How To Pack Your Rucksack The Minimalist Way

How To Pack Your Rucksack The Minimalist Way

We've all seen it: an expedition group toiling under the weight of huge rucksacks, with all kinds of things swinging around on the outside. They have no energy for enjoying the journey - all they can think about is getting to the campsite and crashing out. But it doesn't have to be like that. When I run Mountain Leader courses I set my candidates a challenge: to pack all their kit for a three-day two-night expo into a 45 litre sack weighing no more than 10kg. Most of them are surprised, and think it isn't possible. Here's why it's a good idea, and how to do it.

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A Dutchman's Eye View of the Mountain Leader Training Course

A Dutchman's Eye View of the Mountain Leader Training Course

The majority of the candidates on our Mountain Leader courses are from the UK, but we recently had the pleasure of welcoming our first person from the Netherlands. Christophe Laseur completed our Mountain Leader training course on 19th-24th March 2018. He has his own blog where he documents his Alpine experiences, and also his journey towards completing the International Mountain Leader qualification.

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What Should You Expect On Your Mountain Leader Training Course?

What Should You Expect On Your Mountain Leader Training Course?

In 1990 I set off on my journey to becoming a British Mountain Guide. I had an idea of the outline of the course programme, and I had talked to other people who were further along in the scheme. But I still had unanswered questions, and I wasn’t totally sure what to expect. That is true for anyone on any course, whatever the subject or level of learning. And it will be true for you when you sign up for a Mountain Leader training course.

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Confused? You’re Not Alone

Confused? You’re Not Alone

When we chat to our clients about the different climbing and mountaineering awards and support organisations, we often encounter confusion about the awards and how they fit together. Who is qualified to do what? Where can they work? Who is supported by which organisation? And the most common mistake we come across is confusing MT with MTA. 

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