Biscuit McCormack

Catching up with a great friend and colleague, from Scotland, I haven't seen or worked with for 21 years; Biscuit McCormack :)

It got me thinking about some of the really great places I worked over the years; and the experience, vision and ethos they gave me - as to how I wanted my adventure school to run.

Cappanalea OEC, in the highlands of Kerry, working on their sailing and river kayaking courses; and being involved in working on what was the first fast-track instructor course in the country at the time.

Then Scotland, Aviemore, driving mini busses and trailers in and out of Glasgow, taking folk skiing and white water rafting.

Back to Ireland where I was incredibly lucky enough to be taken on as a freelance instructor with our National Training Center, Tiglin, up in Wicklow. That was such an inspirational place, with such inspirational instructors - sadly closed now. Rock climbing and mountaineering mostly.

Some time with Pat Falvey, training folk for overseas expeditions and higher peaks.

And some time with an excellent guiding company, Go Ireland, which gave me so much invaluable guiding experience; with groups of Americians and Canadians; hiking Ireland's waymarked trails for multiple days, going from b&b to b&b. Each morning urgently reading up on the folklore and history of the area we were heading to!

Thanks to legends Sean O Suilleabhain and Noel O Leary, in the days before Google, for answering my last minute text questions; such as did de Valera know we'd only get 26 counties before he sent Michael Collins to negotiate; and why was butter buried in the bogs on hot days... And now year 20 of running Outdoors Ireland...

Lowland Leader Refresher This Spring

If you have completed Lowland Leader Training and feel like you would like a refresher day this spring, get in touch on info@outdoorsireland.com

Hope to run both a one-day and a two-day refresher course; covering things like navigation, group managment, leading techniques, flora + fauna, dealing with emergencies.

 

Plus any areas you may feel need brushing up on...

Tea Break, Waiting For Moonrise

Tea Break, Waiting For Moonrise

Upgrading Your Backpack

Upgrading Your Backpack:

1.The waterproof cover that comes with a backpack is no good for proper wet (or windy) conditions - you can't beat a heavy duty binbag, with all your contents dry inside.

2. A whistle on a shoulder strap is good for those unplanned emergencies. Technically the emergency signal is repetitions of 6 whistle blasts, or six torch flashes; however in general whistle blasts or torch flashes are seen as an emergency signal; so don't worry too much about remembering the number!

3. Then for map reading/navigation a waterproof stopwatch for timing, plus 10 pacing beads for pacing. Pacing beads can be put onto a piece of lace or paracord.

Here Are Older Posts On:
What Backpack Kit To Have: http://outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2016/06/what-kit-to-carry-in-mountains.html

What First Aid Kit To Have: http://outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2018/01/mountain-skills-first-aid-kit.html

Text Message 112 Register: http://outdoorsireland.blogspot.com/2021/02/emergency-text-message-to-112-for.html

Sea Kayak Wipeout

Two days sea kayaking, exploring the beautiful Beara coastline, down near Dursey Island. Arches, tunnels, sea stacks, rocky headlands, narrow inlets...

One of the reasons we were there is a few weeks back now, my paddling partner and I took a wipeout in a narrow rocky gut (inlet). Major set of breaking swell came out of nowhere, and kept coming. Luckily we'd reversed into the gut, so as swell began breaking on us I was able to power out. My partner wasn't so lucky and swam inside there (or got sucked out of his boat moreso).

I had to wait outside the swell for about 4/5 mins before I could paddle back inside. Over those few mins things were looking a bit grim for him, so touched base with the local coast guard. Fair play to them; within minutes the lifeboat and helicopter were launched.

Anyway after about 4 mins I was able to paddle back inside, and swim-tow my partner out of the danger zone; abandoning his kayak. Got him onto the cliffs and he scrambled up to safety. At that point the main coast guard stood down. That day continued too rough to safely retrieve the sea kayak, despite abseiling part way down from above; at which point the kayak was totally twisted and folded, with blown hatches 🙁

So we were back looking for it the past two days. No joy though - I'll need to ask CH Marine Kayaks & Watersports and P&H Sea Kayaks nicely for another boat 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E8mXT3Zcw/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19kPSexTLi/

In terms of emergency communication these three items are great; mobile phone in a waterproof case, vhf radio and an emergency beacon (plb). The vhf and beacon can be got from the likes of CH Marine, Darrens Kayaks, Great Outdoors

I should mention that with work, we would never get into situations where students/clients are in proper danger. That's not good. However with personal paddling or personal climbing we do push things a little from time to time - it keeps our skill progressing and keeps us sharp! We do consider though, causing hassle for rescue services, or family, if things were to go wrong.

A training course should be done to use a vhf radio - and it's a really good, straightforward, course.

Thank you to Derrynane Inshore Rescue CRBI, Castletownbere RNLI Lifeboat, Castletownbere Coast Guard and Rescue 115