Mountain summiteers return!
We have been under a low blanket of cloud for the last couple of days, at some points even shrouding parts of the sea loch, as the mist rolls in off the Atlantic. Often bright but certainly eerie and highly unusual at this time of year!
Yesterday was a day of sea kayaking and survival skills. The Blues went kayaking first, splitting up into three little pods with their instructors. Some games, skills and a journey through the mist and along the sea loch towards Ardmore was the plan. The herring gull chicks have hatched in the last few weeks, and a couple of seals have come in to Loch A Chadh-Fi from the wider reaches of Loch Laxford. The Reds kayaked after lunch with a lower tide, exposing sea urchins, anemones and kelps.
Survival skills included shelter building with old sails and tarpaulins, wooden spars and scraps of rope, ready for Survival Island on Thursday evening. The pupils also learned to light fires with scavenged tinder and a striking flint, cooking winkles and a campfire bread that we call damper.
After supper of shepherds pie and apple crumble we left for a remote wild camp at the foot of Arkle. No change to the blanket of cloud but a light breeze kept the air fresh and the midges away. Three person tents pitched in boys and girls camps.
The cloud was at 200m today but it was mild as we set off in three teams, heading into the mist and towards the first (and lower) of the two summits. The Red Snappers skipped up the open stream that tumbles over a series of rocky slabs and provides a great route up the lower slopes. Other teams took different routes up. Lots of singing drifting out of the cloud.
The three groups met up before tackling the narrow crescent shaped ridge that links the first and second (higher) summit and requires extra care and a bit of easy scrambling, a good challenge for all.
The mountain day is designed to stretch and challenge the pupils, showing them what really can be achieved. Supper didn’t last long on the plates this evening. There have been some great individual and team performances today, which all the pupils can be proud of. 100% summit success!
