Welsh National Navigation Course - 16th October to 18th October 2009

Ace Outdoors has recently been approved as a registered course provider to deliver all levels of training and assessment in the National Navigation Award Schemes. We are delighted to start offering our new courses from November 2009 as part of our winter programme!

The National Navigation Award (NNAS) is a personal performance, non-competitive, incentive scheme for all ages. The award has three levels of performance, Bronze, Silver and Gold. It is open to all ages and is essential training for anyone who enjoys hill walking.

Over the weekend of 16th-18th October 2009 we ran a pilot of our proposed new navigational course to invited guests, friends and other outdoor professionals. The aim of the weekend was to help us to evaluate our Bronze and Silver Training course and assessment before we start our courses to paying clients later next month.

The weekend was a huge success, all in part to the nine participants who attended the course. Everyone, entered into the spirit of things and made sure we all worked together to learn new skills, refine techniques and have a whole lot of fun along the way!

If you would like to learn more about navigation please give Ace Outdoors a ring on:

0845 505 1221 (local rated call)

Our next Sliver NNAS Course is running on the Weekend 20-22 November 2009 in Wales!

We hope to see you there...

Pete

FAQ International Mountain Leaders or IML's?

What is an International Mountain Leader?

Looking to be guided on trekking and snowshoeing terrain, either in the UK or internationally, then you require a group leader who has been highly trained and assessed in mountain navigation, first aid, emergency ropework, group management, altitude sickness, training and physiology. You will find all these attributes in a qualified International Mountain Leader (IML).
It is your guarantee of the highest possible standards and experience.

Who regulates and trains the IMLs?

All IMLs hold the carnet and wear the badges of the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA), and they follow their standards and code of practice. The IML is also affiliated to their home nation association. In the British association (BAIML) there are over 300 fully qualified IMLs, who have experience from the Arctic to the Andes. The national association keeps a register of members, and like all professional bodies it expects its members to be undertaking continuous professional development.

In the UK the IML award is administered by Mountain Leader Training UK, and is valid when the IML is a member of a national association and if they hold professional indemnity insurance. The IML award is a professional qualification, recognised since 1993 by the former Commission Européenne des Accompagnateurs en Montagne (CEAM), and since November 2004 by UIMLA. You can rest assured that an IML is a highly trained professional.

Where can IMLs lead?

You should think of an IML as a trekking and snowshoeing guide who can lead in mountainous
terrain all over the world. No climbing as such is involved, but the IML will be very competent
in rope work, to look after you on steep terrain if necessary. No glacier travel is involved, as that
terrain is led by the International Mountain Guides, but an IML can lead groups on snowy treks
that do not require the use of crampons. In many cases these types of routes are guided on snowshoes, and many IMLs are highly experienced in their use, as well as in snow safety and avalanche awareness. The scope of where an IML can lead you is vast, and you will see them all around the world’s mountains from Everest base camp to the Tour du Mont Blanc trek, and from Kilimanjaro to snowshoeing in the Rockies.

What should I expect to learn from an IML?

Apart from navigating and looking after your safety, the key role of an IML is an educational one, and they will aim to impart a lot of information about the region you are visiting in terms of geology, history, culture, geomorphology and the environment. Many IMLs choose to specialise in one of these topics, which might appeal to certain clients seeking in depth knowledge on topics such as glaciology or the flora and fauna. In other words, an IML will do far more than just to lead you from A to B. They aim to enthuse and share with you their knowledge, to give you a far richer experience and understanding of the mountains.


How should I select an IML to lead you?

By now you are aware of the high level of training that an IML has received to earn their award, but just the qualification alone should not be enough for you. When selecting an IML to lead you, look for the experience they have in the region that you are visiting. All IMLs will happily provide you with details of this, and if you have a special interest such as geology, you should check that your IML has the depth of knowledge you require in this field. You can look at the British association of IMLs website (www.baiml.org) for the online directory of members, where you can search for IMLs by different criteria including regional experience.

What time of year is best?
You can travel at any time of year, but you should ask your IML for advice on when is the best season to visit your chosen location. For example, if you are trekking in the Himalayas there is a
Spring and Autumn season that avoids the monsoon rains. For an activity such as snowshoeing, in the Alps this is best enjoyed from December to April each year. Whatever time of year
you want to travel, there will be some of the world’s mountains in prime condition. Ask the IML for ideas…

Should I train for a trek led by an IML?
Your IML will be able to advise you on the length of days and the height gains and losses that are involved on each day of your trek, and they will tell you what level of fitness is required. Some day walks only require a low level of fitness, and your existing level of fitness will be absolutely fine, whilst other multi-day treks can be gruelling unless you have a very high fitness level. The IML can help devise a training regime for you, or you can consult a doctor or personal trainer for more detailed information. It is important for you to be at a suitable level of fitness for your trek, so that you can enjoy it and get the most out of your time in the mountains. When first discussing your plans with an IML, it is essential to discuss the training requirements.

Ace-Outdoors.co.uk?

Currently we are working towards accrediting all our instructors who operate overseas with the IML award as a main leading qualification. Pete already had passed the summer assessment and will be looking to be assessed on the winter assessment in March 2010.

We hope to start offering international trekking and snow shoeing journeys starting in 2011...please visit our main website at www.ace-outdoors.co.uk to view information on hill walking and trekking.

IML Winter training days 4-5

Nearly towards the end of the training course close to the town of Grand Bornand in the French Alps.

The overview of day 4 consisted of a mountain journey, starting from the easy to access ski area and then moving away from here to a stunning viewpoint observing some of the rules for being in a Ski du fond area or piste area. (See picture)

This clearly demonstrated the accessibility and relative ease of the activity of Snowshoeing to get to places with groups in the mountains which offer some fabulous vistas (without huge effort).

The remainder of the intineary for the day was to select an appropriate route back to the Gite using one of the many local snow shoeing tracks and trails which criss cross through the forest back to the valley below. Our group took a longer route back in to the town of Grand Bornarnd and arranged for a lift back to the accommodation!

The technical aspects covered;

• Multiple transceiver searching and techniques for probing for deeper burials.
• Personal movement skills.
• Warm up and games!
• Snow and avalanche awareness practical observations and evening lecture.

DAY5 - IML Final Day / Debrief

The morning session of the course investigated the roles and required decisive actions required for leaders in the sudden and unexpected event of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and everyone in the group gets avalanched! (or if you come to assist others in a group burial)

The training scenario involved one team on the hill acting the role of the victims placing out objects, in the debris field or others to become the rescuers. Each team had the opportunity to observe what was happening and then review the others' performance.

The main learning points became clear to organise an effective search needs good planning, direction of members in to searchers, diggers and probers and one person to direct the actions of the team to quickly find victims when at the scene.

In the afternoon, a summary was given of each of the days on the course and an overall evaluation of the training and if required individual coaching points and a verbal action plan given from the guides delivering the course for the IML winter syllabus.

IML Winter Training Day 2-3

The second day of the IML winter training course was more focused on gathering useful local sources of information from French guidebooks and weather forecasts. The aim was to be able to plan a suitable snowshoeing day for a group of clients.

The route selected was to journey to Col De Cenise and consider rates of ascent / descent to give a general appreciation of how far one could travel, depending on fitness and ability with varying groups, encountering a large variety of slopes and on/off path navigation.

DAY THREE:

During Day three, the training content on the course was more closely linked to developing the technical skills required for operating both, in winter and on short snow patches in summer. Although, an IML award holder does not require any of the skills associated with alpinism. There could be times when a leader may need to clear a path or cross a short section of snow covered ground in summer requiring sound knowlegde of providing assistance with an ice axe to cut steps to take a group to a hut or reach a high snow covered pass etc.

The training content covered included, how to cut and construct steps with the ice axe and how to generally support cilents on steeper ground on snow shoes. Time was also well spent recapping emergency rope skills and constructing improvised emergency shelters.

IML Snow-shoe training Course - French Alps

Today, was the first day of the IML winter training course being held near to the town of Grand Bornand in the French alps.

There had been a fresh covering of snow overnight adding to the sense of being in a true "winter wonderland".

The course started with general introductions, before moved on to look at the construction, history, and wide variation of snow shoes being used to journey in the mountains.

After this brief talk we then had an opportunity to get to grips with using the snow shoes to complete a small journey in the valley concentrating on movement skills and how to manage groups over a variety of slopes and different terrain. This quickly gave everyone a chance to see the limitations and benefits of using snow shoes in powder snow.

There then followed a comprehensive look at avalanche awareness and evaluation of the snow pack by digging pits and conducting a number of stability tests. Later in the day, we started to explore the environment we would be working in over the next few days and investigated signs of evidence of animals in the local area.

PJ

IML Winter Training Course - Grand Bornand - near La Clusaz in France

In September 2008 I passed the International Mountain Leader or IML (summer) Assessment in Switzerland. Over the next five days, I will be away on a training course for the winter part of the qualification, which looks closely at the skills required to lead groups in alpine winter conditions using snow shoes as a means of getting around. The training course is being held in the French Alps.

The course from the national mountain centre will concentrate on the following areas:

• Winter leadership and group care in winter conditions.
  
• Personal movement skills on snow (with and without snowshoes).
  
• Route choice, terrain evaluation, and safe travel.
  
• Avalanche awareness and snow pack evaluation.
  
• Transceiver use and search techniques.
  
• Snowcraft, and use of ice axe for safeguarding the party.
  
• Emergency winter ropework, including simple snow belays.
  
• Dealing with accidents - emergency shelters and cold injuries.
  
• Use of maps, guides, and weather information for planning.

Over the next few days, I'll find some time in the schedule to upload some photos and give you a flavour of what's been happening....

PJ

Winter Walks - The Glyders

The car temperature gauge read -7.5 degrees as we parked the car in the Ogwen Valley! The winter weather was fantastic in Wales today.

The plan for today's walk in Snowdonia, was a high level ridge walk along the mountains called the Glyders from Ogwen Cottage, returning back to Llyn Idwal via the Devil's Kitchen (Twll Du). A classic hill walking route of huge interest to geologists, climbers or those just trying to return to form after eating too much Christmas pudding!



The ice on the footpaths was interesting in places as we made our way up the broad track to Llyn Bochlwyd. The corrie lake here was frozen entirely and we stopped to look at the backdrop of the large cliffs and thoughts of returning to climb here later in the year.

After our little lakeside stop, we continued on to the ladder stile at Bwlch Tryan, and then onward and upwards to the first proper summit of the day - Gylder Fach (vach). We passed the crowds balancing on the cantiler stone and continued to our lunch stop at Gylder Fawr. The view from here was particalrly spectacular emcompassing all the major Welsh ranges in the distance as the sun started to set. We watched paragliders floating in the blue sky down Cwm Cneifio against the mountain backdrop.

We continued a little further along the ridge now starting to gently drop down to Llyn y Cwn, marking our homeward route back to Ogwen Valley down the Devil's Kitchen path. As we walked down to the valley the natural water runnels had frozen on the backwall of the cwm and climbers where out on the icy cascades climbing near to the "Devil's appendix" (see photo above).

After a short break, to view the Idwal slabs and the upper walls there we returned past the lake to tea shop just as the day drew to a close.

For more information on this walk and others like it. Please contact us via our main website

www.ace-outdoors.co.uk.

Next training event is on:

(Snowdonia Hill Walking and Navigation Workshop Friday 30/01/2009 to Sunday 01/02/2009.)

We hope to see you there.....

PJ