 I've long been a user of sigg products for my international travel, treks and expeditions.
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 HELEN MENHINICK (BRYN WALKING) AND I HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM TRAINING MOROCCAN MOUNTAIN GUIDES BASED AT THE KASBAH DU TOUBKAL IN IMLIL IN THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS OF MOROCCO. I've used Rohan Designs clothing for many years (Since 1986 I believe), from a previous career in the Oil & Gas Sector in the jungles of West Papua, Indonesia, into the realms of high altitude on Kilimanjaro and Mera Peak and training local mountain guides in Sharjah, the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the Highlands of Central Java in Indonesia. MEN'S HELIOS LIGHTWEIGHT INSULATED VESTHelen and I both wore these Vests during our January 2024 training trip to the Kasbah du Toubkal to train their regular Moroccan Mountain Guides in order that they complement their incredible local experience by gaining internationally accredited qualifications from UIAA (Mountain Hiking Skills), RGS (Off Site Safety Management) and REC (Trekking First Aid + Life Saver First Aid). Features at a Glance:
OTHER ROHAN CLOTHING WE USED THROUGHOUT THE TRIPhelen
alanWaterproofs and insulated products:
during my recent trip to the high atlas mountains of morocco, i was able to take various items of rohan DESIGNS clothing which i could live without, to give to some of those we were training: above: latifa asselouf - mountain guide/Hilltop jacket at essaouira on the atlantic coast above: mohamed - trail chef/pampas jacket on the trail to the kasbah du toubkal above: Brahim - mountain guide/pinnicle jacket on the summit of mt toubkal (4167m) ABOVE: LATIFA ASSELOUF - MOUNTAIN GUIDE/HILLTOP JACKET AT ESSAOUIRA ON THE ATLANTIC COAST ABOVE: BRAHIM - MOUNTAIN GUIDE/PINNICLE JACKET during rec trekking first aid course at the kasbah du toukal ABOVE: LATIFA ASSELOUF - MOUNTAIN GUIDE/MICROGRID ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT FLEECE JACKET KINDLY DONATED BY THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT OF ROHAN DESIGNS LIMITED ABOVE: LATIFA ASSELOUF - MOUNTAIN GUIDE/HILLTOP JACKET in Amizmiz THE KASBAH DU TOUBKAL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!I arrived here on January 9th along with Helen Menhinick (ML) of Bryn Walking to deliver the annual programme of Mountain and First Aid Training to staff employed by the Kasbah du Toubkal. Last September's tragic earthquake caused significant damage in the area but, here at the Kasbah du Toubkal, this was limited to the loss of the main dining room and the tower/terrace above. All other areas are fully operational and work is in progress to clear debris and rubble from the old dining room ready for new construction. It has to be said that, during my stay here, there was no disturbance from the clear up areas which are screened off and out of site. So, it really is, "business as usual"! During our stay here, visitors were arriving for residential stays and day visits from Marrakech to enjoy an excellent lunch on the rooftop which overlooks Imlil and the mountains al around with Mt Toubkal (4167m) to the south. The Kasbah du Toubkal now have 14 Mountain Guides who have qualified through the UIAA Mountain Hiking Skills syllabus along with an appropriate REC Outdoor First Aid course. Senior Management recently attended the RGS Off Site SAfety Management Scheme. I've used the Kasbah du Toubkal for several Mt Toubkal (4167m) trips and can highly recommend it as a great place to stay pre- and post-trek and their Mountain Guides are top class! Below is a gallery of our recent trip.....  Kasbah du toubkal - mountain training programme: january 9th to 20th 2024I've been providing training to Moroccan Mountain Guides at the Kasbah du Toubkal for five years or more now. This training is delivered through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) whereby the training is delivered free of charge but our expenses are covered by the parent company, Discover Ltd. Last year I was accompanied by Helen Menhinick (ML) of Bryn Walking and Helen is with me for this year's Training Programme at the Kasbah du Toubkal for:
January 8th: Travel to LHR t2 - hilton garden inn hotelTravel to LHR T2 and the Hilton Garden Inn for overnight accommodation and dinner due to an early TAP Air Portugal flight departure on Tuesday. I picked Helen up at the M4 Magor Services where James had driven her from Newtown. A long section of the M4 was closed from an incident the night before but we never found out why. january 9th: fly tap via lisbon to marrakech - drive to imlil and walk up to the kasbah du toubkal TAP to Marrakech via Lisbon and the road transfer to Kasbah du Toubkal, I’d chosen TAP Air Portugal as BA flights would have been out of LHR but back into LGW which was very inconvenient. Checking into TAP was effortless at 0600 and we were soon through formalities and into the lounge area which was quiet and quite comfortable and operated by Lufthansa as a Star Alliance lounge for member airlines which TAP belong too. The flights to Marrakech via Lisbon, with a 2hr transit, were enjoyable with good service on both sectors. On arrival into Marrakech, passage through formalities and money changing went well but we were asked by a senior customs officer where we were going with so much luggage. He was happy that we were going to be training Moroccan Mountain Guides on a voluntary basis and wished us well. After an hour and a half we arrived at the Kasbah du Toubkal office in Lower Imlil where three mules were waiting to transport our luggage up to the Kasbah du Toubkal, a twenty minute walk up through Imlil and then on the trail towards Aremd. We had been allocated two adjacent en-suite rooms in the main house and these were both nice rooms where Mike McHugo one of the main owners lives whilst there. It was late by the time we’d enjoyed dinner in the Garden Room which is above the Conference Room which we’d be using for our two week training visit. After our long day it was good to turn into beds warmed by nightly hot water bottles and after a Shackleton nightcap. We’d not known what to expect after the September earthquake but were surprised at how much had been achieved with a new sun terrace which was very pleasant and overlooked Imlil. Damage was far less than we’d expected and none of the bedrooms had been affected. The kitchen was more or less as before so the only rooms no longer available were two Berber Dormitories, the old traditional Dining Room and the tower roof terrace. A new terrace had already been built above the kitchen. Building works were in progress on the Imlil side of the complex but were well screened off with no sound disturbance at all experienced during our stay there. january 10th: PREPARATION DAYPrep day – Helen and I spent the morning setting up the Conference Room ready for the training courses we were to deliver. We had expected to deliver a REC Life Saver 4hr First Aid course for a group of House Mothers from the Education for All project down in Imlil which was established by the Kasbah du Toubkal but this didn’t materialize as they were simply too busy to attend. After lunch we went for a circular walk down the main trail into Imlil to visit some shops which Helen had previously used before we returned up through terraced fields and walnut groves to the Kasbah du Toubkal. It was in the terraced fields where we met Hussain who had recently retired from the Kasbah du Toubkal to spend more time at his home and looking after his sheep. It was good to see him and we chatted for quite a while and, next day during the “Call to Prayer” we were told that it was his voice resonating out across Imlil. Having previously worked with Latifa Asselouf over the last five years ago, I invited her to add her comments to this blog. On the nights that Mike was there, Helen, Latifa and I dined with Mike who was very open and informative about his plans for restoration and re-building after the earthquake. JANUARY 11TH: RGS OFF SITE SAFETY MANAGEMENT (OSSM) - DAy 1Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Off Site Safety Management (OSSM) Course Day 1 (0900 to 1700) – The four participants were the Senior Management Team from the Kasbah du Toubkal and included:
The course venue was in the Conference Room with Helen Menhinick observing and assisting. Latifa: “It’s a good opportunity to meet administration staff during the course through Alan, assisted by Helen who explained how to plan , how to manage and how to review our work activities when we have trekking clients with us”. JANUARY 12TH: RGS OFF SITE SAFETY MANAGEMENT (OSSM) - DAY 2RGS Day 2 (0900 to 1700) – The course continued as scheduled with course completion administration taking half an hour after the course and this was then submitted to RGS in London. Latifa: “It’s worthwhile to attend the course because I have got more information that I need to improve my administration work and make it easy and clear so it does not seem hard to answer my clients and make them to get my response quickly with good details in order to feel safe and accept my trek." january 13th: uiaa mountain HIKING skills - day 1UIAA Mountain Hiking Skills Day 1 attended by seven local Moroccan Mountain Guides and assisted by Latifa Asselouf who completed the course last year:
These Mountain Guides are of the Amazigh (Berber) peoples who are the indigenous peoples of North Africa and primarily speak Tamazight. The 2016 census in Morocco estimated the number of Tamazight speakers to be 28% of the population, or roughly ten million speakers.
Latifa: “As human beings , we take something small for granted like a RAB group shelter, it looks small but worth to have with us . It saves lives and gives more confidence to our clients. It means such a lot to us” january 14th: uiaa mountain HIKING skills - day 2UIAA Mountain Hiking Skills Day 2 – Participants arrived for a 0930 start and some theory with two new Mountain Guides replacing three no shows from yesterday. The two new Mountain Guides received an introduction to the course from Helen and an introduction to topics missed yesterday. We left the Kasbah du Toubkal at 1000 and walked up to the Aremd road where Helen demonstrated pacing which was a new experience for the participants. Throughout the day individual Mountain Guides would take turns at leading the group. At the westernmost hairpin bend we joined the path which leads up to the Tizi n’Mzik (2479m) and over the next two and a half hours up to the Tizi (mountain pass or col/saddle), various compass skills were demonstrated by Helen and practiced. Arriving at the Tizi by about 1300, our carpeted dining area was ready and Mint Tea was soon served after, of course, our hands were ritually washed. Lunch, when it arrived, was simply quite amazing, prepared by Chef Mohammed and his muleteer assistant. Our luggage and other equipment was transported by two mules and would be with us for these three days. After lunch there was the long descent to Tizi Oussem village but on this occasion we chose a more southerly and gentle ascent to arrive there from the south passing between traditional houses which had suffered earthquake damage and the new earthquake relief tents. One of the guides, Med, took Latifa and Helen further south to a viewing point overlooking the end of the valley where there were sheep folds at a summer grazing village and the lower lodge at Azib Tamsoult. On the way into the village we came across a group of young children of which the youngest needed some minor first aid treatment having been pushed over by his older brother. BoHo, one of the Mountain Guides dealt with this very well - Helen and I were suitably impressed! Earthquake damage was considerable in the village. We stopped at a local shop to buy a huge box of biscuits that would be shared with the guides enroute for the next couple of days. Latifa had arranged for a local minibus to take us over to Ait Aissa and the Azzenden Trekking Lodge for two nights. Latifa: “The course made everyone delighted because it made us meet each other and share information that every guide has including the ones Helen and Alan were teaching us about the orientations through a compass on the map, how to read a map as we have a lack of this. Here we know our mountains because we have sun most of the time so it’s easy for us to get the direction but Helen and Alan showed us how to know the directions, durations and calculate distances at any obstacle weather difficulties . They informed us when and how to make a decision on the right time and circumstances. Thank you .” JANUARY 15TH: UIAA MOUNTAIN HIKING SKILLS - DAY 3UIAA Mountain Hiking Skills Day 3 – In the Azzenden Valley. This middle day of the Kasbah’s “Trekking in Style” 3-day itinerary we changed so as not to visit the waterfall but to enjoy a walk through the surrounding villages which made for a very interesting and educationally informative day. After a good breakfast and catching up on some skills theory we left at around 1000 for our 6 hr cultural walk and exploration of the surrounding villages. We’d done exactly the same walk last year with the first batch of Moroccan Mountain Guides but it was still an incredibly interesting day. Before reaching the base of the valley we stopped for a break by a small patch of barley. A women passed a load of apples through the hedge to Mohamed (Med) for us to share. We were privileged to watch a women make bread in a traditional oven and then enjoy some mint tea in her home, which had been quite badly damaged by the earthquake. That night we enjoyed a special steamed lamb dish (a gift from the mountain guides to Helen and me) after a day into night navigation walk up to a nearby reservoir perched on a small ridge above our lodge. After dinner, Helen and I joined the others with a traditional song and dance routine in which we were both dressed up in traditional robes and shuffled around the room to the local music as best we could. Latifa: “ That day is mixture of cultures exchange and orientation walk through traditional villages, meeting children, women, men both working in their terrace cultivation. It showed how all the communities get involved in life. We walked up higher to the village each guide talked about something different but instructive for all of us and Helen and Alan also, during our walk , we met children going to school asking about pens . They noticed Helen and it made me happy because the children remember her when we visited the school last time . We had tea stop in a Berber house . A woman who now is our friend, showing us how to bake bread in traditional way, she served it with olive oil nuts , we enjoyed it all. Back down to lunch in the side of the river to meet our happy nice chef who cooked very delicious meal and the mule man who took all what we would need for food , water and all the equipments for our trek. Thank you”. JANUARY 16TH: UIAA MOUNTAIN HIKING SKILLS - DAY 4UIAA Mountain Hiking Skills Day 4 – Trek back to the Kasbah du Toubkal. The Tizi Oudite (2221m) to cross today wasn’t as high as our outward Tizi n'Mzik (2479m) on Day 1 of the 3-day trek. Throughout the walk back to the Kasbah du Toubkal the group were eager to continue with skills practice and learn from Helen and I. It was much windier today and a snow cloud was quickly forming on the mountain tops just south of us. The group was eager to reach the Tizi Oudite and continue on to the lunch stop. On reaching the lunch stop, on the spur, it certainly was extremely windy and had started to rain. It hadn’t rained here since June and was much needed so in a way we were very happy for them. (NB. Since the earthquake the valleys had had a lot more water in the streams even without having had snow, bedrock had somehow moved and allowed new springs to appear.). We descended into Imlil for a debriefing with mint tea before everyone headed for home. Latifa: “We continued our course for navigation features and how to manage and combine them with duration and distance during our walk in order to give estimation times to our guests and make them comfortable to reach the destination we want to reach. We had another lunch on an exposed spur but had to manage bit bad weather but we sorted out as a team (the chef, mule man, Helen, Alan, all the guides). We got of back to Kasbah." JANUARY 17TH: UIAA MOUNTAIN HIKING SKILLS - DAY 5 REC TREKKING FIRST AID (8HRS)REC Trekking First Aid (8hrs) for the UIAA participants. Today’s REC Trekking First Aid course was a unique syllabus which I’d recently developed and had approved by REC to use for the first time here in Morocco. Briefly the 8hr syllabus consists of:
The course went well with Latifa assisting us when necessary with translating some of the more advanced elements of the course. On completion of the REC Trekking First Aid course we decided to bring forward, from tomorrow, the UIAA Online assessment and certification process. The UIAA assessment and online certification process went well, assisted by Lahcen from Reception. They were all extremely pleased to receive their online certificates from UIAA and had worked hard to receive this qualification. Latifa: “ I really appreciated the first aid training. Every time I get new skills I can take my guests safely on any reasonable trek - thank you so much to UIAA and REC.” JANUARY 18TH:With the morning spent completing the various administration requirements for the Training Programme, we then delivered the REC Life Saver (4hr) First Aid course to five of the hotel staff. Having completed our objectives for the trip, Helen and I decided we’d head into Marrakech the next morning and I suggested we crossed the Tizi-n-Tamatert (2279m) via the mountain road by 4WD (a Toyota Landcruiser) into the Iminane Valley. Helen had a henna tattoo after dinner which was quite pretty. january 19th:After staying good bye to the staff, we walked down into Imlil for a morning coffee and some wonderful pancakes, cooked especially for us, before one final visit to Ibrahim’s shop for Helen to make a few last purchases. We walked past the school which had been badly damaged in the earthquake. Our luggage had been transported down to the office and Latifa nipped down to get the 4WD and met us at Ibrahim’s shop. We then drove up to the Tizi-n-Tamatert (2299m) for a photographic opportunity before continuing into the Imanane Valley where we made several stops at significant viewpoints. The highest villages were at about 2500m where we saw hundreds of goats in all the small and colourful villages we passed through. Towards the lower end of the valley we saw villages that had suffered earthquake damage with an abundance of temporary tented accommodation alongside ruined properties. On the way into Asni for lunch, we looked across the valley at the ruined Kasbah Tamadot which remains closed. Kasbah Tamadot is part of the Richard Branson portfolio of global luxury resorts. The Kasbah du Toubkal Duty Manager wasn’t able to satisfactorily arrange our two nights’ accommodation in Marrakech so Latifa took us the Riad Omar which was very close to the Place Jemaa el Fna, the famous square which is the central hub of the Marrakech Medina area. Helen and I agreed to share a suite type room where we had our own sleeping areas but it was a little basic. Dinner for Helen and I was at a local restaurant close to our Riad Omar which Latifa had recommended. Our plans for the next day were to visit the coastal fortified city of Essaouira, some three hours away. Latifia organized our transport which turned out to be the same 4WD and driver from our drive into Marrakech from Imlil. As the price seemed to be cost effective we agreed to do this. january 20th0730 and we were on the road to Essaouira with Latifa. I think Helen and I slept for considerable parts of the journey, and on the way back to Marrakech later that afternoon. “Essaouira, known until the 1960s as Mogador, is a port city in the western Moroccan region of Marakesh-Safi, on the Atlantic coast. It has 77,966 inhabitants as of 2014. The foundation of the city of Essaouira was the work of the Moroccan 'Alawid sultan Mohammed bin Abdallah, who made an original experiment by entrusting it to several renowned architects in 1760, in particular Théodore Cornut and Ahmed al-Inglizi, who designed the city using French captives from the failed French expedition to Larache in 1765, and with the mission of building a city adapted to the needs of foreign merchants. Once built, it continued to grow and experienced a golden age and exceptional development, becoming the country's most important commercial port but also its diplomatic capital between the end of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century." This was my third visit to this fascinating city (a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001) and after arrival we spent the first hour or so in the fort and harbour area before exploring the medina area and enjoying a simple light seafood lunch in the old fish market. Wandering through the narrow and colourful streets we finished up on the fortified city sea walls which look out to sea and which were a location for parts of the Game of Thrones series and one of my favourite films, Kingdom of Heaven. We were back in Marrakech by early evening, had a light meal at a nearby café before an early night. january 21st:We were up early for breakfast and ready for our 0900 transfer to Marrakech International Airport. On arrival there were no delays getting into the terminal via security and by the time we’d had a coffee and snack our TAP check in desk was open. Passing through formalities was easy enough and we found a quiet place to sit and relax for a while before visiting a café for a sandwich. I think the flight boarded on time and the flight to Lisbon was good with us being well looked after by our cabin crew. Lunch was a prawn cocktail and then steak which was quite rare and to Helen’s liking. We each had a fabulous TAP gin and tonic and I also had a small glass of Douro red wine with my steak. The Cabin Services Officer was pleasant to talk to and gave us each a disembarkation gift of two miniatures to take home. Our transit in Lisbon was about 2hrs but there was a delay due to a last minute crew change. I suspect that with Storm Isha waiting for us at LHR that a more senior captain might have been allocated to our aircraft. The flight over the Bay of Biscay and France was smooth but after beginning our descent we were in a holding pattern at about 10000ft over South London. Eventually we heard the undercarriage go down and we landed after what I can only describe as the scariest landing I’d ever experienced. We later found out that some flights were being diverted up to 500 miles away so well done to our TAP flight crew! Luggage came through quickly and we collected my car at the T2 Short Stay Car Park before a challenging M4 drive to drop Helen off at Maghor M4 Services where James was waiting and I continued on to Cardiff and home.  dEcember 14th/15th - Bryn Walking's REC (L2) outdoor first aid course in brecon with REC Instructors Helen Menhinick (ML) and alan Ward (IML) + 7 participantsREC OUTDOoR FIRST AID COURSE (16hrs)The outdoor first aid course is designed to introduce a systematic way of first aid for managing casualties. Topic learning and practicals intermixed with scenarios of real situations. The course includes:
course feedback: the greatest strengths of the course are:
Course feedback: The course could be improved by:
  HELEN MENHINICK (BRYN WALKING) AND I HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM AN ANNAPURNA BASE CAMP TREK IN NEPAL. WE RELIED ON sigg products THROUGHOUT THE TRIP - THIS IS A BRIEF REVIEW OF WHAT WE USED, and includes what other participants used.I've been using SIGG products for many years in support of my overseas travel which often involves high altitude trek and expedition activities. I recommend SIGG bottles particularly and, from experience on such activities, hygiene amongst participants is sometimes better than using hydration systems as trekkers often fail to keep their bite valves clean. And many trekkers just love having a hot water bottle at night which SIGG bottles can help with. I usually advise taking a couple of spare washers as these can be lost when are Sherpa crew are filling many water bottles after dinner, for the following day. Sadly, a couple of my favourite items are no longer in production but these can be seen after the main gallery which follows. Annapurna base camp trek: sigg galleryThe only negative comment about any of these products is that the zips on the pouches don't appear to be that strong and at least one of mine has broken, making the zip harder to use. my favourite sigg products, sadly no longer in production. The best ever hip flask came with a mug and the old style lunch box was huge and very versatile and, in my opinion, better than the latest style with plastic inserts.
Note for SIGG UK: if you've got any of these old style products loitering in the back of the warehouse then a couple of each would be warmly welcomed for my worldwide treks and expeditions.  Helen menhinick (bryn walking) and i have recently returned from an annapurna base camp trek in nepal. we relied on rohan designs clothing throughout the trip - this is a brief review of what we used.I've used Rohan Designs clothing for many years (Since 1986 I believe), from a previous career in the Oil & Gas Sector in the jungles of West Papua, Indonesia, into the realms of high altitude on Kilimanjaro and Mera Peak and training local mountain guides in Sharjah, the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco and the Highlands of Central Java in Indonesia. Men's Eos Insulated Winter Jacket + Women's Eos Insulated Winter JacketHelen and I both wore these jackets on the ABC Trek and were very impressed with them up above 3200m with Helen wearing hers at Annapurna Base Camp (4150m). Features at a Glance:
I've previously used, and still do, the Rohan Nightfall Down Jacket which was a great jacket and has kept me warm in some very cold and challenging places. The Nightfall did have the PackPocket which I found useful and was filled with 800+ fill power compared to the Eos 700 fill power. One thing I didn't like with the Nightfall was the detachable hood so the Eos scores very highly in my opinion, for the hood which fitted very well. OTHER rohan clothing we used throughout the tripALAN: 1. Summit Trousers 2. Pioneer Trousers 3. Overlanders 4. Worldview Shirt 5. Pioneer Shirt - Short sleeve (x 2) 6. Core Silver Polo 7. Core Silver Zip - Long sleeve 8. Core Silver T - Short sleeve (x 3) 9. Pinnicle Jacket (Barricade 3-layer): sadly lost when it became loose under my rucksack lid so I'm quite gutted about this as it was an amazing waterproof jacket 10. Elite Overtrousers: Please re-introduce these? 11. Aether Boxers with Fly (x 4) 12. Trunk Plus Boxers (x 4) 13. Fleece Gloves + Waterproof Gloves + Wooly Hat 14. Coffee Mug HELEN: 1. Ventus Waterproof Jacket 2. Bags Trousers 3. Pioneer Shirts (x 3) 4. Wooly Hat 5. Moor Overtrousers NOTE FOR ROHAN DESIGNS: Please bring back more Silver Technology garments? miscellaneous images INTRODUCTIONMy previous trip into the Annapurna Sanctuary was leading a charity trek back in 2006 but my first trek in Nepal was in 1990. Since 1990, I’ve been lucky enough to lead over 20 treks and expeditions to the Himalayas. Why the Annapurna Sanctuary in 2023? - Because it's such a beautiful area which I wanted to re-visit. − This was be a good opportunity to work with my friend, Tulsi Gwyali of Nepal Sanctuary Treks who I’ve known for a number of years and who I can highly recommend. − The itinerary doesn’t exceed 4150m so provides a good introduction to Nepal for the six friends who accompanied me. − The itinerary was a 10-day trek so can more or less be squeezed in to just over 2-weeks away from home. THE ANNAPURNA SANCTUARYThe Annapurna Sanctuary is a high glacial basin lying 40 km directly north of Pokhara. This oval-shaped plateau sits at an altitude of over 4000m and is surrounded by a ring of mountains, the Annapurna range with most peaks being over 7000m. Our trek uses the only entrance into the Annapurna Sanctuary, through the narrow valley which lies between the high peaks of Hiunchuli and Machapuchare, where run-off from glaciers drains into the Modi Khola River. The Sanctuary was not penetrated by outsiders until 1956. Because of the high mountains on all sides, the Annapurna Sanctuary receives only seven hours of sunlight a day at the height of summer. The south-facing slopes are covered in dense tropical jungles of rhododendron and bamboo, while the north-facing slopes, in the rain shadow, have a drier colder climate similar to that of the near-by Tibetan Plateau. The entire sanctuary was held as sacred to the Gurung people, one of the many native people to inhabit the area. They believed it was the repository of gold and various treasures left by the Nāgas, the serpent-gods known in India. The sanctuary was believed to be the home of several deities, from Hinduism and Buddhism as well as older animistic gods. The peak of Machhapuchhre (6997m) at the entrance was believed to be the home of the god Shiva, and the daily plumes of snow were thought to be the smoke of his divine incense. Until recently, the local Gurung people forbade anyone from bringing eggs or meat into the Annapurna Sanctuary, and women and untouchables were prohibited from going there as well. The Annapurna Sanctuary is now part of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), which places restrictions on number of outside travellers, gathering of firewood, and domestic animal grazing. November 6th - Depart UK with qatar airways from LHR T4 and manchesterOur departure day had finally arrived and when I looked out of the front windows, Janet was just parking up on the drive. After coffee and bacon rolls our MET Executive transfer vehicle was duly loaded up and after saying goodbye to Yolande, we drove to Magor M4 Services to pick up Wendy, Lou E and Carla. We then continued up the M4 to LHR T4 with a brief comfort stop at Reading Services. Arriving at LHR T4 by 1000 we didn’t have long to wait until the check in desks opened although my Business Class desk was already open and I was soon checked in and through formalities for a quick drink and a light meal before joining Wendy and Janet outside. The massive Qatar A380 took ages to board and we took off slightly behind schedule but were advised we’d still arrive in Doha on time at 2355, at around the same time as Helen and Lou B would arrive from Manchester. My flight was good and I was looked after well, throughout the 6hr flight. november 7th - ARRIVE kathmandu, NEPAL via dohaArrival into the terminal after a long descent was easy enough and the old security system had been discontinued so it was straight to the Giant Yellow Teddy Bear where most of us met up from the two flights. The flight to Kathmandu was uneventful with great views of the Himalayas on the left before we descended into Trivandrum International Airport after one 15 minute holding loop whilst we waited for clearance to land. Immigration and the Baggage Hall were crowded with Wendy having some form of passport issue but we collected our bags and went out to meet Tulsi where he warmly greeted us with marigold garlands of flowers which was a wonderful gesture on his part. The thirty minute drive to the very nice Ambassador Hotel was easy enough and Tulsi had arranged for our rooms to be available to us on our arrival. Rooms were allocated and we all went off to unpack and rest after the overnight flight. My Room 703 was very well appointed with a king size bed. I'd had lunch here with Tulsi on my last trip to Nepal and was pleased to be staying here. At 1530, Helen, Janet and I went for a short walk over to a nearby complex with several hotels and booked a table for dinner at the Piano & Piano Restaurant where I’d eaten twice before. We recce’d a nearby money changer so everyone was able to change all the money they needed without any problems whatsoever. Back at the hotel for our 1730 briefing with Tulsi which went well, kitbags were issued and final bills paid. I’d arranged for Helen’s bags to be branded with Bryn Walking and in her favorite colour which is orange. It must be noted that Tulsi advised us all that 4 twin rooms might not be achievable every night. This was to cause some concern later on the trek when we arrived at Bamboo where our lodge was overbooked. Money changing and then dinner went as planned in Piano & Piano which I enjoyed. Several of us met at the rooftop bar for our complimentary evening cocktails which were really good, served with a small poppadum which was a nice touch. Back at the hotel I was in bed by 2100……. Overnight: Ambassador Hotel, Kathmandu november 8th - AT LEISURE IN KATHMANDUI woke at 0330 and couldn’t get back to sleep so had a couple of cups of tea, sorted clothing and equipment ready for our 0600 departure on the 9th, downloaded images onto my HP Notebook and wrote up this journal. We all met in the lobby before going for breakfast, prior to our City Tour to the three great temples of Swayambunath (the Monkey Temple), Pashuputinath and Boudhanath and to the ancient Durbar Square. When we met our guide it was agreed by all that we’d like to be back at the hotel by 1600 in order to relax and do some last minute shopping before our departure for trek the following morning. We ended up being dropped off for a market walking tour through the narrow and crowded streets to arrive at Durbar Square. The guide’s knowledge and passion for his subject was very impressive. However, the hours were passing by and I think it was after midday before getting back onto the minibus to drive to Boudhanath for lunch before exploring the site. I was surprised when we wrongly arrived at Swayambunath so we drove over to Boudhanath and lunch as planned but an hour had been wasted. After Boudhanath we drove over to Pashupatinath where a couple of cremations were taking place before returning to the hotel by about 1830. Because we hadn’t seen Swayambunath (the Monkey Temple) I spoke with Tulsi and he agreed to arrange a visit there on our return from Pokhara. Dinner on the rooftop bar was exceptionally good as was the draft Red Himalayan Beer. Helen and I sorted out the things we were leaving in the hotel. Sleep was Zopliclone induced. Overnight: Ambassador Hotel, Kathmandu november 9th - DRIVE TO DHAMPHUS + TREK TO POTHANA0500 wakeup call to checkout ready for our 0600 departure with our packed breakfasts with Tulsi here to see us off on the long road journey to Dhamphus (a town twinned with Brecon, Powys). The journey was long and bumpy and took far longer than expected as the monsoon had caused huge amounts of road damage. However, the slower speed allowed us to see the countryside and the Nepali way of life with different types of housing, farming and animals even travelling candyfloss salesmen. We lunched (with our first tasting of the excellent Dhal Bhat set lunches) on the outskirts of Pokhara before continuing westwards on a faster highway before turning up a rough track to the Dhamphus office of the local chairman who was the Chairman of the Brecon/Dhamphus twinning association. Our twinning meeting went well with marigold garlands and coffee before we finally set of in the late twilight up to Pothana which we reached at around 1900 by the light of our headtorches! During this twilight walk we saw Machhapuchhre (6997m) for the first time. Helen and Tenjing had arranged our rooms and we were soon eating dinner. It had been a really long day before lights out at around 2100. Overnight: Hotel Vacation Home & Restaurant Point of concern: As the road journey had been far longer and uncomfortable than expected I asked the group if they’d prefer to fly back from Pokhara to Kathmandu (US$ 106). After a unanimously positive responsive, I arranged this with Tulsi. The flight will be with Buddha Air at 1045 on November 19th, Buddha Air are the most reliable airline in Nepal with a relatively modern fleet of ATR 72 and Beech 1900 aircraft. november 10th - TREK TO JHINU DANDABed tea arrived at 0600 and I’d had a good night’s sleep, induced by Zopiclone. A hearty breakfast was too much for me really but others helped me out. 0800 and we set off at the scheduled time which was quite impressive I thought. Leaving Pothana behind we opted for the new, easier 4WD track to Landruk and this route provided great views westwards into the deep river valley of the Modi Khola. A group of children formed a singing roadblock and we had to pay a toll to proceed! At around 1030 we stopped at the entrance to Tolkana for a coffee break and some jewelry shopping before continuing on to Landruk for lunch where we arrived at around midday. Lunch was good and enjoyed by all. Setting off at around 1430 we descended to the Nyapol (New Bridge) before a very long and steep climb to our lodge commenced. We’d split in to two groups today and this was pretty much the case for the days to follow. After climbing for what seemed an eternity we crossed a 287m span suspension bridge before continuing up to our lodge. I think this was the longest suspension bridge I’d ever crossed and I’m never completely comfortable on them! Overnight: Hot Spring Cottage & Restaurant Walking time: 9hrs november 11th - TREK TO BAMBOOJhinu Danda up to Chomrong was a steep two hour climb but we rested in a lodge for coffee and a snack. The views northwards showed our route clearly for the next 3hrs to our lunch stop. I found this day to be long and arduous with a later long descent into Bamboo which sits in the bottom of the valley and is a dark and damp place. Our lodge booking for four twin rooms had been reduced to three rooms (as Tulsi had warned might be possible) which caused some concern within the group which was resolved by relocating three of the group to the New Buddha Lodge which had a new accommodation building. Overnight: The Bamboo Guest House & Restaurant Walking time: 9.5hrs november 12th - TREK TO DEURALILeaving Bamboo behind our two groups set off northwards, climbing ever upwards and the rear group enjoyed a coffee in Dovan where there were several lodges. From here we enjoyed our first views of the spectacularly fluted summit of Machhapuchhre – the Fishtail Mountain. We saw plumes of snow blowing off the summit, thought to be the smoke from the divine incense of the god Shiva. During the morning, beyond Upper Dovan, we passed the sacred shrine of Barah Than which back in 2006 only had a sacred bell on a rock as a shrine so the new shrine was quite a surprise to me. We caught up with the front group as they were finishing their lunch at Himalaya. We ordered our lunch and I opted for egg and chips again but they weren’t quite as good as yesterday. Just before the final climb up to Deurali, there was quite a scary bridge but we crossed safely and walked up to our red roofed lodge which was just above the main cluster of lodges which form Deurali. Our lodge was only 4 years ago and our rooms were satisfactory and next to the large dining room. Little did I know what was to come….. With dinner arranged for 1830, most of us sat in the dining room writing journals. Overnight: Hotel Viewpoint Deurali & Restaurant Walking time: 8hrs Point of concern: The final day’s itinerary was for 6hrs trekking and 1hr drive to the Pokhara hotel which wouldn’t leave any time to enjoy the hotel facilities and look around the city. Tenjing suggested a revised itinerary with a 3hr walk and 1hr drive into Pokhara which would be a much better option which everyone agreed to. I did say we might have to contribute to the 4WD vehicles which might be required and this would cost Rps 6000 each for the three vehicles november 13th - MY TREK TO MACHHAPUCHHRE BASE CAMP CANCELLED - DESCENT DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS with Lou E and Carla - others ascended to MBC AND ABC MBC/ABC REPORT FROM HELENWe reached Machhupachchhre Base Camp (3700m) in the afternoon with beautiful winter sunshine. We were warm on the terrace while eating our lunch which was lovely fresh food, as always. Machhapuchhre was looking over us again, this time at close range – we really felt at its foothills. We all decided to do a bit a washing as it was so sunny but in hindsight this was silly because the winter sun was soon gone and in the morning our items were hanging on the line frozen. After lunch Tensing suggested that we walked halfway up to ABC to acclimatise. This we did. The sun had not only gone but thick afternoon mist had descended into the valley. We walked to 3900m and then returned to MBC. Thankfully it lifted before it got dark and we were able to go and have a look at the glacial valley at the foot of Machhapuchhre. It was amazing. The common room was very cold as temperatures had dropped to sub-zero, so we were early to bed and were to expect bed tea at 0530 ready for a 0630 start. We were very lucky with the weather and could see all the mountain tops except for Annapurna I (the highest in the horseshoe). It’s an easy gradual ascent and nobody struggled with the altitude, but we didn’t outstay our welcome at the Base Camp, as affects soon might set in. We were elated on reaching the Annapurna Base Camp (4130m) and took many photos. We did take the opportunity to have a quick cup of tea while there – well, why not have the highest cup of tea on the trek! Note from Alan: Thanks to Janet for images of Helen at ABC and Poon Hill. __________________________________________________ My sleep had been disturbed through the night by the onset of Traveller’s Diarrhoea (TD) and frequent visits to the toilets. I consulted with my good friend Dr KC Sudip who has just moved to London and he diagnosed Gastroenteritis caused by food poisoning. Heeding his advice I took medication and rehydration sachets but he was concerned that if I remained unwell that I should medevac down to the Pokhara Civic Hospital where his friends would look after me. I did get better so no helicopter rides for me thankfully. My Lake Louise Scoring System result was 6+ without taking into account the TD! Lou E and Carla were both really tired and asked for a 1000 departure which I was OK about so the first group set off at 0800 as planned. It soon became clear that Lou E was experiencing TD as well as having chest issues and Carla had persistent headaches and was coughing badly. After lengthy discussions, it was agreed that we would continue with the ascent to MBC and we set off. Minutes later however I experienced three vomiting sessions which left me feeling quite poorly. We then agreed to descend in the best interests for the three of us. Soon after we began our southwards descent, TD struck twice – a really horrible experience, having to dive into the bushes for cover. We reached the village of Himalaya and had a drink as we discussed what to do next but agreed to continue down to Upper Dovan as it being more than a step in the right direction. None of us had any appetite to eat. The lodge was quite basic and rooms small but a welcome refuge for the three of us. I ate a few chips but that was all I could manage. A French couple offered me medication which was good of them. I experienced one last vomiting session during the evening which was the last, thankfully. Early to bed in Room 5. Overnight: Hotel Destination ABC & Restaurant Walking time: 8hrs november 14th – TREK TO CHOMRONGWe left Upper Dovan just after 0800 and trekked southwards, pausing for lunch at Real Sinuwa Cottage & Restaurant, a plate of chips for me as not quite 100% recovered yet. Reaching the suspension bridge we looked up at Chomrong, high above and the lodges which seemed so far away. Lou E decided she’d count the steps, ticking her arm every 40 steps. This was great for me as it meant a brief respite every 40 steps and we made good progress, pausing for photographic opportunities as the weather was fine and clear towards Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. There were 1920 steps climbed by the time we arrived at the lodge. I had passed on to Helen that a pony service was available to transport their rucksacks up to Chomrong after their very long day although I though it unlikely the others would avail themselves with this service. Whilst separated from Helen and the others it had been useful to remain in contact with her using WhatsApp as the WiFi has been good in the lodges but the guide team all have mobile phones and the coverage is generally good. Pausing at the Chhomrong Stupa Gompa, I donned my new Rohan Eos Jacket for some product photography before continuing up into Chomrong. SIGG UK also asked for some product photography in return for purchases made for this trip. We reached the Excellent View Top Lodge and Restaurant and excellent it certainly was with our 4 twin rooms with attached toilet/shower confirmed. There was a friendly atmosphere within and other trekkers were chatty and welcoming. One of the porters had run down to the Jhinu Danda to recover Wendy’s jumper that she had left there. She rewarded him with Rps2000 as she was very pleased to get this fleece back. Dinner for me was Chicken Curry Masala and plain rice with a small poppadom. Room 112 had three beds and the en-suite facilities more than adequate but a better hot water supply would have been appreciated. I did some laundry which drip dried onto the floor ready to hang outside in the morning. Good WiFi at Rps200 kept me occupied until lights out at 2100hrs. Overnight: Excellent View Top Lodge and Restaurant Walking time: 8.5hrs november 15th – RESTING IN CHOMRONGAfter being awake at 0400, I nodded off until about 0645 feeling very satisfied overall with the sleep quality and length. Downstairs from 0700 talking to other trekkers until my breakfast (Toast/Butter/Jam and filter coffee) arrived. I managed to burn my fingers on the very hot butter dish so cooled them off in a glass of cool water for ten minutes or so. Before breakfast I’d treated myself to a Himalayan Expresso Bar cappuccino which was very enjoyable. Clear views of Annapurna South (7219m) and Machhapuchhre (6993m) (the Fish Tail Mountain) from this lodge in such a fabulous setting, now quiet and peaceful as the trekkers had left. After hanging my laundry out to dry and tidying the room I sat in the dining room and updated my journal with another Himalayan Expresso Bar cappuccino at around 1100hrs. 1300 – I ordered Grilled Chicken and Chips from the very extensive menu. My lunch was very good! The ABC conquerors arrived at about 1600 and it was so good to see them again. A porter went down to help Lou B with her rucksack which was a nice gesture. Overnight: Excellent View Top Lodge and Restaurant november 16th - TREK TO TADAPANILeaving Chomrong after an enjoyable two nights we were into our penultimate full day’s trekking and on trails new to the group. The first couple of hours involved a “Nepali Flat” type of contour path before eventually dropping down to a river, crossed by a suspension bridge. Thereafter followed an hour and a half of steep rocky steps but Lou E used her 40 steps technique and we made good progress up to our lunch stop. After lunch the trail was more what most of us were used to with few stone steps, as it climbed up through woodland to the hilltop settlement which is Tadopani and our very traditional lodge which was quite basic and tradional. The views towards Annapurna South were quite stunning. I helped Helen bargain for a colourful blanket she liked whist several of the others shopped for smaller items. Overnight: Himalayan Tourist Guest House Walking: 8hrs november 17th - TREK TO GHOREPANIWe left more or less on time which was nominally set for 0800 after a good breakfast and filling our water bottles for the day which was always an after breakfast ritual. After dinner on most evenings, water bottles could be filled if anyone needed a hot water bottle. The morning walk was, initially downhill, and an enjoyable walk through forests. Eventually we entered a narrow gorge and followed this up to our lunch at an isolated lodge, in the forest, with tables set on the terrace. Most of us had Dhal Bhat in order to save on time as earlier in the trip I thought our lunch stops were too long. Continuing on to Deurali, the front group ground to a halt to look at the colourful shops there. The walk between Deurali and Ghorepani took us along a narrow ridge with views through the forest canopy towards Dhaulagiri. The views from the Thapla Danda (3165m) viewpoint to Dhaulagiri were amazing and we all rested there at this peaceful viewpoint before descending to Ghorepani and the Sunny Hotel. At the Sunny Hotel, once again, we’d been allocated rooms of a very poor standard, particularly for Lou B and for Helen and I. After positive discussions with the management, better rooms were allocated to us. The dining room was very well appointed (and a rarely seen stove) and dinner was the best meal I’d experienced on the trip: Chicken Curry and Rice with a Kashmiri Naan – very yummy! After dinner several of us met in my room to work out the tips and put them in envelopes as well as donating each member of the crew a parting gift. Tips: Guide - £150/Ass.Guide £100/Observer £30/Porters £50 Helen and I went back up to the dining room for an enjoyable whisky nightcap so we could use the WiFi. Overnight: Sunny Hotel Walking: 8hrs november 18th - POON HILL + TREK TO ulleri for 4wd to birethanti + DRIVE TO POKHARA poon hill report from helenAnother early bed tea at 0430 with a 0515 start up to the top of Poon Hill. I am so grateful of the bed tea ritual, it’s a great start to the day and very attentive of the guides. We needed Rps150 for the entrance fee. So with head torches we met outside the Sunny Hotel and started the frosty ascent. More steps!! I hadn’t slept well, so I wanted to clear my head and pushed on up to the top with Norbu our guide. The top plateau and viewing tower were already crowded and not really where I wanted to be, but I videoed the sun rise and watched a small plane (DHC-6 Twin Otter) fly over very low. I welcomed the lovely breakfast on return. __________________________________________________ With my arthritic knee giving me a few issues I didn’t join the group as they left for Poon Hill at 0515. They returned for breakfast at 0800 before we left at around 0900. The 2hr walk turned out to be almost 4hrs but was an enjoyable descent through woodlands but with large numbers of trekkers headed up to Ghorepani. Towards the end of the trek, the kind-hearted Helen stopped to help a young boy tie his bundle of leaves up so he could return to his farm and family. Lunch was at the Alina Guesthouse & Restaurant where our three 4WD vehicles were waiting and after lunch, we set off for quite an exhilarating descent on a dirt road with tight hairpin bends and huge drops which were unprotected by crash barriers. This was a change to the itinerary so we all shared the costs for this transfer which everyone really enjoyed. At Birethanti, we all piled into a café with the crew for the tipping and gift ceremony which went well. Saying goodbye to our porters we then drove on to Pokhara and the Kailash Resort Hotel. The hotel was centrally located and our allocated rooms were on the ground floor garden terrace. Dinner at the Fewa Lake restaurant was along the lake frontage and enjoyable with Helen, Wendy, Janet and Lou B. Helen and I shared a whole Chicken Tandoori which was just what we needed. Back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep. The hardy Lou E and Carla used the swimming pool which was somewhat cool. Overnight: Kailash Resort, Pokhara Walking: 4hrs Driving: About 4 hrs in total november 19th - fly TO KATHMANDUWith a short walk down to the lake side we returned to the hotel for breakfast and Tenjing was there before 0900 to load the hotel minibus for our trip to the new airport. Getting through security was easy enough but our check in wasn’t open yet. Identified as a group however, we were soon checked in for our 1045 Buddha Air flight to Kathmandu. Due to poor weather conditions earlier in the day though, all flights were delayed so we sat patiently and waited, and waited…. I suppose by about 1100 we were allowed through security and our incoming aircraft arrived, better late than never. We were all sat in the front of the aircraft with most of us on the left side which was good to see the snow-capped mountains as we flew to Kathmandu. After the short flight we landed at Kathmandu and the very crowded baggage hall awaited where Tulsi was waiting for us and before too long we were checking into the Ambassador Hotel where I was allocated Room 501 which was very nice and had a bathroom with a bath! Several of us had decided to head straight out to lunch with an 11 minute walk to the iconic Fire and Ice Restaurant at the entrance to Thamel, the traditional shopping area for tourists in Kathmandu. The pizzas were very good, as was Helen’s choice which was Calzone and quite substantial but soon, it had all disappeared. After lunch we walked over to the Kathmandu Guest House for a coffee before visiting Pilgrim’s Bookshop which sadly we didn’t find. Apparently the shop had been demolished following a fire which was such a shame as it’s one of my favorite shops in Thamel. After a few brief shopping stops we returned to the hotel. That evening, most of us met on the roof top bar and I enjoyed a Himalayan Red Beer with Chicken Lollipops and a Banana Split which was all very enjoyable and just what I needed. Paying our bills seemed problematical and it turned out the financial accounting system there was well out of date. Others were subject to overcharging which was disputed and staff disturbed our participants by knocking on doors and phoning them. I only found this out next morning but raised strong complaints with the management and advised Tulsi accordingly. After discussion with the Duty Manager the next day, the management were apologetic and placed a small Black Forest Gateau in each of our rooms. Overnight: Ambassador Hotel, Kathmandu november 20th - AT LEISURE IN KATHMANDU + FAREWELL DINNERAfter breakfast, Helen and I went out for a familiarization walk in order to further her knowledge of Kathmandu for when she potentially starts bringing groups here. After coffee at the Yak and Yeti Hotel, we walked back over to Thamel for another search of the fabled Pilgrim’s Bookshop but we were not successful, popping into the Secret Garden, we enjoyed a Gin and Tonic with some midmorning Chicken Mojos which were very tasty. Tulsi picked Helen and I up at 1230 for a business lunch at a local French restaurant, Chez Caroline which was very enjoyable. The main discussion points were to review our trek and to give some thought to Helen’s “Hidden Valley Trek” for a post-monsoon 2025 trek. Tulsi dropped us both back at the hotel in time for our 1500 pick-up for a one hour visit to Swayambunath, the Monkey Temple. The Monkey Temple visit went well and it’s a site where the stupa is very close up with the smell of burning joss and the chanting of pilgrims surrounded us. Our guide took us into a Thanga workshop/shop but no one bought anything. We returned to the hotel for a brief period of relaxation before Tulsi picked us all up for our farewell dinner with him. Dinner was at a Nepalese themed restaurant, the Bhojan Griha restaurant was in an ancient historical building where fabrics were made for the royal family. Somewhat apprehensive as I’d been to similar establishments over many years, this venue was absolutely amazing with a well-furnished dining area, great service and incredible Nepali traditional cuisine accompanied by the wonderful raksi. The music and dancing were colourful and musical and I wasn’t expected to dance and make a fool of myself. Back at the hotel we all reflected on such a wonderful trekking adventure. Overnight: Ambassador Hotel, Kathmandu november 21st - DEPART NEPALEarly morning visitors popped in with shopping contributions for my enhanced Qatar Airways allowance I was entitled to as part of my 60kg baggage allowance. Wendy and Janet also added to the contents on the third bag with their shopping purchases. Helen kindly came to make me bed tea! Breakfast at 0645 after hotel porters had taken our bags down to the lobby area and at 0700 the minibus was fully loaded for the twenty minute drive to the airport. Manic as the airport always is we were through the initial security and body search booths and were in line for checking in. Helen was allowed to check in with me as my official Qatar Airways travelling companion and was also issued a lounge pass which was nice. Helen and my bags were hauled off the conveyor belt for further scrutiny and I had to completely unpack my main bag as security were unhappy with batteries in my blood pressure monitoring unit and my hearing aid charger – what a farce! Up the escalator and through immigration with Helen, Lou B and Wendy was effortless and the lounge manager duly apprehended the four of us. After examining our two lounge passes and my Qatar Gold Card, the four of us were allowed in which was great. The lounge wasn’t crowded and our four double Gin and Tonics soon arrived, as did the second round before our flight was called and we passed though security into the departure gate area. The new departure lounge is very well appointed and vastly better than it used it be. Boarding and take off was late and by the time we landed at Doha it was highly unlikely that Helen and Lou B would make their Manchester flight as we briefly said goodbye and the LHR passengers made a run for Gate A3 which we did make. Helen and Lou B were accommodated overnight by Qatar at the Doha Best western Hotel and boarded a 0750 flight the next morning to Manchester. THE END - please feel free to leave commentsOctober 23rd - Night navigation on mynydd illtyd This night navigation exercise was 2.5hrs in duration for Bryn Walking, for just one of their clients who was an HF Holidays leader. Both Mountain Training and the National Navigation Award Scheme require candidates to be able to demonstrate reduced visibility/day into night navigation skills and the area used by Bryn Walking on Mynydd Illtyd is ideal. Contact Helen Menhinick of Bryn Walking for further details.  |
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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