Winter Night Hike 2011
This year’s Second winter night hike saw eight fit Scouts and three Leaders (all full of cold) head out of Blanchland for a 4 hours circular walk up on the moors (the first night hike of 2011 was in January, the full route having been postponed from November 2010 because if the heavy snowfall).
Although it was quite overcast, for the first time in three years a winter night hike was dry, reasonably warm with no snow or ice, which made a very pleasant change.
- Checking the Scouts navigation before setting out
The Scouts led their parties and practised their night navigation skills, including walking on dead-reckoning bearings in the dark, ‘leap-frogging’ one another (lining up in a straight line along a bearing and passing by one another). Supper was held in the “3 Star” bothy (the one without a toilet!), which gave everyone a chance to enjoy some supper – only slightly spoiled by having forgotten the gas canisters for the Trangia stoves.
Despite the lack of warm soup, everyone still had a warm drink before setting off again for the final third of the hike, down into Baybridge and back to Blanchland. Everyone had an enjoyable evening out on the hills, learned or practiced some useful skills and the Scouts were dropped off at home around midnight.
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