March 3-4 2007, TTN 05

A perfect weekend to use as an example of how Dartmoor weather can suddenly change for the worse! As we saw, good to bad in a matter of hours but this was a test to check skills and kit preparation were correct.

Saturday and the weather was looking like the kind of weather we are used to so far this year on Dartmoor, a little windy nice gentle sunshine but dry.  A successful day of walking but unfortunately only one 35 team completing the full route set for the day.  For those of you who didn’t you should be thinking about picking up the speed as otherwise you will not be making the miles necessary!  Never the less well done to all. 

After a long day traveling and walking, camp was reached as the evening was drawing in.  This is where team leaders need to remember that their job doesn’t end when off the hills.  Teams were slow to set up tents and to get kit into a dry area in case of weather deterioration, it’s also very important to get hot food and drink into all as soon as possible and to keep warm and dry with a change of clothes. 

Sunday and we all awoke to what I know as a scout as baked bean weather (wet and windy)!  We eventually got away a little later than expected but we were off. We all set out onto the moor via Nodden gate and before reaching the first tor we could see it would a challenging day. A combination of wind, rain and bad visibility made good team leader and mapping skills essential.  Early afternoon and the majority had decided enough was enough (wet pants were a good indicator of this!)  Back at the vans it was still apparent that a number of people did not have enough spare clothes despite the continual reminders and e-mails.

I think after Sundays tragic events it is a good reminder to us all the importance of keeping to the kit list and to make sure everything is up to standard.  Please remember that we can provide kit should you feel this would be of use.

Important points and tips:

• Keep an eye on the bearing you should be on at all times, it is very easy to walk a long way without checking and ending up off course.
• Do not choose to walk through bogs, there will always be a way around, you may end up getting wet unnecessarily
• Hot meals for tea and breakfast need to be in separate packets, if you are very hungry you may find yourself eating your breakfast before you know it and you will definitely need something hot to set you up for the day the following morning.
• A small towel would be useful to keep with your dry kit in the van, this will help your warming up process
• Were your dry clothes in you bag dry when you wanted to put them on?  If not your dry liner was not doing this very important job and needs to be sorted before the next hike.
• Was your waterproof, waterproof? maybe it's time to borrow one of ours, or get a new one!

Mark & Anna

Lost property.