Highfield teams return from the mountains
Our four Highfield teams returned to the Adventure School yesterday afternoon after great success on Arkle. The mountain day and preceding wild camp are not easy. They aren’t designed to be. It is a challenge for all. That is the point.
We left for the wild camp after supper on Monday evening. The teams had the benefit of a good breeze and beautiful evening sunshine as they pitched tents close to the old stone stables that we use as a field kitchen. It is a truly stunning spot with Arkle standing high above the camp. There was much chat and general pre-mountain excitement as the kids went to bed in their tents.
We woke the kids at 6.45am, packed up sleeping bags and roll mats, took tents down and sat in the sunshine in front of the old stone stables to eat breakfast. Then, in four teams (Red Deer, Red Snappers, Blue Whales and Blue Moons), the kids set off on their routes up the mountain. The Blue Whales were first away with their instructor, Kev. The other teams followed shortly after, all picking slightly different routes up the early slopes to the first summit. It has been a particularly warm and dry summer so far up here but we stopped in at some reliable water sources so the kids could keep water bottles topped up.
As we climbed higher a nice breeze and some overhead cloud made the temperatures much more pleasant for a big mountain day. The teams made good time to the first summit, with the Blue Moons first to arrive. From there a crescent shaped ridge falls to a col and then rises again to a narrow crenelated section which requires extra care before reaching the second and higher summit.
The girls and boys put in a strong effort reaching the second summit in good style. From there we retraced our route back to the first summit before taking a new return route back to our wild camp and then the short minibus shuttle back to the Adventure School.
The Blue Moons and Red Snappers were back just in time to sneak in a swim before all four teams sat down for supper. A long and challenging day but the kids are revelling now in their acheivement.
Some more photos below from the mountain, and some from Mondays sea kayaking too. More news and photos to follow here in the coming days.
Our Highfield wild camp at the foot of Arkle
