As part of the assessment process of becoming a Mountain Leader in the UK, all candidates have to show a high level of proficiency in mountain navigation. This is assessed during both daylight and night-time conditions, in all weathers. With Lukes' assessment booked for a few weeks time, he was keen to get out and practice, so I accompanied him, in a mock assessment role, through the dark, rain and eventually blizzards as we made our way, by headtorch, across the slopes of Moel Elio.
Although to most people, it was a terrible night to be out, with driving wet snow, it represented to us, good, challenging conditions. If he could get things right on a night like this, he should be fine! We climbed, traversed and contoured around the dark hillside, between stone walls, stream heads and spurs of land. Faithfully following the direction of the compass and calculating distance using pacing and timings. An odd, but satisfing night out, followed by an even more satisfying (and much needed) cup of tea at the end.
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