Having been asked to provide a one-day introduction to survival, we were delighted to help.
The Storey Arms area of the Brecons was chosen for the day.There were several reasons for this:
1. It is easily accessible.
2. It provides the full range of conditions in a small area.
3. The Munch Box does fantastic Sausage and Egg butties.
The Bronze course is an introduction to the art of survival and, as such, is termed 'Planning for Survival'.
Our course kicked off with a general chat about safety and the need to listen to the instructor at all times. Being in modern times we needed to complete a 'Risk Assessment'. We keep copies of this and other forms in our Members section on the website. Route cards were also discussed and the need to plan ahead and let someone know where you will be in case the Emergency Services need to be alerted.
In our experience, many people do not really understand what they need for a day or weekend in the mountains, so we discussed kit requirements and, equally importantly, how to pack a rucsac.
That done, it was off to build a shelter. Shelter building is a crucial skill. You need somewhere warm and dry to sleep and should be done at the most appropriate time.
Our clients were amazed at just how long it can take! We then went on to discuss and show other more and less suitable shelter sites.
A quick tea break and it was time to show our clients how to cross a ravine. For the demonstration we picked a nice area of forest with a dry stream bed - hardly typical, but before we did it for real, we needed a safe environment in which to practise.
Suitable knots were demonstrated, as was the rope management. Once constructed, we chose a volunteer to try it! Allowing clients to pull themselves across is a great introduction to the skill of hoists and just how much easier it can be. We demonstrated both a 3:1 and 6:1 system.
This phase over, it was lunchtime so we took advantage of the Munch Box - it seemed rude not to!
After lunch we took the rope, slings and other kit needed to rig a real rope bridge and show the skills needed for steep ground movement.
The penultimate skill was navigation. Ropes were stashed in the car, maps, compasses, GPS and warm clothing donned. It was about 4pm, but already starting to cool down. We started this phase trying to locate ourselves on the map by observation of what was around us. That done, we plotted a route onto the ridge and ticked off the features as we went. Compass skills, pace counting and aiming off were covered. Finally we discussed and demonstrated the GPS as a tool for navigation with its various advantages and disadvantages.
Having found our way back to the car, we proved that the skills were being learned! The final skill was fire making. At this level, it is kept simple - use what you can. We demonstrated a variety of ordinary cookers, Hexamine blocks and natural fires. One important point we emphasised was careful location of the fire and surroud - the wrong type of rock is, at the very least, embarrassing and at worst, likely to cause a serious injury!
The day finished about 7pm in the dark. For a weekend course we would be cooking food and relaxing, but today we set off for home and our own beds.
As you can see from the photos, fire lighting and maintenance is a vital skill, both for warmth, relaxation and song singing! It provides a focus for discussion and general cameraderie at the end of a long day. The correct choice of tinder, kindling and fuel is vitally important for a successful and long lasting fire. Later on, we built a hanger and boiled water for a late night cuppa. Always remember though, make sure the fire is properly out before retiring for the night, especially if you are using pine wood for the fuel.
