So What's It Really Like On A Mountain Leader Assessment Course?

WRITTEN by ANNE ENSOLL & LUCY MADDISON

Our first contact with Lucy Maddison was in May 2020 when she joined our mentoring programme. She booked onto our Mountain Leader Steep Ground Masterclass in June 2020, and our Contour Masterclass in July 2020. Here she tells about her experience on her Mountain Leader assessment course.

Why did you decide to do your Mountain Leader assessment?

I first discovered Chris Ensoll Mountain Guide when I tentatively took the steps to book on to his Masterclasses in preparation for my Mountain Leader assessment.  At this stage I was working my way back to gaining my qualification, having had a bad experience on my first assessment in 2007 with a bout of gastroenteritis on Crinkle Crags.  Thirteen years later, with encouragement from Chris and a chance meeting with Susan Byrne who had also done her assessment with Chris last year, I took the plunge and booked a place on the assessment course on 10th-14th August 2020. 

Looking down on the wild campsite near Red Tarn

How did you feel as the course got nearer?

I had convinced myself that I wasn’t ready right up until the very last day.  I wasn’t nervous or anxious but given the time lapse of thirteen years I felt somewhat rusty and suffering from skill fade.  I found myself not feeling as anxious as I had anticipated by the impending assessment. I experienced no sleepless nights, no thoughts of cancelling or rescheduling, just a positive thought of what lay ahead. I consciously made a determined attitude to approach the upcoming week with a positive outlook – whatever happened over the five days, and regardless of the outcome at the end,  I would always be learning, meeting new people who shared my enthusiasm, and ultimately  enjoying the outdoors and being guided by experts in the field.  What was there to lose?

What was your first impression when you met everyone at the start of the course?

I thought I would arrive early on day one to get myself organised having just returned twenty four hours earlier from a Duke of Edinburgh Gold practice expedition. I was thwarted as on arrival at the meeting point as both Chris and Simon [Lane] were already at the meeting point. My kit was strewn unceremoniously across my car and required some attention. I came clean and said I needed a few minutes to “sort my bag.” This wasn’t what I had planned, and I was keen to arrive in an organised manner and present myself favourably as a potential Mountain Leader. 

What did you do on each day?  

The days were jam packed with barely time to think about being nervous or feeling pressured by assessment.  In fact it was the opposite, the relaxed atmosphere brought out the best in all of us and we learnt so much from Chris and Simon and each other, demonstrated our skills and had a laugh, just as a day on the hill should be. 

Night navigation in t-shirts!

Day one – general mountain day

After quick intros with the other six candidates, who had a wide and varied experience, we set off for a day of navigation, taking a leg each and demonstrating our knowledge of navigation but also discussing the flora and fauna in the area.  The assessors made it so easy to relax into the assessment that you really were able to just be yourself and demonstrate your skill set without having to over-emphasise everything. It was a real situation and we were all able to demonstrate how we would perform with a group or client when not under assessment. The weather was gloriously hot, complete with thunder and lightning storms and with dark skies looming and a torrential downpour imminent along with the roll of thunder at the end of the day on top of Crinkle Crags so we bid a hasty retreat to lower ground.  That mountain seems to be my nemesis! 

Day two - steep ground day

Rope work was my Achilles heel, not being a climber, and despite having practised numerous knots relentlessly at home I drew a blank tying my first knot. Internal stress and apprehension were short-lived when a voice said, “Just tie the knot you know.”   Once I had relaxed I cracked it and felt more confident.  This level of encouragement and positive support is what made this assessment so good.  Yes, there were challenges and you are pushed to be the best you could be, but in a manner which allowed you to develop as the week went on.

Days three, four and five - expedition

The expedition was something I had looked forward to, and it was the highlight of the week, although the weather forecast wasn’t favourable at times. I packed my bag with minimal kit and weighed in at 10.4 kg.  That weight was short lived after Chris decided he could shed some of my load, and after an inspection of my kit removed my spare socks, water bottle (I had my filter) and my bivi. I then had the lightest bag at 9.2kg, but no spare socks!   

In the afternoon of the first day we had an amazing thunderstorm which we viewed from our tent at Red Tarn. It was just what was needed to break the heat of the day. After dinner we chatted and discussed career paths and motivations for doing the course before heading out on our night navigation. 

Day 2 of the expedition was more navigation with our ten minute mountain presentations thrown in for good measure. Changing maps threw me a curve ball - my head and eye were still in 1:25 mode, and I out of practice with a 1:50 map, so that was a struggle for me.  At one point the map could have quite happily have been launched off the top of Swirl How, such was my frustration, but Simon’s patience and understanding allowed me to take my time before I eventually cracked it and got into the flow.

What were your highlights of the course?

The week was spent with a great bunch of people and two fantastic assessors who really know the art of bringing the best out of people. The five days with Chris and Simon were fantastic and one of those moments in life that you don’t want to end.  I met such lovely people, learnt so much from everyone, shared stories and had a fantastic time. 

Sunrise at the wild camp

Inspiration, encouragement, restoration

Chris Ensoll Mountain Guide has three key words that ring true on every course I have done: inspiration, encouragement, restoration.  Chris and Simon both inspire you with their skills and expertise and demonstrate such professionalism and leadership.  You want to do well for them and they have the ability to make you believe that you can.  They are leaders and I defy anyone not to be massively impacted by them. You would follow them anywhere.

Having been “rusty” to the point of convincing myself that there was no way I could possibly do this, the encouragement on both the two Masterclasses that I attended in preparation and the assessment was superb.  Never have I experienced such an encouraging atmosphere that relaxes you, makes you feel at ease and brings out the best in the individual.  Chris Ensoll has mastered this skill with people and has this down to a fine art.

What would you say to someone thinking about doing a Mountain Leader course?

Anyone considering doing a Mountain Leader course, or any course, should look no further than working with Chris.  He is a consummate professional, an excellent teacher and facilitator of learning, and has the added skill of delivering this in a manner that is not overly complex so that you leave remembering everything you have been taught.  Chris works in a very calm and relaxed manner and will always encourage and support, and he gives you the self-confidence to do a good job.  He ensures that by adopting this holistic approach to learning that everything you learn joins up from movement techniques, and navigation to rope work etc. It all ties together as a whole package and makes you a better leader on the hill.  I have adopted some of Chris’s movement techniques with my groups of young people, and it has dramatically impacted their method of walking and improved their gait, movement and posture.  I would say to anyone considering booking onto any of Chris’s courses - just do it!  You won’t regret it.

About the author

Lucy Maddison is a secondary school teacher in the north of England. She is passionate about young people, and particularly about young people with SEND (special educational needs & disability) being able to access outdoor education. She co-ordinates the school’s Duke of Edinburgh award programme.

What about you?

Interested in doing a Mountain Leader training or assessment course? Check out all the info in the Mountain Leader section on our website, and send us the booking form. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!