The Bursars, Russ and Slattergator travelled up early Thursday in the Russ bus we left just before 5am!  The early start gave us an enjoyable afternoon walking up Skiddaw and then we found a little man with ice creams on the way down. Later in the day we met up with the other Torneo that contained the Nepal team plus Hannah, Besty and Chris Laws.

That evening due to a slight hiccup in the accommodation we had fish and chips for dinner, we then got to Great Tower where due to the hiccup we were to spend the night on the floor in the ecology room (luckily they had new mattresses for us to sleep on). Before we splet though Ollie (Event Director) and the other drivers did spend some time planning the next day whilst the Nepal team and Bursars explored the site – for many of us our first trip Great Tower.

Besty, Hannah and Chris Laws made a good choice by opting to sleep out overnight, rather than sleeping in a room with 20 other people. Everyone else arrived late that night – we did all switch to HSX time (1hr forward to make the most of the daylight hours).

Day Two

Breakfast was at 7:30 – two brioche (different shapes) and a cereal bar as there was no where to cook. We then split down into three groups – Multi pitch, Walking & Nepal team.  The multi pitch team went to the Langdale Valley and climbed up near Stickle Tarn, for some it was our first multi pitch, so we mainly concentrating on gear placements.  The walking group met the three over nighters (apparently Chris still snores) and did a 12km walk up Hellvelyn.  For theNepalteam this was their first group activity to Bowfell.

That night we moved into Windermere lodge where after dinner in preparation for his ML Assessment Steve Knaggs gave a talk on flora and fauna.  Educating us on everything from symbiotic relationships to Parmelia Saxatilis.

Day Three

The Nepal team plus a few others went single pitch climbing, for some their first experience of real rock. Three Bursars plus Dave went for some more multi pitch – because of Steve’s talk we were able to identify the moss we were trying to climb over. Steve and Mike had an epic day’s scrambling. Alan, Besty, Chris Laws and Rich Batstone did a section of the Bob Graham Round. This left a few of the others to summit Scafell Pike. That evening we had roast dinner – it was good.

In the evening we socialised with other network members – getting to bed at an unreasonable hour.

Day Four

TheNepalteam went for another walk to the old man of Coniston.  Stu demonstrated how well waterproof trousers foam if you forget to rinse them and it rains. He must be congratulated on actually wearing them as opposed to getting soaked with your trousers nice and dry in your bag.

Ian, Jeremy and Rich Brimelow went mountain biking.

The climbing group did the piece of classic rock “Little Chamonix”. If the wind blows and your gear falls out it suggests more work is needed on placements.

Joe did a talk about rope work for his ML and how important the over hand knot is, brilliant laugh practicing different types of abseils inside.

Day Five

The journey home – started unreasonably early, 6am in fact.

By Rosemary..

Anyway, we travelled up on Friday night. 10 of us left from our various bases and we met at the Scout Hut in Ystradgynlais, where Richard Brimelow (event director) greeted us with Hot Cross buns… Yum!! Before myself & Chris Laws (Atacama veterans ) gave the most amazing and educational lecture ever on nutrition. With the group all feeling very informed & educated we got our heads down for some sleep, which evaded some of us as we were battling with ‘first night camp excitement’.

On Saturday we split into two groups which were being lead by Steve Knaggs & Chris Slater as they are working towards their Mountain leader qualification. We agreed to rendezvous that evening at Llyn Y Fan Fach about 10km north of the town where we started for our overnight camp.

We set out carefully navigating our way through the town and across the road, which seemed to take for ever, before finally hitting some hills.. We then completed navigating legs, whilst also picking up some of the Black Mountains famous Air Craft crash sites…

Now either this was luck or perfect linked groups, but both teams arrived at the overnight camp at exactly the same time. It was at this point and we had been thinking it for a while, that we realised how blooming cold it was. So we wrapped up as warm as we could and put our tents up and had dinner. Luckily for us, there was a rescue hut there, so we did get to sit inside. when I say inside, it had walls, a roof & some benches.. Luxury in this instance.. Dinner was light weight obligatory Cous Cous, veg & Chorizo…

As some of the group headed to bed, Adrian, Steve, Chris & myself headed out for some night nav practice and with 100% success rate we headed back to our tents for a very very very cold night sleep… My 1 season sleeping bag, thermal top, jacket & gillet struggled to keep the cold at bay even whilst i was being sandwiched by Chris & Steve..

The next morning, we had breakfast (muesli cereal bombs) and headed back to the hut. Whilst walking back, we did get to enjoy the snow that started and then laid after we had left…

A great weekend with some great hill walking & wild camping… Thanks to Richard Brimelow for organising and thanks to all who came along..

See you there

Day 0
The Journey
On Thursday evening, a small army of Tourneos (9-seater Ford Transits) left Hampshire for the long journey to the Lake District. My Tourneo departed around 18:00 and got there at 01:30! In total we had 55 people at the weekend, including the Peru team, usual HSX members and load of Explorers from across Hampshire and Weymouth. I was part of the extra Explorers, coming a long for the weekend to see what HSX was all about.

Day 1
Rock Climbing Introduction
Despite the rather unsociable arrival time last night, breakfast was served 08:00 HSX time (HSX time is an hour ahead of GMT) and got ready. We headed out for a day of climbing, and to get things started we began with a spot of bouldering (low level climbing without ropes). Meanwhile, the leaders set up some top ropes, so we could climbing up higher. After a brief refresher on how to belay, we took it in turns to climb up the crag. 12:00ish we ate lunch. We did some more climbing and finally headed back to base at Great Tower.

Back in the warmth of the hut, we finally had a chance to get everyone at the weekend in one place at the same time and we had a briefing for the weekend and reported back on the days activities, accompanied with hot crossed buns and tea. This was followed by a lovely dinner and a chat about the next day’s planned walking routes.

Day 2
Navigation Training
On the second day we woke up for breakfast even earlier (07:00HSX). Then we got in the Tourneos and several groups headed for Dungeon Ghyll car park, at the base of the Langdales. Our group, lead by Alan, started on a walk with the aim of improving our navigation. Anthony took the first leg, around 2km. As we walked we got to know each other, most of us never having met before this weekend. Each day was an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. After 2km Karl took over leading the navigation, then we gradually started going up to the pile of rocks, finally arriving at Pike of Stickle. We climbed the last bit one by one, as the path became narrow. When all of us got to the top we looked at the view as we started to walk to Dungeon Ghyll Force. Then we saw another group on the way down and made the final descent together. The conditions underfoot were a little snowy in places, so I had to learn how to use different techniques to stay on my feet. I never thought walking could be so hard!

Waterfall Abseil
So then things got interesting…
We stopped for lunch within sight of the car park, next to some of the leaders. We were instructed to get changed and put on a climbing harness and helmet. One by one we were lead down into a deep, cold, wet gorge. Between the top and bottom of the gorge was a 15 meter abseil, complete with waterfall! Now I can say “I’ve done that”. I changed into some nice warm clothes and we headed back to meet the Peru team. David H-E ate all the bakewell tarts. We had dinner in two settings because their where so may of us. Then followed a de-brief and tomorrow choice was to go climbing or walking up Scafell Pike, which I had done when I was seven. So, I decided to climb improve my climbing skills. Then we had a chat and I went to bed early because I was so tired.

Day 3
Climbing part 2
We woke up, had breakfast and grabbed lunch. We jumped into the Tourneos and got on our way. At the crag, we did some warm ups exercises, including the plank. I did some belaying, and just before lunch I did a climb which included standing on someone’s shoulder (thanks Tom Rose!). Then in the afternoon I too a more relaxed role, viewing from the ground. 15:00ish we went back had a lazy afternoon. I played with a little German boy (Ed – Dave Frid’s 2 year old son) who spoke little English which was a bit difficult. Then we had dinner, a full de-brief of the weekend and prepared for departure the next day.

Day 4
Home time
We got up, tidied up and then we spent the day travelling home.

Final Thoughts
I was asked to highlight the best bit of the weekend, but on reflection I found it hard to narrow it down to just one. With all the new adventures, I can honestly say that it was all so much fun.

This year was full of snow and cold conditions as low as -12ºc, The first two days of the trip were filled with essential winter mountaineering skills to help them get through the week. The third and fourth day was spent building a snow hole from scratch then testing them out by cooking and sleeping in them for a night. The fifth day of the trip was another practical training day on snow and ice climbing techniques that were then put into good use over the next couple of days as the Peru team leaders took them climbing in breathtaking Scottish scenery.

Over the week HSX members climbed Ben Macdui  (1,309m) and Cairngorm  (1,245m). Also people went Skiing, Dry tool climbing, swimming completed Mambo’s Direct and visited John O’ Groats.

By Phil Nutbeam

HSX set off for North Wales on Friday 22nd Jan, we made good time at untill we arrived and couldn’t find the keys. An opportunity for a quick doze while Dave set off to Anglesey to find them.

I had drawn the short straw with the bursars and ended up with the sofa for sleeping on – wish it had a guard rail as I fell off both nights!

After getting to bed at 02:30, Saturday saw us get up early and after breakfast two groups set off for the Ogwen Valley, one heading up through the Devil’s Kitchen and the other doing Heather Terrace on Tryfan, whilst a third group headed for Snowdon. We hiked most of the day on the hills managing to find some patches of snow, for quite a few of the Peru team it was the first time in Snow boots.

In the evening we headed back to the lodge in Capel Curig for a tasty evening meal prepared by Brimlow and helpers, most of them crashed early as I tried to re acquire the sofa!

Sunday saw the Peru team head off for PT round the Lake at Snowdon, another team went off for a hike up Moel Siabod, a few of us went to find some bouldering but it was too wet so ?Rhys and I went off to Plas Y Brenin the outdoor centre to do some indoor bouldering whilst Besty and burser Tom went for a run up tryfyn.

After Lunch and a clear up we left for Hampshire. A good fun weekend enjoyed by all.

Mark How

Last weekend saw HSX head off to the Brecon Beacons for a fun filled weekend out in the hills! The weekend was a really busy one with 31 people heading up including the Peru Team and Mark and David from the Malawi team. Staying for the first time at the Glasbury-on-Wye Scout Hut, the HSX members slept inside on the floor of the hut next to the fire evicting the Peru team outside to sleep under canvas in the garden.

Saturday saw us divide into 5 teams, Smudge, Brimelow, Christian and Batstone headed off to do some climbing leaving the remaining 4 groups to tackle the Brecon Beacons. Starting from the village of Pencelli my group consisting of Lawso, Rhys, Hayley and Bursar Anton also joined by Dave?s half of the Peru team we scaled the dizzy heights of Fan-Y-Big, Cribyn and Pen-Y- Fan. The remaining two groups started the same route from the opposite end with the aim to meet half way to swap keys for the Tornados. After a great start of Lawso leaving his walking boots in the Tornado heading to the opposite end of our route we were soon on our way. Part way round we stopped for a half hour of kite flying shenanigans in the relatively blowy conditions (with Dave narrowly avoiding slamming the kite into the back of Anton?s head!!!). On our descent from Fan-Y-Big we met the other two groups swapping keys and hearing of Bursar Tom leaving his waterproof jacket in his tent (Muppet!). The day was topped off with a quick trip into Brecon for some QSH?s before heading back to the hut to cook dinner (we missed not having Russ!!!).

After dinner we were entertained by Everest Dave attempting a first attempt at traversing the wooden beams in the roof, complete with thermarest crash mats below for safety naturally. Not to lose face Bram soon scrambled up to have a go followed by Rhys, Bertie and McNab. Being Halloween we brought the obligatory pumpkin to carve, I took it upon myself to handle this important job, but was soon relegated to scooping out the insides, Bram just couldn?t stand seeing someone else having fun!!!

Sunday morning started off very wet, but in HSX we?re not put off by a bit of rain so we headed back out into the hills, with one group off to practice micro-nav, another group off for a 10km run and the Peru team off to do some PT after an epic drive to get to a waterfall. Luckily my group, off to do micro-nav manage to stay dry with the rain stopping as soon as we got to our destination. We all reconvened at the hut shortly before lunch to tidy up and have some grub before hitting the M4 for the homeward journey.

Oh and if Katie is reading this I?m still waiting for my cup of Tea!!!

Congratulations to HSX Leader Craig and Alan on passing their ML(Summer) award this week.

They both said that it was a tough and stressful week but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Craig and Alan completed the 5 day assesment which included group management, safety on steep ground, micro navigation and a two night expedition. They completed this at the National Mountain Centre – Plas Y Brenin in Snowdonia.

Well done guys.

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If you or members of your Explorer Scout Group are interested in learning more about HSX or would like to experience new activities it would be great if you could come along!

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The aim of the weekend is to teach you new skills, use the skills you already have and to work in a team through a series of challenges, such as climbing and hiking, set by the HSX team. The majority of the weekend will be based over a 24 hour period with a theme that in the past has included surviving in a foreign country.

This weekend is a good way to learn more about what activities HSX do and chat amongst current HSX members.

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Dates: Saturday 5th September – Sunday 6th September 2009.

Location: Ferny Crofts, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, SO42 7YQ.

Cost: ?20

Regards,
Chris Slater
C.J.Slater(at)brighton.ac(dot)uk