Blog Archives

19/12/2025

Field Notes: Backing Local Expertise in the Atlas Mountains

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An Adventure Journal feature by Alan Ward IML, with editorial context from Bolder (Simon Adams FRGS)

https://lnkd.in/eEBs6mrR

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13/12/2025

REC (l5) Travel & Expedition First Aid

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December 11th/12th - 9 very experienced outdoor professionAls attended this course delivered by helen Menhinick (ML) and Alan Ward (IML).

The course content complied with the BAIML requirements for First Aid training.

Feedback from simon ogunlana of mountaineerin ltd.
Join Simon on Mt Toubkal or Kilimanjaro in 2026: visit www.mountaineerin.com for details

"We recently attended my 4th 1st Aid course which was delivered by Helen Menhinick and Alan Ward.
On this occasion we attended our 3rd REC L5 which, includes refreshing the basics but also a more in-depth delivery around overseas travel and issues relating to altitude. The course was delivered well at a good pace but keeping things relaxed with lots of practical elements.
Most people could learn to be a 1st aid trainer but the one thing you can’t learn is the vast amount of experience that Alan brings to his courses. This experience means Alan not only gives possible scenarios and examples of potential issues but has also experienced a lot of them in real life from his extensive leading career. This makes the course all the more interesting as the stories shared are potentially situations we may encounter as leaders in the future.
The knowledge and experience Alan has passed on to us over the years of courses we’ve completed has underpinned some of the decisions we have made whilst leading our own groups.
Alan’s wealth of knowledge and experience has defiantly made us more competent leaders especially when it comes to dealing with 1st Aid and risk type situations."
Simon Ogunlana - Company Director

Course GENERAL feedback

Greatest strengths:

1. I enjoyed working as a team on the practical areas and enjoyed the course.
2. Great information and shared experiences.
3. Practical experiences.
4. Useful to experience other members' experiences.
5. Enjoyable and informative - Thank you.
6. Experience from both participants and instructors.
7. Adequate equipment.
8. Knowledgeable instructors.
9. Great course - Thanks!
10. Huge amount of experience shared by the teachers.
11. Relaxed and at a good pace.
12. Instructors.
13. Experiences shared between instructors and candidates.
14. Training materials.
The course could be improved by:
1. Talisker Whisky

GALLERY

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6/12/2025

uiaa/rec training completed at the kasbah du toubkal

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december 1st - 7th: REC first aid training to concLude a three year UIAA/rec training programme for berber mountain guides at the kasbah du toubkal

Introduction: This final visit concludes a three year training programme delivered by myself and Helen Menhinick (ML) of Bryn Walking. We both gave our time freely as Volunteers but our expenses were covered by Discover ltd., who operate and manage the Kasbah du Toubkal.

Three UIAA Mountain Skills course were delivered over this period to twenty mountain guides based at the Kasbah du Toubkal. This final visit was really to refresh some of the REC First Aid certification.

The UIAA Mountain Skills course is 5 day course which involves a 3-day expedition and the REC Trekking First Aid course which is 6hrs in duration.

The course content includes:

Mountain Skills Scheme & Representative Bodies
Mountain Hazards
Mountain Environment
Maps
Navigation
Route Planning
Personal Equipment
Emergency Procedures
Movement on Steeper Terrain and Broken Ground

Almost all of the Berber guides we trained believe there should be a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) up at the high lodges at 3200m. Interestingly, when I surveyed this question in the UK, most UK based leaders thought the opposite!

Mike McHugo Founder MBE Discover Limited / Kasbah du Toubkal writes:

"Alan Ward and Helen Menhinick have been running UIAA Mountain Skills and REC First Aid courses for many years at the Kasbah du Toubkal both for our staff and for many freelance guides that we and others use to guide visitors on fantastic treks including summiting Jbel Toubkal 4,167M.

These courses have given the confidence and skill sets of the participants to run safe, informative, enjoyable excursions in the spectacular High Atlas Mountains."

REC TREKKING FIRST AID (6hrs) - for mountain guides

Feedback:

Abdul Karim - "Many thanks again Alan for everything. This is the second time that I have the course. It helps me in my daily life. My 3yr old son survived choking on a grape thanks to the skills you taught me. Shukran Mr Alan and Mike for organising the course."
Jamal Zabri from 360 Expeditions - "You are the best person I met in 2025. Thanks to give us your time."
Latifa Asselouf - "I am privileged to attend your course again. It makes me strong and feel comfortable when I am walking with my clients and in my daily life. Thank you so much Alan."

rec life saver first aid (4hrs) for hotel staff at the kasbah du toubkal

Feedback:

Lahcen - “Alan delivered the first aid training in a very professional and friendly way. He explained everything clearly and made sure everyone understood. The team learned a lot and felt confident after the session.”
Omar - “The first aid course with Alan was excellent. He used real examples and practical exercises, which made the training very useful for our work at Kasbah du Toubkal. Alan was patient and very knowledgeable.”
Youssef - “Alan was a great instructor. He created a relaxed atmosphere and encouraged everyone to participate. The training was well organized and extremely helpful for our team.
Mohamed - “We really appreciated Alan’s approach to teaching first aid. He was clear, calm, and professional. The team gained important skills that will help us in emergency situations.”
Team Feedback (Kasbah du Toubkal Staff) - “The first aid training led by Alan was very successful. He adapted the course to our environment and needs. We highly recommend Alan as a first aid instructor.”

REC lifesaver first aid (4hrs) for housemothers from the education for all morocco charity

Feedback:

Saida - This first-aid training was the first time I had the opportunity to apply these skills in a practical workshop. Thank you all.
Fatiha - Now I truly understand how important it is for a person to receive this kind of training, because we face such situations in our daily lives and often don’t know how to react.
Khadija - Through this training, I was able to correct several misconceptions that I had carried throughout my life.
Latifa - This training made me understand the necessity of ensuring that a first-aid kit is available in every environment, as its contents can provide a critical chance of survival for anyone who is injured. With the amount of information we learned during this training, I feel even more encouraged to help whenever needed, because I now understand the true importance of first-aid skills.

َ THANK YOU
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to you Alan and Latifa for your exceptional efforts. Your careful planning, continuous support, and commitment to creating a meaningful learning experience made this training truly valuable for all of us.

Thank you for your professionalism, your guidance, and for giving us the opportunity to grow and develop new skills. We deeply appreciate.

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Field Notes: Backing Local Expertise in the Atlas Mountains

An Adventure Journal feature by Alan Ward IML, with editorial context from Bolder (Simon Adams FRGS)

https://lnkd.in/eEBs6mrR

REC (l5) Travel & Expedition First Aid

December 11th/12th - 9 very experienced outdoor professionAls attended this course delivered by helen Menhinick (ML) and Alan Ward (IML).

The course content complied with the BAIML requirements for First Aid training.

Feedback from simon ogunlana of mountaineerin ltd.
Join Simon on Mt Toubkal or Kilimanjaro in 2026: visit www.mountaineerin.com for details

Course GENERAL feedback

GALLERY

uiaa/rec training completed at the kasbah du toubkal

december 1st - 7th: REC first aid training to concLude a three year UIAA/rec training programme for berber mountain guides at the kasbah du toubkal

Mike McHugo Founder MBE Discover Limited / Kasbah du Toubkal writes:

REC TREKKING FIRST AID (6hrs) - for mountain guides

rec life saver first aid (4hrs) for hotel staff at the kasbah du toubkal

REC lifesaver first aid (4hrs) for housemothers from the education for all morocco charity

2021 Onwards

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Archives

Field Notes: Backing Local Expertise in the Atlas Mountains

An Adventure Journal feature by Alan Ward IML, with editorial context from Bolder (Simon Adams FRGS)

​https://lnkd.in/eEBs6mrR

REC (l5) Travel & Expedition First Aid

December 11th/12th - 9 very experienced outdoor professionAls attended this course delivered by helen Menhinick (ML) and Alan Ward (IML).​​The course content complied with the BAIML requirements for First Aid training.

Feedback from simon ogunlana of mountaineerin ltd.Join Simon on Mt Toubkal or Kilimanjaro in 2026: visit www.mountaineerin.com for details

Course GENERAL feedback

GALLERY

uiaa/rec training completed at the kasbah du toubkal

december 1st - 7th: REC first aid training to concLude a three year UIAA/rec training programme for berber mountain guides at the kasbah du toubkal

Mike McHugo Founder MBE Discover Limited / Kasbah du Toubkal writes:

REC TREKKING FIRST AID (6hrs) - for mountain guides

rec life saver first aid (4hrs) for hotel staff at the kasbah du toubkal

REC lifesaver first aid (4hrs) for housemothers from the education for all morocco charity

2021 Onwards

Categories

Archives

https://lnkd.in/eEBs6mrR

December 11th/12th - 9 very experienced outdoor professionAls attended this course delivered by helen Menhinick (ML) and Alan Ward (IML).

The course content complied with the BAIML requirements for First Aid training.

Feedback from simon ogunlana of mountaineerin ltd.
Join Simon on Mt Toubkal or Kilimanjaro in 2026: visit www.mountaineerin.com for details