Pyrenees D of E Gold Expedition July 2014 with Simon Langton School, Canterbury.

Team Wizards

Team Fat Fingers

A group of 12 students from Simon Langton Boys School made the journey from Canterbury to the Eastern Pyrenees to complete their 4 day/3 night Gold D of E Expedition with Pyrenees Mountain Adventure.

The trip included a training day before and a rest and relaxation day (visiting the castle in Carcassonne) after the of the expedition. (2 - 8 July  2014)

In the the words of the assessor:

(*Insert name*) and (*his/her*) team successfully completed one of the most arduous Gold expeditions I have assessed. The expedition was centred around the Puig Peric, deep in the French Pyrenees mountains. The team averaged 10 hour mountain days, reaching a height of 2600m on their 3^rd day. 

(*Insert name*) and (*his/her*) team demonstrated great personal determination, which was enhanced by a fantastic sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Despite very tough conditions, including torrential rain, thunder, lightning, snow patches, high temperatures and extremely difficult terrain at times, (*Insert name*) and (*his/her*) team remained in high spirits, keeping each other motivated through humour, encouragement and obvious great friendship. Small but important lessons were learnt in navigation and campsite selection, but all in all a brilliantly executed Gold expedition, which really embodied the ethos of the award. 

A huge note of thanks to the 1^st class safety supervision team who made it possible.

Mo! ML

Fantastic scenery - Pic Carlit

Wildlife - Mouflon

Challenging Weather conditions on Day 4

Post expedition rest and relaxtion. Visting Carcassonne Castle

The staff Dream Team reunited again

Wales September 2011

I spent two weeks working in Snowdonia this autumn. The first week I helped out on a Duke of Edinburgh week for several Kent schools who based themselves, when they weren't on expedition, at the Kent Mountain Centre.

I had a memorable time waiting at Bwlch y Rhediad for a D of E practice group to come through. There is a fair amount of waiting around when remotely supervising D of E groups but on a day like this I wasn't complaining. I had the view across the Gwynant valley towards Snowdon all to myself with just a buzzard in the far distance for company. The sunlight was breaking through the clouds and acting like a giant spotlight. As it swept over the ground the muted colours were suddenly vividly bright - the green of the fields and the silver of the river and the landscape alive.

 Llyn Gwynant With Snowdon in the Distance.

Another memorable moment this first week was when the qaulifying group came into the dining hall after finishing late on their last day and the rest of the groups already there giving them a huge round of applause.  


My second week was spent in a small cottage on a working hill farm just inside the Snowdonia National Park. With the help of another member of staff I looked after a group of 10 14 year olds from a school in Canterbury, Kent - everyone having to adapt to there being no running water nor electricity. Despite less than perfect weather during the week, we managed to complete some fieldwork and have 3 good mountain days. The most enjoyable for me was a very windy ascent of Y Garn via the Devil's Kitchen in winds that were gusting to over 50 mph and strong enough to blow some of the group over. One boy had his glasses blown off his head (close to the spot in the picture below) and down a steep drop. They could not be recovered but he went on to get to the summit of Tryfan the next day! 

The Descent From Y Garn.

View of Llyn Idwal From The Devil's KItchen.

Thank you for (your help) .... organising the Snowdonia week – my son had a fantastic time despite the Friday rain and from his photos (and he has loads of these) you can see the boys were always smiling along with Alex.

Thanks again.

Kathy

Freedom Trail Success

The idea originally came from a student at a school in Canterbury in Kent. From relatives who lived in the Pyrenees he discovered that an old WWII escape route from France to Spain had been turned into The Freedom Trail. Was it possible to walk this for his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition over 4 days and 3 nights?

A year ago, after being asked the question, the Duke of Edinburgh coordinator at the school contacted me and the trip began to take shape. During the following year the group had many meetings and spent many hours studying their maps - finalising their route  and their route cards. In September 2011 they spent a week in Snowdonia  to complete their training expedition. Read the blog entry here: Wet and Windy Wales


July 2011, the group arrives at Toulouse Airport and the Qualifying Expedition is about to start.

Bethmale Lake

There is a orientation morning around the Col de la Clore and the Lac de Bethmale. Getting used to packing the ruc sack and carrying it again and a chance to discover what has been left back in England. For one group member it is his waterproofs! The afternoon is spent in the Freedom Trail Museum in St Girons. We have been using a guide book to the Freedom Trail by Scott Goodall and although we miss the author who has just left as we arrive, we are lucky enough to meet one of the real life escapees from the book. Paul Broué escaped into Spain in 1943 along the Freedom Trail when he was 19 to avoid being sent to Nazi Germany as forced labour.

Day 1 starts in St Girons with the camp site at Aunac.

Team Jumpy at the Start Point in St Girons

Day 2 is from Aunac via the Col de la Clore to the Cabane de Subera (a shepherds hut). Both groups set up their tents just before the rain storm arrives.

Blue Team at the Col de la Clore.

Day 3 is from the Cabane de Subera  to the Refuge Estagnous. Poor visibility and light rain for most of today. The Blue Team decide to make up an alternative route from Cabane des Espugues and get themselves into trouble. Remembering their training they walk a compass bearing to the col where I am waiting,  even 'aiming off' to be sure to not miss the col. Textbook stuff! As usual they arrive together showing good team spirit.

Staff Team at Refuge d'Estagnous

Day 4 is from Refuge d'Estagnous to Isil - the day when the frontier between France and Spain is finally crossed.

The Blue Team at the Border with View Back into France

Heading Into Spain and 'Freedom'

Well done to both teams for completing the Freedom Trail and a big thank you to all the staff that helped.

  

Just wanted to say a huge thanks for all of your hard work, the trip really would not have happened without you! It was an amazing expedition and I hope at some point I can come back to the Pyrenees, whether its with a group or on my own. Again,  thank you. 

Lucy, Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator.

These Boots Were Made For Walking

At the beginning of July I helped a group of students from a school in Canterbury, Kent to complete their Gold Duke of Edinbourgh Expedition in the French Pyrenees. They completed the Freedom Trail from Saint Girons in France to Isil in Spain. This follows the route of a Second World War escape line. 

The 4 day, 3 night expedition was hard both on the students and their equipment.

Repaired Boot

One student had to repair his boot with materials to hand from a first aid kit after the sole detached itself completely from the upper.

For more about the expedition read Freedom Trail Success.

Wet and Windy Wales

Mid September saw me in Snowdonia, North Wales helping with a Duke of Edinburgh training week for several schools in the Canterbury/Ashford area.

The week began with a training day. This  mainly concentrated on navigation but also covered some first aid scenarios, camp craft, essential and non essential kit, rucsac packing etc. Then the groups did a practice 4 day expedition.

One of the groups I worked with was the group planning to do their qualifying expedition in the Pyrenees. The weather was not kind all week and bad enough for several of the groups to have to switch to their lower level wet weather alternative routes. 

Here is a photo of the group during a rare improvement in the weather. They were in good spirits not just because it was brighter and had stopped raining, but also because the day had gone well. They told me they were beginning to feel like a real  team. There was also no more height to gain that day. They had ascended to the col Bwlch Cwm Llan and it was now all down hill to the campsite.

The week was based at The Kent Mountain Centre. There is more information about the centre here.

Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the mountains and the stars up above. Let them look at the beauty of the waters and the trees and flowers on earth. They will then begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education.
- David Polis