Location South Wales, Dan Yr Ogof camp.  Weather: mixed sunshine and some hail showers, nice rainbows, then rain and low cloud.  On day one 7 groups undertook more than 8 hours of navigation and safety training around the limestone scenery below the ridge of Fan Hir on the Black Mountain.  Spot the shake holes! Then their 2 day independent trek took them over the main 600 metre+ ridge and then down to Cross Inn.  Final day saw a climb up "the nose" and thence along a valley bench in cloud: tricky navigation at times.  All groups performed really well and staff were impressed with the spirited and cheerful team work that held up despite some miserable weather: we were pleased to see happy faces emerging on the bus home.  Well done folks! I'll confirm qualifying expedition dates 2012 v soon but I am hoping to offer Easter AND August (clash with biology ft), but that'll be all for 2012: details next half term. 

Gold training expeditions include instruction in the following:

 

Gold Expedition to the High Atlas mountains: Feb 2011.  18 students and 2 staff completed a trek in the Ait Bougamez Valley in the Atlas Mountains this half term.  A very successful trip which featured some very cold nights, sunny days and awesome mountain scenery.  Passing through Berber villages and learning about life in these mountain valleys proved extremely interesting.  A visit to a school in Ilfrane was a particular highlight, though children elsewhere tended to beg for pens more than expected.  Our mountain guides, Azis and Murad, were excellent.  Marrakesh was immensely entertaining and both pupils and staff enjoyed haggling for gifts to take home.  Many thanks also to Carol Davidson, our assessor.  Well done to all who took part, a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding trip.