Arkle summit success in the sunshine

Yesterday afternoon at 5pm the four Kingshott teams left the Adventure School for their wild camp after a day of rock climbing and survival skills. The teams pitched their tents first, before retrieving cooking stoves and food at the old stone stables. Working together they reheated the camping meal that Andrew had prepared in advance at the Adventure School during the day.

Everything was set and bellies were full by half past seven in the evening and the boys and girls could just enjoy the scene. A wild base camp at the foot of the mountain that they would climb the following day. The sunny and breezy evening at Lone was really beautiful.

It is quite rare for a twelve year old to be expected to do one continuous task, and a challenging one at that, for upwards of eight hours. The concept of mountain day is pretty simple. To work together with the other boys and girls in the team to reach not one but two summits. All under the watchful eye and with the support of their instructor. For some it is certainly a physical challenge and for others more of a mental challenge.

We had pretty good conditions, plenty of sunshine but with a breeze to keep us cooled. Merging into three teams rather than four we picked different routes to the first summit making good use of a lovely stream that flows down the mountain.

From the first summit the route narrows a little onto a crescent shaped ridge that rises and curls around to the second summit. We had magnificent views out across the Atlantic to the west.

Tonight the boys and girls are back at the Adventure School, a little tired, but with a heightened understanding of what they are really capable of. Tomorrow evening, from the highest point of survival island, they will be able to look back at Arkle. Something challenging that they have overcome together and no doubt it will stand them in good stead.