Everythingoutdoors

29/06/2024

Desperately sad news today. A great man died last night. He was my inspiration as a teenager to run in the hills.
Not many people meet the heros, I did, I shared a beer, ran with him, raced against him, a true quiet giant of our sport.
RIP Iron Joss. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e53k82n7no?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3491Ob31eYsJtooGV2OzJViFfQIoWOlFQJdZmwnfu7_j2KDWrqSZ93w0Y_aem_i1epygfKQZbRS_F_ShCjGw

Tributes are paid to the legendary, record-breaking Lake District fell runner Joss Naylor.

21/02/2024

11/12/2023

My last FRA Outdoor First Course for fellrunners, Marshals, coaches, runleaders started with a real incident. Its the first time we've ever started with a scenario. Stuart came across a RTA on route to the course. Due to the conditions and age of casualty and length of time for availability of Ambulance the aged gentleman was brought to the barn to be warmed up and be treated until Police/Ambulance arrived..
Once we got underway. Lots of skills learnt and refreshed, lots of hands on practical sessions. Improvisation in the hills with limited kit, fracture immobilisation. Chats on kit for marshals, coaching, FRA, mountain rescue, a very wild Saturday night and bleak Sunday. Well done to those who braved the weather.
As always great comments from participants.
"Stu and Ian provided a very informative and entertaining course"
"Best FA course I've ever done"
"Great Knowlege from Both Stu and Ian"..etc

And finally from me..
Thanks to Stuart Vernon from Will4adventure for being my partner in crime over the years. The banter and team work have been fantastic.
After around 30 courses over 10 years it's time for me to pass on the organisational reigns.
Thanks to all those I've met on courses over the years..
Be safe in the hills.
Ian

16/10/2023

The Biggest race of the year approaches next weekend, the Relays hosted by Keswick AC.
To that end I was asked to run an FRA Outdoor First Aid course for some of the marshals. Along with Stuart from Will4adventure we provided hands on training over 2 days with lots of practical scenarios. Accident procedure, desicion making, enviromental challenges, Discussions on the FRA, kit for Marshals and run leaders,mountain rescue.
Thanks to Phil Winskill from Keswick AC for his hospitality and to Holly and Ivan for putting us up at Lakeside House.
Have a great event next weekend..good luck to all the runners.

29/09/2023

On yesterdays nav and hill skill course we managed to find a gap in the weather between storms.
A bit blustery but warm enough. Lots new skills added to the tool kit. A really keen participant took every thing on board. Chatted to some mountain bikers and passed in some advice. They hadn't realised how far or how high cut gate was, or how cold in the wind so mentioned emergency kit and what would happen if they were up here with out it. All took on board gratefully

26/09/2023

The Latest ITC FRA outdoor first aid course was run for Macclesfirld Harriers run leaders.

The FRA continue to promote safety and responsibility in the hills.

Instructors Stuart from Will4Addventure and Ian from the FRA provided 2 days of training. From Basic life support and AEDs to dealing cuts, breaks, tears, hot and cold enviromental issues, discussions on the FRA, kit, mountain rescue and safety procedures.
Great feedback comments from the harriers afterwards, attached with their permission.

Next open course is 9th-10th in the northern peak..filling fast...

25/09/2023

Love a bit of clag when teaching Navigation

Clag is that wet low cloud that envelopes EVERYTHING. It’s impossible to avoid getting wet while walking through clag. Navigating through it requires the same techniques one might use to navigate in the dark.

It often covers the summit, ruining any chance of a view and occasionally calling into question whether you actually made it to the summit or not.

Antonym: blue sky day

Who’s had a day out ruined by summit ?

11/09/2023

Another OFA Course organised for the FRA for coaches, run leaders, marshals and ROs. This time for Northern and Lakes based clubs at Dufton.
Along Stuart from Will4adventure we provided 2 days of interesting, informative and entertaining tuition.

The FRA continues its commitment to improve hill safety for its runners by subsidising this course.

Lots of skills taught or renewed. From BLS to being able to improvise with what you have to help look after a fellow runner until help arrives. Chats on the FRA, Mountain rescue and kit, all done in relaxed atmosphere.

Dufton welcomed us with clear hot skies, a bit dissapointing for the enviromental aspect of the course but it made up for it on day 2 with cloud bursts and flood. A stunning night watching lightning after particpants went for a curry and joined the local beer festival .

Thanks to Stuart and Ian for the instruction and Well done to all those who attended.

31/08/2023

Another 30 young adults through their Gold Expeds. Mixed weather, some rough technical ground needing some good nav. Great perseverance to complete. Lots of wild camps and a return to our favourite ridge camp.

27/08/2023

First gold Exped over, next one starts this morning.
Great group lots of fun but a wild night at angle tarn in driving rain and clag. Dried out though on the way to 3 shires. Lots of wildlife too, friendly Robin, some deer on the path. Nut hatch smashing nuts.

13/08/2023

Another FRA Outdoor First Aid, this one organised for Dark Peak with guests from Todd Harriers.

Thanks to the team of Stuart Vernon from Will4adventure and Ian from the FRA for running this course, all the participants learnt some valuable skills, this isn't youre average course, aimed at fellrunning leaders, coaches and marshalls chats on Mountain rescue, kit for marshals and the FRA. Lots of practical skills renewed and learnt.

Yet again we got excellent feedback..

There are 3 more courses this year.

Dufton 9-10th September 2 places left
Macclesfield 23rd-24th September full but taking reserves.
Keswick AC 14th-15th full

06/07/2023

Back from 5 days in the lakes on Gold DofE Training working for Trek co, wild weather, top company, awesome wild camps, great enthusiastic kids.
Top team of instructors..
Hill skills, navigation
, map and compass, leave no trace, ..

14/05/2023

A very sunny day on working on Kinder for teaching DofE Navigation, emergency procedures, decision making, cooking, country code etc.
Warmest day of the year so far.
We visited ponds, stones, streams, trips and even a ww2 aircraft wreck.

24/04/2023

This weekend the latest Outdoor First Aid course run for the Fell Runners Association for Marshals, Race Organisers, coaches and fell runners was held at Woodhead MRTs train facility. Thanks to Ian and Will4adventure for providing the expert instruction.

Lots of out door scenarios over both days tested every ones new skills and put a practical aspect to what they learnt. Trying to deal with an unconscious casualty head down a slope whilst wearing rucksack and bleeding from a bad cut under their waterproofs in the wind and rain would test any ones skills. Well done to everyone.

Talks on Mountain rescue, kit for marshals and RO's, and run leaders and and a walk round the rescue team base.

Comments included..
"a chuffing good coures. Would thoroughly recommend."

"Best first aid course I've ever done."

"Fantastic two day, thoroughly enjoyed it.."

"What a great course, learnt loads, would recommend.."

26/02/2023

Navigation and hill skills course for Hillsborough and Rivelin Running Club
Chilly day with some snow. Biting North easterly wind..lots of banter and chat whilst the group learnt nav skills. 5Ds, compass work, judging distances. Pacing/timing, Traffic light navigation, Contour recognition.
We ran through an emergency scenario and also covered kit to be carried. Chatted about the recent work by moors for the future, the damming and reseeding work plus pros and cons of estate management re burning /cutting of heather...
Altogether a top day out in the hills with a great company...

24/02/2023

Another Hill Skills course on Bleaklow. Great company and lots of banter. Teaching techniques and skills for navigating over the mountains. Had a game keeper search us out as we looked suspicious 😄
Went over using a compass, judging distances, timing, contours, map features, bit of history too..
Very boggy on top and pretty cold. We covered a mock emergency procedure and ran through how go look after a casualty,what kit should be carried and how to contact MR and what info they need.
Went to Hazel's Well. Been there probably a hundred times and it's first time I've noticed a bench mark inside..
Next course in 2 days

23/02/2023

Another rescue due to people using a phone to navigate and a big rescue at that. At least they could have used a os maps..Google maps is not suitable for hill navigation.
Surprisingly this isn't unusual, I see it regularly...

Mountain rescue chiefs say the man got lost in the Lake District after relying on Google Maps.

12/12/2022

Another full FRA Outdoor First Aid course for Marshals, Coaches and ROs was put on at Youlgrave in the White Peak over the weekend.
Thanks to my regular instructor Stuart from Will4adventure for providing the expert tuition instruction.

We had a bit of a snow and rain but weather was pretty good if a little cold.

Valuable skills learnt with dealing with injured runners in remote places, and how to work with environmental complications, how to adapt what you have with you, dealing with well meaning members of public, emergency response, first aid skills, mountain rescue and a great interactive talk on the FRA, kit for runners, coaches, marshals etc.

Once again the feedback was fantastic.
"Brilliant and informative", "best first aid course I've ever attended", "informative and entertaining", "learnt so much thanks..", "great instructors".

Still places on the next course available in April at Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team base.

21/11/2022

The Latest FRA Outdoor First Aid course for Marshals, Coaches and ROs was put on at Dufton Village Hall for the Northen, and Cumbrian clubs, attendees came from Sunderland, Wharfedale, Mallerstang,Leeds, Huddersfield and Eden Valley. Thanks to my regular instructor Stuart from Will4adventure for providing the instruction.

A great venue and surprisingly good weather. Valuable life skills learnt with focus on dealing with injured runners in remote places, how to adapt what you have with you, dealing with well meaning members of public, emergency response, first aid skills, mountain rescue and a great discussion on kit for coaches, marshals and runners. We retired in the evening for a curry in Appleby.
Thanks for the fantastic comments afterwards....don't forget your Jazz hands..

03/11/2022

A very rare occurrence when all points actually do point North. Certainly makes teaching easier.
It will be some time yet before we need to think about add and subtract though..

A unique triple alignment of one of the cardinal points of the compass will occur this week. Britain’s national mapping agency Ordnance Survey said all three norths – grid, magnetic and true – will combine at a single point in southern England for the first time

27/10/2022

Nights are getting earlier, clocks about to change. Make sure you go prepared and stick in a torch and battery pack.
https://www.facebook.com/100063617199211/posts/544287804368455/

Experts remind hillgoers to prepare for earlier nightfall as clocks go back https://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2022/10/27/experts-remind-hillgoers-to-prepare-for-earlier-nightfall-as-clocks-go-back

23/10/2022

Another Fell Runners Association Outdoor First Aid course. This one booked by Dark Peak FR. 2 days of training and learning new skills. Great fun and much banter. Run from Woodhead MRTs training base with Ian and Stuart from Will4adventure providing the tuition.

All I'm sure feeling more confident if they had to deal with any issues on the hill.
Talks on Moutain Rescue, Hill kit for marshals and coaches.

Well done all

26/08/2022

How the weather changes over 3 days and 2 more wild camps. Finishing waking up with a stunning cloud inversion.

25/08/2022

How the weather changes over 3 days and 2 wild camps. Finishing with a stunning cloud inversion and excited kids getting there GCSE results...you need to let them have access to their phones for this morning...

25/08/2022

Good morning world..

21/08/2022

Day 3 of dofe Gold in the lakes. 3rd wild camp. Just got tents pitched before weather broke. Proper rain. Gales, only 2 broken poles. Very rough night. Sun this morning was a blessing. Now drying kit, repairing tents and repacking ready for next group arriving in the morning

19/08/2022

First night supervision of DofE gold. Camped early due to bad weather
Stream rose and fell 50cms over night. Very wet and windy.

15/07/2022

Interesting article on the decline of spacial awareness by those who use GPS to self navigate. Report is more about driving but equates to hill walking just as much.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7156656/

Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices and applications have become ubiquitous over the last decade. However, it is unclear whether using GPS affects our own internal navigation system, or spatial memory, which critically relies on the hippocampus. ...

07/07/2022

Another Outdoor First Aid course run for the Fell Runners Association. Aimed at Runners, ROs, marshals and Coaches. Lots of hands on hands on experience and discussions. Evening chat on types of appropriate kit for marshals and coaches to carry and chats on Moutain rescue. Weather was for too kind but great time was had by all.

Thanks to Ian and Stu for running the course and Will4adventure as provider.

3 more courses planned for the autumn.