So What Do You Really Do On A Movement Masterclass?

So What Do You Really Do On A Movement Masterclass?

Movement coaching is one of Chris’s big passions, and he includes it in everything he does - you might book a place on a Contour Masterclass or a Mountain Leader course, but you’ll get a good helping of movement coaching alongside the course syllabus. Why does he think it is so important? Walking for most people is an unconscious competence – we do it without any thought. It is almost as automatic as breathing, so why does it need to be taught? Can’t any able-bodied person walk without thinking about it?

Read More

Scrambling: What It Is And How To Do It Safely

Scrambling: What It Is And How To Do It Safely

[GUEST POST] What is scrambling? For me, scrambling offers the perfect combination of continuous movement and unfettered climbing in a mountain environment. It is a very basic activity that offers adventure, physical activity and mental concentration. Lakeland pioneer, Harry Griffin, clearly identified with this, saying: “The Lake District teems with opportunities for modest adventure away from the track… those I have introduced to various unconventional scrambles and climbs have all become addicts”. Many of us have become addicts in Harry’s mould.

Read More

Top Tips On Making A Really Useful Route Card

Top Tips On Making A Really Useful Route Card

As part of the Mountain Leader award training and assessment we cover remote supervision and route planning, and look at lots of different ways that this can be done. I ask the candidates to consider this: what is the point of doing a route card? I think there are two crucial points when considering how to draw up a route card: it must be useful as a risk assessment document, and it has to make sense to the person who will be using it. The traditional route card with rows and columns doesn’t make sense to everyone, particularly to someone who struggles with numbers. So what should you include on a route card, and how should it be presented?

Read More

Top Tips From Our Mentoring Group On How To Stay Positive During Lockdown

Top Tips From Our Mentoring Group On How To Stay Positive During Lockdown

During lockdown we’re doing regular Zoom chats with our mentoring group, and we recently asked everyone to share what they are doing to stay positive and outdoor-focused during this difficult time. Living where I do in the Lake District, I can drive a few miles up the road and walk into the mountains, either on my own or with another person. Red Screes from Kirkstone Pass is the nearest spot, and the great winter conditions that we’ve been having have been good for winter climbing and for ski touring.

Read More