking along with about 80 other passengers in one lifeboat, he did not survive the shocking 28-day ordeal of drifting 100 miles. There were only five survivors. Note: Dad was lucky to have been issued a berth on a much slower and smaller vessel which, fortunately, was less likely to have been a satisfactory target for a Japanese submarine. We'll never know why Dad wasn't allowed a berth on the SS Rooseboom with the Argyll and Southerland Highlanders with whom he'd left Singapore before their overland crossing of Sumatra. Dad suggested he was required to stay in Padang to assist with administration duties.  The SS Rooseboom was a Dutch steamship of 1035 tons built in 1926 by Rijkee & Co. of Rotterdam. The vessel sailed on the evening of February 27th with Brigadier Paris (who had escaped Singapore on the Cecilia with my Dad) and 600 troops and civilians on board. Four days later she was sunk off Ceylon (now Sri lanka) and only five survived.  The SS Tinombo which Dad travelled on from Padang to Colombo and on to Bombay.  Taken from Dad’s Army Service Record which shows that due to the chaos after the Fall of Singapore the Army had no idea if he was still alive or been made a P.O.W. After a few days in Padang, where elements of the A.I.F. seemed to be well established under the command of Major-General Gordon Bennett, we left round about the evening of 26th February (I’m guessing, really) on the SS Tinombo, a Dutch East Indies coastal freighter more commonly seen on the Timor, Celibes, New Guinea run – that sort of area. On board we were allotted ‘hold’ accommodation and a supply of rice (only) for the voyage. We later learned, though not confirmed, that the ship had already been en route from Padang to Bombay, when she had been sent back to Padang on the orders of General Wavell in order to collect up ‘remnants’ (which included Dad). We arrived in Bombay, as far as I can remember, around 14th March, after a brief call heightened by excellent sandwiches from some British ladies at the Transit Camp Colaba, where we were kitted out completely as we had all left Singapore with only what we stood up in, plus rifle and ammunition, and looked after exceedingly well, the R.A.S.C. and R.A.O.C. went to Agra to the vacant (Akbar Barracks) from where subsequent postings took place. I have a map of my route through Sumatra. On arrival in India, I was ‘requested’ by GHQ to send a full report as a ‘Far East Straggler’ (for such we were officially designated for pay purposes etc. – well they had to call us something!) Note: Later, Dad told us that when he was about to leave Singapore he gave his Bible (or Book of Common Prayer) to a soldier who had to stay behind. This soldier was captured by the Japanese. After the war Dad was in a Dentist’s waiting room in Bristol. He read in a magazine there, about a soldier who was captured at Singapore who was trying to contact a soldier who had given him a Bible before he left Singapore. Dad made contact with this ex-soldier & it was the man he had given the Bible to. This man said that the Bible had helped him get through his incarceration with the Japanese. Dad said that he could keep the Bible. He also told us that he was on a train near Agra with a fellow soldier. They were both smoking their pipes. When dad left the train, he forgot his pipe. Years later he was travelling on a train in England when he noticed a man smoking a familiar looking pipe. He asked the man where he got the pipe from and was told that he found it on a train in India during the Second World War. It was Dad’s pipe!  1944 Agra, India - Dad is on the right   Colombo harbour in 1971 - I was a young Navigating officer on board the SS British Soldier, offloading 32,000 tons of crude oil from Kharg Island in the Arabian Gulf.  The area above is where my father and other small boats would pass after getting safely across the Singapore Straights on February 15th 1942. Sailing by night the small boats would hide in the island mangroves during the day to avoid being spotted by Japanese aircraft. Their objective was to reach the mouth of the Batang Hari River to get up to the port of Jambi to proceed overland to Padang on the west coast of Sumatra. APPENDIX 1: tHE ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE BY RICHARD GOUGH I found the above publication a fascinating read and gave me a greater insight into my Dad's escape to freedom. There were three references to the boat Cecilia: Page 96: Another vessel at sea that night was a medium-sized yacht, the Cecilia, with Brigadier Paris on board together with some of his Argylls. Page 131: When the officers learnt that General Percival was considering the possibility of surrender they made plans to save as many of their men as possible. Those believed to have escaped on the Cecilia included: Brigadier Paris with more of his Argylls including Major Angus McDonald, Captain Michael Blackwood and Private Hardy. Page 195: Cecilia - Described as a motor launch but may have been a yacht sailed on February 15th with 44 selected passengers on board including the names mentioned above. Most of her passengers subsequently joined the ill-fated Rooseboom and drowned after the torpedo attack four days later. APPENDIX 2: The rooseboom dutch cargo ship which dad hadn't been allowed to board in padang was torpedoed by japanese submarine i-159 on March 1st 1942 at 0150hrs This account of the struggle for survival after the sinking of the Rooseboom was based on survivor and Argyll and Sutherland Highlander Walter Gibson's book, The Boat and taken from his obituary in the Times On Line (April 27th 2005): “On the third night out from Padang a torpedo struck the Rooseboom, which very soon capsized and sank, taking most of her 500 passengers with her and leaving only one lifeboat seaworthy. This boat, designed to hold 28, was now occupied by 80 of the 135 who had survived the sinking. The remainder clung to lifelines and floating debris. The senior surviving soldier, Brigadier Paris, took charge of discipline in the boat, while informing the survivors that the Dutch captain of the Rooseboom, who had also survived, was in overall command. The best of discipline was futile in the face of the privations that now ensued. Men and women went mad with thirst. Many threw themselves overboard rather than face further suffering. In Gibson’s account, a gang of renegade soldiers positioned themselves in the bows and at night systematically pushed the weaker survivors overboard to make the meagre rations go further, until attacked by the others and flung overboard themselves. Brigadier Paris died, hallucinating before he fell into his final coma. The Dutch captain was killed by one of his own engineers. The numbers of the living dwindled rapidly. By the time the lifeboat fetched up on Sipora, a coral island off Sumatra (a mere 100 miles from their starting point of Padang), only Gibson, a Chinese girl, Doris Lin, with whom he had developed a bond during those terrible weeks, and three Javanese remained. One of the latter drowned in the surf as they tried to get ashore. The remaining Javanese disappeared. After a period being tended by natives Gibson and Doris Lin were found by patrolling Japanese. He was returned to Padang as a POW. He later learned that she had been shot as a spy by the Japanese. [Taken from Wikipedia] Appendix 3: maps - THE ESCAPE ROUTE FROM SINGAPORE TO PADANG The Cecilia passed through the Berhala Straights and into the delta of the Batang Hari River which was known as the Djambi River in 1942. The river banks were lined with mangrove swamps in the journey upriver to Jambi. once in Jambi, the Dutch administration transferred them to smaller, flat-bottomed boats upstream to Muaratebo from where trucks transported them to Sawah Lunto and on by train down to Padang.   The Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) On all my High Altitude TREKS and expeditions (20+ Himalyan trips) there has been a portable hyperbaric chamber in my equipment inventory.Portable Hyperbaric Chambers are capsules constructed of lightweight but very durable materials which are airtight with a zipped entrance for the person to gain entry to it. They are considered to be bulky and heavy and not always carried to higher altitudes. I believe all treks and expedition operating to a Very High Altitude (defined as 3500m – 5800m) should carry a portable hyperbaric chamber. Beyond high base camps though, they will be classed as bulky and heavy so the base camp is where they would be located on more technical and higher expedition routes. I once had to use a portable hyperbaric chamber for a person who was very ill with severe AMS at Gokyo Lakes (5000m) and thankful that I had access to this equipment. We had oxygen available but it was a limited supply and didn't last the night. It kept him comfortable until the daylight medevac flight to Kathmandu where he was diagnosed with HAPE. At an altitude of 5000m, the simulated altitude inside the PAC when pressurised is approximately 3250m. The guidelines for a person suffering from altitude related illnesses are: STOP - REST - TREAT - DESCEND. Often it is impossible to make a safe night time descent with the casualty so the portable hyperbaric chamber allows the casualty to achieve the descent requirement whilst waiting for a daylight medevac flight. The portable hyperbaric chamber is inflated with a foot pump resulting in an increase in barometric pressure within the chamber for simulated descent which is monitored by utilising an altimeter inside the chamber. The process is labour intensive as the foot pump is used every 5 seconds for the chamber to remain correctly inflated. Outside of the chamber, the casualty must be continuously monitored by another team member through the access window. Portable hyperbaric chambers have been proven to treat all forms of altitude illness. A casualty can be removed temporarily during the night if required but the positive effects of being inside the chamber do not last long once outside of the chamber. Descent is always the most important factor to consider. The following advice applies to portable hyperbaric chambers:
Bryn Walking offer the following REC courses which I deliver:
Private courses are available on request.  November 12th/13th rec (l5) travel & expedition first aid at sennybridge camp in the bannau brycheiniog national park for 9 participantsThis 16hr REC Advanced First Aid course was for 9 participants who were all highly qualified and very experienced outdoor professionals. Their primary role is to train new army recruits in a range of outdoor adventurous skills. Bryn Walking advanced training courses have a maximum of 9 participants. Alan Ward (International Mountain Leader) was the Course Tutor. A two day course (16 hours). The Travel and Expedition First Aid course is designed to introduce a systematic way of advanced first aid for managing casualties in remote areas and at high altitude. Topic learning and practicals intermixed with scenarios of real situations. The course includes:
This Travel & Expedition First Aid course is assessed in various ways including: REC L2 Individual Test Paper, Structured assessment of outdoor scenarios, a REC L5 Team Challenge Test Paper and continuous assement during the course. Course feedback: The greatest strengths of this course -
gallery: choking (choking charlie - actfast choking vests - lifevac antichoking device) - cpr (QCPR manikins with electronic performance monitors) - aedgallery: portable altitude chamber (PAC)gallery: outdoor scenariosGAllery - miscellaneous 9/11/2024 Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Visitor CeNTRE - FIRST AID TRAINING by BRYN WALKING LIMITED (ALAN WARD)Read Now november 11th: Basic Life Support (BLS) First Aid training for 5 staff at the Bannau Brycheiniog National park Visitor centreHaving delivered many First Aid courses for National Park Authority staff since 2002, it was a pleasure to offer this First Aid training yesterday by Bryn Walking. Alan Ward (International Mountain Leader) was the course tutor. Core subjects delivered:
Additionally, the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Off Site Safety Management (OSSM) course is available - the next course is at the Cwmcarn visitor Centre on January 13th/14th. Equipment used by Bryn Walking:
Rescue Emergency Care (REC) was established in 1986 and is one of the United Kingdom's Specialist First Aid Training organisations. A quality assurance scheme ensures quality First Aid training is delivered and Bryn Walking courses also comply with ISO9001:2015 Quality Management Systems to:
RGS OFF SITE SAFETY MANAGEMENT Brecon: October 17th/18th for 5 candidatesThe off-site safety management course has been designed to increase delegates’ knowledge, understanding and skills in planning, managing and evaluating the safety of off-site visits in a number of different contexts. It is intended to meet the needs of groups organising a very wide range of activities both in the UK and abroad. It is particularly relevant to teachers, social workers, expedition leaders and university lecturers, especially those who are responsible for off-site visits within their organisations, such as geographical and biological fieldwork, adventurous outdoor activities and cultural visits. Topics covered in the course are relevant to those operating to the British Standard 8848 - specification for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the United Kingdom. ContentThe course is divided into three sections, each representing a vital stage in managing an off-site activity/event: Planning for the event This section addresses those aspects of planning which must be completed before the group departs in order to ensure the safe management of the event. It includes assessing the needs of the group, arranging the necessary staffing, and undertaking a risk assessment. Managing the event This section addresses the key management requirements relating to group safety during an activity including appropriate actions and procedures required when dealing with both minor and major incidents and contingencies. Evaluating the event This section addresses the essential review of the whole event that must be carried out to effectively improve future planning and practice.  |
2021 OnwardsFollowing on from retirement, more time will be available for hill and mountain walking on a personal basis with friends. 
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