Just a word of warning that spring is still quite a dangerous time for getting out and about due to the hugely changeable weather conditions. During a quick spin up to Cadair Idris yesterday I had scorching sun in the valleys but cornices of hardpack hail/snow on the tops! I also made two fantastic discoveries in the logistical process of getting there:

• I left my Cadair map in Bristol. However after a bit of investigation, there is a huuuuge map shop in Fishguard (okay Goodwick) that produce laminated OS maps and loads of other travel guides. It’s run by a helpful chap called Chris David and has been there for about 5 years!? It’s essentially a wholesale setup for camping/walking shops but they’re very happy to have local callers (do them a favour and take hard cash..) The stock seems huge and they had a laminated Cadair map to hand within seconds. Contact details: Chris David / Tel: 01348 874666 / Trail Card, Unit 5, Goodwick Industrial Estate, Goodwick, Pembrokeshire, SA46 0BD.
• McDonalds have read my mind. After years of driving through Aberystwyth at 06:30hrs; a 30 whole minutes before breakfast muffins and coffee were available, they’ve seen the light and decided to open early! I’m not a fast food adovcate but it’s a cracking breakfast for red-eye mountain starts!

After a long delay, I’ve finally managed to upload photos of some trips/training from last year. Check them out in the gallery and send me more!

This recent BBC story paints a sad picture about modern society. It tells of people getting into the outdoors (a good thing!) but without the requisite respect for the environment, other people and even themselves (a very bad thing!)

The DOE Award provides a fantastic framework for getting young people interested in the outdoors. It does this through a controlled, progressive scheme of teaching and practising both the practical skills and background knowledge required to navigate the hills in safety. Always be sure you possess the skills and equipment necessary to complete any route you choose and do not assume that others will be available to rescue you. If you want to push your limits to learn even more, always do so in the presence of a skilled, certified instructor.

Here’s an exerpt from a callout log of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OMVRO):-

Standby for overdue walker who had reported he was “Near Wales, Snowdonia” and had not returned home when expected. He ‘phoned home in the afternoon and explained his mobile had had no signal.

The OVMRO website is very well maintained, check out the callout logs for some thought provoking reading…

Finished Gold DOE and want more? Like the outdoors lifestyle and enjoy volunteering? Stuck with a long summer holiday between school and university/a job? Fear not! This might be just what you’re after!

This is a volunteer scheme run in Iceland during the summer months to maintain various networks of footpaths in more remote areas of National Parks etc. Unfortunately you need to be over 18 years old but the only self funded bit are the flights from the UK, everything else is free!

The Rona Trust provide sailing voyages for young people which count as Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award residentials. A number of Pembrokeshire participants have been and have been unstinting in their praise of the whole experience. For more information visit Rona Trust’s website at http://www.ronatrust.com/LSP2006/index.php?id=0