Exped With College
Posted by Max Hunter on 09th November, 2014
Liam – toffee apples for lunch
A short cut, cross country
Last Thursday I was working for the UHI (University of the Highlands and Islands) at the WHC (West Highland College) with the ACOL (Outdoor Leadership) students – Liam, Logan, Jeremy, Douglas and Lorn. We were away for 2 nights and planning to get back on Saturday afternoon. The weather forecast was very poor with strong winds until the morning of day 2 and heavy rain, slowly reducing to rain showers. So we set off, mostly all wearing waterproofs from the start. As it turned out, we ended up being very lucky with the weather, and it did not rain as much as I thought at all. When I took my waterproofs off on Thursday night, they were mostly dry! We lost a lot of time on Friday, due to trying to find places to cross swollen streams, and as a result the team decided to lose an extension to the day, which would have taken in a munro. The team were looking for an opportunity to have a camp fire – however I insisted that we ‘Leave No Trace’, so they managed to find a place on the side of a river bank for a good Friday evening fire – this was mostly thanks to Logan and Douglas for getting the fire going. In the morning Douglas made sure that there was no trace of the evening fire.
By the end of day 3, Saturday, we arrived back at the Minibus, mostly with wet/soggy feet. All of us were looking forward to a wash – however, Logan had to go straight to work for 4pm – good effort! Thanks to Liam for all the sweets over the 3 days!
Poor visibility on day 2
After the rain? Before the rain?
A cold night ahead – but the team had a fire
Logan and Douglas – working to make the fire
The day clears, and the wind has dropped
A stormy and wet night ahead
A sunny finish on day 3
Liam in Scout scarf