Final Instructions - Please Read
Please read carefully, as there is some important information contained here. Please act upon it promptly.
Transport
Phase One – Going up on the evening of Thursday 12th February
There are 65 of us on Phase One. We are going up in 5 minibuses, to give us maximum amount of room for luggage. However, please try to get everything into ONE bag (your rucksack could go inside a larger sports bag) When it comes to placing your gear in the minibus, ensure that any spiky things, such as walking poles, crampons, ice axes are taken off; these will be stowed under the back seats. Note: All gear should be clearly identifiable, with either your name or coloured tape.
Detailed below are the minibus loadings, it shows each of the five minibuses, who the nominated driver is for each minibus and their contact numbers, followed by the second nominated driver and their passengers. EVERYONE on this list must make a CALL to their nominated DRIVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, to confirm their pickup point (ideally people close to each other should arrange a local meeting point), and for the driver to let you know what time he will be there. This is likely to be around 5pm however sometimes 3pm pickups have been arranged. The earlier we leave Lancashire the earlier we arrive in Nethy Bridge. Ideally everyone will be at Nethy House before midnight.
| Ormskirk 9 seat | Preston 17 seat | Hire1 17 seat | Hire2 17 seat | GT 17 seat |
| Ash Green | Geoff Lyons | Ray Fitzsimmons | Ken Cunliffe | Phil Rowett |
| 01695 575068 | 01695 573633 | 01772 713838 | ||
| 07986 467802 | 07736 115031 | 07733 328986 | 07941 584326 | 07956 333650 |
| Duncan Cairns | Vic Meddings | Phil Acklam | Steve Williams | Peter Hewertson |
| Jenny Barrett | Lewis Abbott | Joe Embery | Phil Davies | Karl Bamber |
| Emma Cairns | Philip Broadbent | Jayne Fitzsimmmons | Graham Dawson | Simon Bond |
| James Foy | Ben Crook | Peter Mackey | Matt Forshaw | Ralph Hutchinson |
| Martin Freeman | Mark Dobson | Chris Nelson | Mark Gilham | Rob Jones |
| Kim Greenaway | Dave Docherty | James Speakman | John Mackey | Harriet Kilgallen |
| Jess Hunter-Barnett | Katie Farrell | Carl Stubbs | Tom Malcolm | Andy Miller |
| Chris Phillips | Kelly Giles | Jenna Whittle | Rob Pickavance | Steph Senior |
| Mark Wilkinson | Josh Worthington | Gemma Wade | Dave Williams | |
| Route: Ormskirk, Southport. | Route: Preston, Blackpool, Kirkham. | Route: Ormskirk, UpHolland, J27 M6. | Route: Ormskirk, Rufford, Tarleton. | Route: Windermere, Preston, Leyland. |
Arriving separately in cars are:
|
Paul Hargreaves |
Andy Brown |
| Tim Stewart | |
| Martin Russell | |
| Bob Harvey Stacey White |
Bob Wylde Jen Critch |
| Phil Emmott Chris Pope |
Greg Sugden |
| Chris Mosley | |
| Sean O’Sullivan | Donnie Mann |
Forever the optimist (or pessimist dependent upon your point of view) the A9 over Drumochter does have a habit of getting closed in blizzards. In the unlikely event of this happening our drivers' contact is Bob Burrell, GSL - 1st Pitlochry Scout Group. He will arrange an overnight in his headquarters (located in the main street).
Phase One – Returning on the morning of Tuesday 17th February
Those returning back to Lancashire on the Tuesday morning have got an alpine start to their day. We've arranged a luxury coach from Scotbus from Inverness to arrive at Nethy House at 6:10am for a prompt 6:30am departure, so you need to have had a very early breakfast and ideally packed the night before. As before no spiky things attached on the outside of your rucksacks, but do remember to take everything of yours with you. It will be air-conditioned with toilets, etc. The coach drivers are planning on making one break stop en route and should arrive at Preston Bus Station about 1:15pm.
|
Lewis Abbott |
Joe Embrey | Harriet Kilgallen | James Speakman |
| Karl Bamber | Katie Farrell | John Mackey | Gemma Wade |
| Jenny Barrett | James Foy | Peter Mackey | Stacey White |
| Simon Bond | Martin Freeman | Tom Malcolm | Jenna Whittle |
| Philip Broadbent | Kelly Giles | Vic Meddings | Mark Wilkinson |
| Emma Cairns | Mark Gilham | Andrew Miller | Dave Williams |
| Ben Crook | Kim Greenaway | Chris Nelson | Steve Williams |
| Phil Davies | Peter Hewertson | Chris Phillips | Josh Worthington |
| Graham Dawson | Jess Hunter-Barnett | Rob Pickavance | |
| Mark Dobson | Ralph Hutchinson | Phil Rowett | |
| Dave Docherty | Rob Jones | Steph Senior | 41 |
Departing separately at the end of Phase One is Ash Green and Duncan Cairns, who are taking one of the minibuses home at a more leisurely timescale.
Phase Two – Going up on the afternoon of Tuesday 17th February
The rendezvous for everyone on Phase Two is PRESTON BUS STATION GATE 43 at 1:00PM. Scotbus reckon they should arrive about 1:15pm. PETE WILLINGHAM, who’s mobile is 07828 131849, will act as courier for the journey up to Scotland and making sure everybody's onboard. Please arrive at the gate promptly at 1:00PM and ensure that Pete knows you’ve arrived.
Please contact Pete should you have any difficulties with this rendezvous - but the coach cannot afford to wait for anyone. We depart as soon as we are loaded up.
There are currently 38 on Phase Two using the coach:
|
Pete Willingham |
Mike Gibbons |
Elle Kennedy |
Matthew Quirk |
|
Chris Bainbridge |
Lizzie Gilham |
Phill Kerry |
Thomas Reid |
|
James Barlow |
Andy Greenhalgh |
Mark Livingstone |
Dan Richardson |
|
Jenny Breen |
Oliver Hall |
Ben Nuttall |
Bertie Shaw |
|
Jonathan Buttle |
Dan Harrison |
Gemma Pascoe |
Jenny Slater |
|
James Campbell |
Chris Hodge |
Leon Pascoe |
Jo Smith |
|
Tom Clark |
Jonny Hull |
Wayne Pascoe |
Harry Stephenson |
|
Charles Coventry |
Matt Kellett |
Jack Perry |
Kerry Stubbs |
|
Joseph Dobson |
Jake Kelly |
Sophie Pye |
Andy Thomas |
|
Louise Fillingham |
Sean Kelly |
|
38 |
Arriving separately in cars are:
|
Joe Ashworth |
Ian Grace |
Phase Two – Returning, morning of Sunday 22nd February
The return minibus journeys will commence as early as is practical on the morning of Sunday 22nd February (not the Saturday night). This is to ensure that everybody can have a good day on the hill on Saturday, followed by a meal and end of scheme “celebration”. Indicated below is a provisional minibus loading for the return journey, however these will be finalised during the scheme. The minibuses should arrive home mid afternoon.
|
Ormskirk 9 seat |
Preston 17 seat | Hire1 17 seat | GT 17 seat |
| Pete Willingham | Geoff Lyons | Ray Fitzsimmons | Phil Acklam |
| Paul Sanday | Leon Pascoe | Ken Cunliffe | Julie Paton |
| Andy Greenhalgh | Dan Richardson | Jonny Hull | Bertie Shaw |
| Ben Nuttall | Phill Kerry | Jack Perry | Joseph Dobson |
| Harry Stephenson | James Barlow | Matthew Quirk | Thomas Reid |
| Chris Bainbridge | Matt Kellett | Lizzie Gilham | James Campbell |
| Kerry Stubbs | Tom Clark | Jenny Slater | Jenny Breen |
| Carl Stubbs | Mike Gibbons | Jo Smith | Jonathan Buttle |
| Andy Thomas | Wayne Pascoe | Elle Kennedy | Mark Livingstone |
| Gemma Pascoe | Sophie Pye | Dan Harrison | |
| Jake Kelly | Louise Fillingham | Oliver Hall | |
| Sean Kelly | Charles Coventry | Chris Hodge | |
| Route: Lancaster, UpHolland, Ormskirk. | Route: Preston, Burscough. | Route: Ormskirk | Route: Preston, Chorley. |
Accommodation
Nethy House (Grid Reference NJ 0018.2079) consists of a number of bunk rooms, with 6 people sleeping per room. The rooms have been allocated, segregating males from females and allocating beds in age order to arrange for those of similar age to be sharing. There is a bed for everybody.
Your bed has a mattress, duvet and pillow, however there is no linen. You MUST bring a PILLOWCASE and a SINGLE BOTTOM SHEET and a DUVET COVER.
NETHY HOUSE (payphone 01479 821304) Please note this and have it with you throughout the scheme in case of emergencies. Leave it with your family for emergency contact purposes.
Catering
As mentioned previously this is Full Board, from supper on arrival through to breakfast before departure. Bob Harvey is Head Chef, with assistance from Stacey White, Bob Wylde, Jen Critch and Joe Hargreaves. They are here on the event to cook, however cannot do it all. Everyone will be expected to help out with the preparation, the cooking, the serving and the clearing up and the washing up.
Lunches will be packed lunch, which you make yourself, the evening before. You may want to supplement this with your own favourite chocolate bar, etc.
Maps
Mainly 1:50,000 Sheet 36 – Grantown and/or 1:25,000 Cairngorms. This is not essential but acquire if you can, and definitely if you are interested in developing your navigational skills.
Kit
The recommended KIT LIST can be found on the website. PLEASE THINK CAREFULLY about clothing. No Mountain Leader will be responsible for people on the tops unless adequately kitted out. Think about layering, and pay attention to wicking properties of thermals.
Julie Paton and Paul Hargreaves will be acting as Quartermaster this year and will be issuing crampons, axes, boots and clothing, etc as required. Once any item has been issued they are YOUR responsibility for the duration of your time with us. Please treat them with the greatest respect. The evening before your departure, please ensure that you’ve returned any borrowed gear.
Upon arrival, you will enter the building through the basement - immediately check the chart on the door and locate your sleeping quarters & dump your kit in your room. Proceed to the main dining room for the arrival briefing. After this you need to draw crampons from Julie and we will assist with fitting to your boots straight away. They should be retained until departure. All axes & poles MUST be kept in the racks by the bottom entrance. Leaders can keep their technical gear in the Kit Store.
Programme
We’ll see what the conditions are like when we get there. However day One on each Phase will be a formal training day so that we know everybody has at least the basics and has had a refresher. As in previous years, we have made arrangements for those who wish to see the Glenmore Lodge avalanche lecture at the end of the first day of each phase (Friday & Wednesday). Nigel Williams (Head of Training) will be doing this. The following days, will be open for you to sign up to different activities as you wish, the evening before.
It’s up to you guys to decide what you want to do and whether or not we deem you need Mountain Leader coverage. This is serious country (people freeze to death on the plateau, there were three deaths last month in an avalanche – nothing to do with West Lancs I hasten to add). We have, and will maintain, a 100% safety record. So saying, we continuously review our own already good safety procedures as part of a risk management process. Portable radios are available for hill parties and Satellite Phones are taken on expeditions or trips to very remote areas. All Mountain Leaders are first aid qualified, some to a very advanced (REC4 Advanced / REC5 Wilderness) first aid level.
Expeditioning
We strongly encourage participants to experience an overnight expedition during Snow & Ice. All our Mountain Leaders have a massive experience of expeditioning all over the world. Take the opportunity to accompany them on a trip. The type of expedition can vary from digging some snowholes and bivvying out in them for one of the nights. Or less exposed, take the opportunity of a walk through the forests with an overnight stay at the Ryvoan Bothy. We also have top quality mountain tents with us so an overnight trip through the Lairig Ghru or Glen Derry from Braemar is a good winter challenge. Any of these are good training for your DofE/progressive awards.
So, loads of options, but obviously overnighters WILL require SLEEPING BAGS and CAMPING GEAR as noted on the kit list. In particular, snow holing DOES require a KARRIMAT and a BIVIBAG.
We have set a policy that helmets and harnesses WILL be worn on graded climbs. Whilst we anticipate having a good stock of spares, PLEASE try and acquire and bring your own personal helmet, harness, 4ft sling and screwgate karabiner (if you don’t already own one, borrow from your ESU or Group, etc)
Skiing may be an option, as I know there are at least four permitted skiers with us. So, as usual, a day on the piste may be appropriate. If you want to do this, a bit of extra loot will be needed. The approximate costs for a day’s lift pass plus ski/boot hire at the Lecht are “Junior” (18 and under - £38, Student - £42, and Adult £55. Students need a Student Union Card – Don’t forget otherwise you’ll be charged as adults. Ken Cunliffe is our co-ordinator for ski activities.
Permits
It is quite possible that Hillwalking and Climbing Assessments could be arranged during the scheme. We will have some County Assessors with us and Andy Brown is appointed by the County Executive as Technical Mountaineering Adviser. Download and complete a form from ScoutBase, bring it and your logbook with you.
Night’s Away Permits, Home Contact & Under 18s
This event is under Ray Fitzsimmons’ Night’s Away Permit. In accordance with POR, I’ve asked the David Thornton to be our home contact, and he has everyone’s home details. IN AN EMERGENCY ONLY, Dave can be contacted on his mobile 07947 035994.
For those of you who are under 18 on the 12th February I should have or are about to receive your IN LOCO PARENTIS form. This has to be with me by 7TH FEB. This form was sent out on the previous email and can be found on the website. This gives us loco parentis authority just in case we have to take you to a Doctor.
There is a nice little private bar in Nethy House that Richard and Patricia give us a discount to run ourselves. Following the guideline issued by the Scout Association, I regret that Explorers will not be permitted to be served alcoholic beverages at the bar; however there will be soft drink refreshments available for purchase.
Tiredness and alcohol don’t mix, and for those over 18, Bar Staff will NOT serve anybody who they consider to have had enough: It’s a tough fact of life, but anybody causing any problems with this runs the risk of being blacklisted from future County events. So don’t spoil this for yourselves and others.
Further Reading
Langmuir’s Mountaincraft and Leadership is still current. We suggest you take the opportunity to read the winter sections. There’s an excellent book The Mountain Skills Training Handbook by Pete Hill and Stuart Johnston. This is recommended by AMI as “a relevant and up to date work, valuable to both aspirant and experienced mountaineers”. Recently published in 2003 is Hill Walking by Steve Long, published by MLTUK. This is now the official handbook for the Mountain Leader and Walking Group Leader Award schemes. Written by Steve Long from Plas y Brenin with contributions from work colleagues and the staff of the Training Boards this is the most up to date text available on Mountain Leadership. Recent developments in access legislation, ropework and dealing with water hazards and leadership are all included in this colourful, lavishly illustrated manual.
Amendments
If anyone has any queries about these details, please contact me asap.
Tim Stewart 07966 542663