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Congratulations to the two Mountain Leaders who completed the course yesterday and thanks to The Butchers Arms in Pontsticill for hosting the event and for providing local area advice. Good luck in the future when they start to deliver NNAS courses. Thanks to Helen Menhinick of Bryn Walking for assisting with the course. The course is for aspiring and current NNAS training providers or for anyone who would like to learn more about teaching navigation. The next scheduled course is March 25th but I'm happy to offer courses on request. In 2016 the NNAS launched the NNAS Tutor Award, a course for Providers and their Course Directors who teach navigation. It is a recognition that just because one can personally navigate it doesn’t follow that one can teach it! Who is the Tutor Award for? All Registered Navigator Award Providers and their Course Directors have attended this CPD-accredited course in order to offer the Navigator awards. The NNAS Tutor Award is suitable for people 16yrs+ only. Successful completion of the NNAS Tutor Award will also enable (after approval by NNAS) those without a higher hill or mountain walking qualification, but with experience and interest in the outdoors, to help teach on a Bronze award under the guidance of a registered NNAS Course Director. They will be called “Bronze Tutors”. In this case, once the NNAS Tutor Award is completed, an application by email to the NNAS must be made and approved before that person assists on Bronze courses. The course is a mixture of indoor and outdoor practical sessions and offers the opportunity for candidates to discuss their own methodology as well as learning new techniques from others. Congratulations to the seven outdoor professionals from the Gilwern OEC who completed the course yesterday - good luck with the Bronze and Silver NNAS Navigator Awards you will soon be delivering. The morning was spent covering theory of NNAS courses with a 4hr session on the Blorenge utilising a 5.5KM circuit from Keeper's Pond down the Iron Mountain Trail and along Hill's Tramroad to return along public bridleways for a debriefing. It was nice to cross the footbridge I'd built back in 2009 using volunteers from Western Power when I was Area Manager (East) for the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. The route was discussed as being suitable for Day 2 of the Bronze Award (3-5km daily) but a longer route would have made it suitable for the Silver Award (5-8km) with the introduction of some cross country navigation off paths. My next course is on November 23rd at the Butchers Arms in Pontsticill. NNAS Tutor AwardIn 2016 the NNAS launched the NNAS Tutor Award, a course for Providers and their Course Directors who teach navigation. It is a recognition that just because one can personally navigate it doesn’t follow that one can teach it!
Who is the Tutor Award for?All Registered Navigator Award Providers and their Course Directors have attended this CPD-accredited course in order to offer the Navigator awards. However the course is suitable for anyone with a knowledge of navigation who wishes to teach navigation to their own groups. The NNAS Tutor Award is suitable for people 16yrs+ only. Successful completion of the NNAS Tutor Award will also enable (after approval by NNAS) those without a higher hill or mountain walking qualification, but with experience and interest in the outdoors, to help teach on a Bronze award under the guidance of a registered NNAS Course Director. They will be called “Bronze Tutors”. In this case, once the NNAS Tutor Award is completed, an application by email to the NNAS must be made and approved before that person assists on Bronze courses. The course is a mixture of indoor and outdoor practical sessions and offers the opportunity for candidates to discuss their own methodology as well as learning new techniques from others.  October 18th to 22nd at Dol Peris with Helen Menhinick of Menhinick Outdoors Limited and seven participants who were a pleasure to work with. A Mountain Skills course is a great way to learn the essential skills, or to refresh current skills, needed to enjoy the mountains in the UK safely. The Mountain Skills course is just one of the courses offered by Mountain Training UK with the following course content:
Day 1: The course started mid-afternoon with an illustrated lecture by Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Association. Following on from that, the theory of Mountain Skills was then discussed using an illustrated presentation and the course outline discussed. The venue was the excellent Dol Peris Guesthouse which is effectively a self-catering hotel and one I've frequently used whilst in Snowdonia - I can highly recommend Dol Peris and the hosts Lisa and Phill George (British Mountain Guide).  Day 2: With an adverse weather forecast current, it was necessary to review our training location for the day and Helen and I concluded that Cwm Idwal would be just right. Parking at Ogwen was not an issue as there weren't many groups out and those that braved the weather were mostly mountain training groups. The small visitor centre room was ideal for Helen to explain some of the core skills required for mountain navigation before setting out into the strong winds and heavy rain which would test us over the next four or so hours. Passing Tin Can Alley, I told the group that, I think, this was the infamous Khyber Pass in the "Carry on up the Khyber" film of 1968, according to local legend. The next four hours or so were spent practicing navigation skills around Llyn Idwal and the Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve. Returning to Dol Peris, further time was spent on the course core syllabus elements. Day3: This would be a full quality mountain day to one of my favourite mountains in the Snowdonia National Park - Cnicht (689m) which is part of the Moelwynion mountain range and known as the Welsh Matterhorn owing to its pointy shape when viewed from the west. Our route started at Gelli-Lago and climbed up to Bwlch y Battel before a steep zig zag path took us up to a small plateau at 600m for the final simple scramble up to the summit. The circuit continued on to Llyn yr Adar before descending past Llyn Llagi, Carnedd Melyn. Llwynyrhwch and back to the cars. A long but rewarding day....... Day 4: Crossing the Moel Eilio (726m) ridge had been scheduled for Day 2 but with favourable weather for the day it was our preferred choice. Cars were parked at Bwlch-y-groes and we worked our way southeastwards over Moel Eilio (726m) Foel Gron (593m) and Foel Goch (605m) to join the public bridleway at Bwlch Maesgwm to descend northwards back to Dol Peris. This was a day useful for practicing many of the important navigation skills required for safe mountain navigation in areas such as this. That evening there was a BBQ where I cooked any items of food the participants might have brought. Thus the course ended and the following morning, everyone left for home. Thanks to the "Magnificent Seven" participants and to Helen Menhinick for the invaluable support with making this course so enjoyable. Congratulations to Allan Hunn and Helen Menhinick, two Mountain Leaders who completed this 15 hour course yesterday. They both delivered high quality presentations during the course and completed the final assessment paper to a high standard. The OSSM course is appropriate for those working in a range of different situations where they are responsible for taking children/young people/adults out of their everyday environments (e.g. on geography or environmental field trips, on guided walks, on organised activities). It aims to equip attendees with the ability to apply knowledge, understanding and problem solving skills ...... The course complied with the RGS syllabus and introduced Allan and Helen to three important British and International Standards to use in their planning, managing and reviewing of their outdoor activities:
Additionally, use was made of the Adventure Activities Licencing Authority's Guidance and Self-assessment document. I believe both Allan and Helen will be attending the RGS OSSM Trainer's course in London on November 25th so good luck to them both for this. Watch out for this publication which will be released next year. Allan Hunn tells us more about his forthcoming publication, the research he has completed and the guided walks he will lead along these historical routes which will commence next year. _________________________________________________________________________________________ The discovery of the Chemin d'Liberte (The Freedom Trail) was a real eye opener of escape & evasions stories of Allied airmen and soldiers during World War II, completing the Trail and was completely humbling experience. The bravery of these men and indeed their helpers in the most rudimentary of equipment, malnourished in a tough mountain environment and with a determined enemy on their tails sets us an incredible example of determination to return to the UK and continue the fight for freedom. At the same time I also came to recognise the plight of refugees including Jewish refugees who crossed the mountains often with Allied airmen and soldiers, In this respect I had the honour to speak to a Jewish lady who was carried over the Pyrenees to safety by her mother, another tremendously humbling experience. This drove me to begin researching escape & evasion stories and routes and then led to the idea that perhaps these should go in a walkers guide book so that we can walk in the footsteps of these giants and remember their bravery. A key element of the book is to recognise as many people as possible that helped to fight fascism, no matter nationality, race, religion or persuasion. After many years of research I can at last see the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a book that tells of individual escape & evasion stories and details their mountainous walking routes. The first book will be called World War II Escape & Evasion Walking Routes: The Pyrenees Volume 1. then the intention is to work on escape & evasion routes from Italy, though Norway and the Balkans. As we approach Remembrance Day I will remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and I will also check the setting of my moral compass to try and align it with those brave and determined Escapers & Evaders and refugees. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to express an interest in joining our inaugural Freedom Trails walk next year. Details of the walk can be seen below the gallery section. Allan Hunn - Mountain Leader (bear.cub@btopenworld.com) Sample images of The Freedom Trail follow: Highlights of The Freedom Trail:
Introduction - High Peaks of Southern Snowdonia was a residential walking event by Bryn Walking, based in Barmouth with accommodation at Goronwy Cottage with sea views and plenty of comfortable accommodation. The event was planned and managed by Helen Menhinich and I acted as her assistant. CDay 1 - The Afon Ysgethin Valley and Pont Scethin North of Barmouth towards Harlech, the land rises steeply from the sea towards the Rhinog mountain range. The area is of historically of interest with Romano-British, Medieval and post-Medieval. Specific sites of interest on this 10km walk included Craig y Dinas iron age hill fort, the 12th century Pont Scethin across the Afon Ysgethin, which is on the old trading route linking Bont-ddu and Harlech. Day 2 - Rhinog Fach (712m) From Maes-y-garnedd where a friendly farmer talked to us about local history we headed north easterly to the cairn at Bwlch Drws-Arduwy where we rested for our morning break. Then, turning southwards we climbed quite steeply to the 500m contour before the climb became easier to the summit cairn where we enjoyed lunch in good weather but sheltered from the wind by the old wall. After lunch, the descent to Llyn Hywel required some care and we rested by the lake where I'd once camped before continuing on to Llyn Perfeddau. Continuing westwards through the old mining area and long abandoned buildings we reached the valley road at Cil-cychwyn. Helen very kindly jogged the 2km back to Maes-y-garnedd and returned to pick us up to drive back in to Barmouth. Day 3 - Cader Idris (893m) The plan had been to ascend the Foxes Path to the summit and descend the Pony Path but heavy and persistent rain put an end to this plan! Reaching Llyn Gafr for our morning break and being aware of very strong summit winds, Helen made the decision to abort the summit plan which I fully agreed with. After contouring westwards we reached the Pont Path and soon after stopped for lunch. After reaching the car park we stopped for an hour in Dolgellau before returning to Barmouth. Final thoughts: an enjoyable few days for me so thanks to Helen for allowing me to assist. The five participants were a pleasure to work with and we enjoyed a final dinner together at a restaurant just north of Barmouth. For anyone interested in joining a similar event, please contact Helen at Bryn Walking. October 1st - another NNAS Tutor Award course with three candidates was enjoyable with positive feedback received. October 4th to 8th - High peaks of southern Snowdonia, assisting Bryn Walking with this four night residential event based in Barmouth. October 13th/14th - RGS certificated Off Site Safety Management course in Newtown, mid-Wales. This course will also be available on December 15th/16th in the Brecon Beacons, at Llangasty Village Hall. October 18th to 22nd - Mountain Skills in Snowdonia based at Dol Peris in Llanberis, it's possible there might be one place available on this extended (3.5 days) Mountain Skills course. This course will also be available in the Brecon Beacons on March 1st to 4th.  Congratulations to the 4 Mountain Leaders who just completed this course to a very high standard. The next course is scheduled for March 23rd/24th at Llangasty Village Hall in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Feedback included:
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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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June 2022
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