Compasses, cameras and creepy crawlies ….. a brief report on our course at Tollymore NOC in September 2012.

After last year’s successful course on mountain navigation the question was “what do we do next?” Although feedback from people attending the course pointed us in the direction of more navigation courses we wanted to “widen the net” by asking all our affiliated clubs and  members for their opinions. This we did in early 2012 – requests were overwhelmingly for a “menu” of courses from which participants could select one or two aspects. So, we gathered up all your suggestions and worked closely with Tollymore NOC to organise an eclectic mix of topics ….. Introduction to Basic Navigation, Next Step Navigation, Mountain First Aid, Group Management in the mountains, Mountain Photography and Mountain Flora and Fauna.

Over 30 people attended the courses which took some with their cameras to the slopes of Ott Mountain, others with map and compass in hand headed to the humps and hollows of Slieve Meelmore, those interested in leading walking groups talked tactics in the shadow of Spellack, while those with an eye for wildlife strolled up Trassey seeking out Sundews and Lichens under the watchful scrutiny of a flock of Ravens.

Again, we were lucky with the weather ….. the warm sunshine coupled with welcoming hot coffee, a “moreish” lunch between courses and a display of photographs taken earlier in the day meant that everyone left for home well contented and more knowledgeable. Please take a look at the evaluation responses at the end of this report – a happy bunch indeed.

Just as last year the question is “what do we do next?” Again, that’s where you come in. Some people have suggested further navigation courses (always popular and relevant) and a course on scrambling and leading groups up gullies. What would you like? – please pass on your ideas to our administrator Simon Reardon.

It’s great to see the numbers of attendees increasing year by year. Hopefully our course in 2013 will see even more people enjoying the panoramic view through the big window at Tollymore NOC and developing their hill skills with its friendly staff.

The feedback:

OVERALL HELPFULNESS THROUGHOUT YOUR STAY, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE OF INSTRUCTOR, PATIENCE AND MANNER IF INSTRUCTOR, WAS THE COURSE PITCHED AT A SUITABLE LEVEL FOR YOU, DID YOUR STAY REPRESENT VALUE FOR MONEY .

George Acheson