Some photos from our First Steps in Winter course a few weeks ago. If you are attending one of our future courses and have the chance to take a few photos (if you are not too busy learning lots of useful new skills), then please do share them to our Facebook group Mountain Aid Supporters . These photos all taken by and copyright of our course provider Andy Cloquet of Outdoor Adventures Scotland.
1 Comment
The Mountain Aid trustees were saddened to hear of the passing away of former committee member / volunteer, Annie Bell. During her time, Annie was an active volunteer with us and Mountain Aid was a cause close to her heart.
Our most enduring memory of Annie is the day her daughter Sally and friends were taking part in the Mountain Aid fundraiser, Ben Nevis High Tea. Sally and her companions slogged their way up Ben Nevis (but at least were rewarded with their High Tea when they got there), and then back down again. Only to discover that that the volunteer with the relaxing day at the foot of the mountain was none other than her mother Annie. Sally and her sister Catherine have set up a PayPal fundraiser for Mountain Aid in memory of their mother. You can contribute to the Annie Bell Memorial fundraiser at www.paypal.com/pools/c/8QRlBpwfkl At the time of writing £320 has already been raised. These money will be used to fund training courses for new hillwalkers, provide mountain safety talks, and other mountain safety related initiatives. A programme of Autumn navigation courses has just been announced and are now available for booking. We have a total of five courses and two different levels. First Steps: for the total beginner Next Steps: for those with some basic navigation skills wishing to practise their skills in poor visibility / low light. First Steps with Navigation Friday 30th September (Stirling area) Friday 21st October (Dunkeld area) Saturday 22nd October (Stirling area) Next Steps with Navigation Sunday 13th November (Stirling area) Saturday 10th December (Stirling area) Information and booking at https://www.mountainaid.org.uk/navigation.htmlNavigation Our free one day introductory navigation courses are now available for booking.
Course dates are Saturday 14th May Saturday 21st May Saturday 11th June Friday 17th June and the course venue is the Touch Estate near Stirling. Full information and booking available at https://www.mountainaid.org.uk/navigation.html Our 2022 winter skills courses will be opening for booking at 10am on Monday 29th November. These First Steps courses are aimed at the newcomer to winter hill walking (you will need previous summer experience) and aim to teach the essential skills need to safely enjoy Scotland's winter hill. We have a selection of dates, with a choice of 1-day or 2-day courses, all based in the Northern Cairngorms. Full information and booking will be available on our website on Monday.
It is with deep sadness that Mountain Aid has to advise of the recent passing of founder member Davy Mclellan. Davy Mclellan was a proud 'Boots Across Scotland' supporter since the start up many years ago, he promoted at every opportunity the ethos of Boots aims in helping others which was set up to help walkers and in this capacity Davy mirrored Boots, When Boots was restructuring into Mountain Aid he set out on a remarkable solo trek to raise funding. At a time when he was still recuperating from a life threatening illness, he journeyed from Milngavie to Fort William, not by the busy West Highland Way but via the 30 or so Munros that skirt it, to finish on top of Ben Nevis a couple of weeks later. This incredible feat yielded some £2k which he split between a cancer charity and to provide start up funds for Mountain Aid. Although Davy was chairman of Mountain Aid for a year or so in 2016, he was always happier as a 'man of action' rather than be involved with dreary committees. He was the driving force that made the Haggis Dinner Event on the top of Ben Nevis the success it was with his remarkable enthusiasm and stamina that enabled him to greet the 40 or so tired participants who arrived at the summit on a bright Sunday afternoon in August 2010. His knowledge and skills ensured everyone, including one fundraiser dressed as a bride and a uniformed guardsman to get down safely. To help others was always a priority for Davy on various other Mountain Aid events which were seldom blessed with good weather. Mountain Aid were proud for to have such an able ambassador. Davy was a walker, a true walker, didn't matter where; he was at his happiest tramping over mountains around the world like Mera Peak and Island Peak in the high Mountains of Napal or the beautiful GR20 in Corisica though his passion would always be the Scottish mountains, hills and our beautiful islands. His company was always one of encouragement and love of the mountains. His sense of humour will always be remembered by all who know him 17-06-47 /29-09-21 There is much comfort in high hills,
And a great easing of the heart, We look upon them and our nature fills With loftier images from their life apart. ( G Winthrop Young) |