Mountain Leader Training, day 5

Expedition day 2.
(Back blipped yesterday)

Its fair to say it was grim over night.
I still slept well but woke early, oddly I like that in camp, a little time alone to ponder and plan. As it grew light the rain eased but I knew the wind was building. I wandered a ways from camp and marvelled at the becks and river newly in spate, clouds already speeding past.
Over a brisk breakfast that rising wind helpfully dried the tents and waterproofs and I got to check out peoples campcraft, give a few tips, share a few laughs.
A swap over of groups - we want everyone to see each instructor's take on things - we'll be broadly telling them the same, just from our own perspectives in our own ways- hopefully it helps them to find their own understanding.
It did also mean that I was back with Team Youth, all of them exceptionally young in Mountain Leader terms, but all of them very very capable. In coaching terms I'll often talk about percentages, about how as we begin to learn we're an empty vessel and the knowledge goes in in large amounts, as we move towards understanding we add smaller and smaller, but possibly more complex, amounts and finally as we become competent we add tiny precious amounts that make all the difference.
It's very rare to find yourself doing that with an individual at training, often it'll be assessment where we add those final tweaks, move hopefully from good to excellent. Yet today each team member demonstrated that they're very very close to there. I just added the odd percent or two.

Pictures
Main: whilst the wind was vicious the forecast "continuous" rain never materialised. That wind did however give us an effective temperature unpleasantly close to zero on the day's only summit, Pike O'Blisco. We made camp on its westerly flanks, thankfully sheltered. And then that wind drew the most fabulous pictures in the sky for us. Wonderful.
Extra one: obligatory summit shot :-)
Extra two: knowing exactly where you are, it's time to get into the detail of it. Don't just take me to the rock, take me to the lichen on the rock. Then tell me what sort of lichen it is. (one of the days' more obtuse teaching points)