The Welsh adventure of the expedition leadership course has been completed and we are about to depart to the polar opposite of extreme heat, humidity and all the hygienic unpleasaentries that ensue in such weather. It was somewhat surreal doing our Summer Mountain Leadership Training in 60-70 mph bitterly cold winds and the blizzards that have wreaked havoc upon on the rest of the country. We were not deterred by such trivialities and all successfully completed the intense one week course in the spectacular Snowdonia National Park. A variety of skills were leant, developed and put into practice over the week from macro/micro navigation, camp craft and rope work skills.
Our first 2 weeks prior to the training had been spent with the course instructor, Colin, or White Fang as he has been so endearingly been called. Colin ensured that we were up to scratch with our base skills by taking us into the mountains and doing his utter best to get us to pay attention long enough in a classroom environment. There has been a lot to learn and the realisation of the enormity of the responsibilities of an expedition leader encompasses has sunk in. One of the classes on the legalities of becoming a leader asked "is it worth it?" and the although the answer isn't a simplistic yes, it is certainly a resolute one and the enthusiasm that has been continually displayed by us all highlights our determination to become what we have set out to do.
A strong bond has developed between us all and I think we all shared some pre-training anxiety about those we would be spending an intimate amount of time with for the next 6 months. Luckily they were quickly dispelled with the first hand of cards in which abuse and banter was freely hurled around. Emma,the solo female in the group has coped very well in what is often a juvenile male environment and has bought radox and candles to compensate. Pictionary has become a new found favourite game though am still slightly bemused my Rob's and Henry's response to my picture of a tiger, Sri Lanka and men holding guns which they conjured up the answer of "Sri-Lankan tiger hunters"... the covert operations of the Tamil Tigers can be rest assured in their anominimity from the pair of them. But it has been a laugh a minute throughout the three weeks, but we have been suprisingly focused when the moment has required it... not sure Colin would entirely agree though... not that he hasn't joined in from time to time either!
So off we go to Belize. Crutch rot cream, bug spray and every other toiletry that will help with our comfort has been packed away. We're all excited about the next chapter of this course and what lays ahead, the new skills that will develop and I'm sure what will amount to an unforgettable experience.
