Carry on (Winter) Camping

I spentthe weekend before last in Brentwood, Essex. More accuratly though, I spent it in a wooded area surrounded by houses, also known as Thriftwood.

We do quite a lot of camping, and nights away. this was my 12th night away with the troop I think. I also spent one night under canvas in the last 12 months on a training course….

Winter-Camp/P2040023

It was only a one night camp, so an early start on the Saturday was required. This led to a rather subdued coach on the way there. Which was nice! Once we arrived on site, it was a case of getting all the kit onto our site (and the scouts were accusing me of having lots of kit. I think i was about average. And part of my kit was a tent) and then getting the tents up.

Afternoon activities included climbing, Ice Wall, Cork Guns and Lasers. We only had one session of climbing, whihc I was helping with, and then I loitered with intent around the Icewall.

The Ice wall consists of a surface with a slope at the bottom, and a slight over hang at the top, with a verticle section inbetween. This is clad in high density foam (the type for packing military rockets apparently). The site had modified some ice axes so that they had a point instead of the more knife like shape usually found, along with a disk welded on to stop the axe penetrating too far. the shovel type rear part of the blade had been cut off and covered with a tennis ball, and the spike at the abse had been cut off. On your feet were some home made crampons, safety shoes with a plate screwed to the sole, with two prongs on the toe end of the plate.

It was just a mater of technigue really. Keep the ice axes high, and your body close to the wall and up you could go. Well, I managed to hit the bell at the top!

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