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We are often asked what book is the best one to read for the ML course. Our reply will always be 'the syllabus'. A bit of a cliche maybe, but the syllabus is designed to give the candidate a good idea of what is required throughout all stages of the scheme, and it should be referred to frequently. As far as technical books are concerned, there are many, and guidance to those most suitable can be found at the back of the syllabus as well as being given during the course.
	Navigation is obviously a pivotal skill for a Mountain Leader. This will be dealt with on a daily basis, with the expedition allowing candidates to experience the need to navigate accurately whilst dealing with the responsibilities of leading the group. Often with group members taking it in turns to lead sections, we will look at methods of keeping the group safe and involved, while you as leader also have to deal with navigation issues. This will involve accuracy, keeping the speed appropraite to the group, choosing a sensible route to the objective, and looking after the group's needs.
Sadly, it isn't always sunny in the mountains! The ability to accurately navigate across mountainous terrain in poor visibility is essential, and we will spend some time during the course looking at methods for achieving this. On most weeks we will also include a night-navigation session, which will take place during the expedition, This will allow you to try your navigation skills in darkness, and offers a very interesting way to improve your confidence.
	Having the correct navigation equipment is important. A Silva type 4 compass is currently the most appropriate for mountain navigation, and will last you for many years if treated carefullly. The one in the picture has a pace counter added, which allows an accurate record of distance travelled to be kept, when walking in mist or at night. A pace counter is not essential at this stage and there are a number of alternatives which we will discuss during the week.
The Summer Mountain Leader qualification allows you to take parties into the UK and Irish hills under summer conditions. This can get you into spectacular situations - the trick is to have the skills to get yourself out of them safely! There will be a huge emphasis on party leadership and on-going risk assessments during the course. You may be the best navigator in the world, but if you are unable to look after those less experienced than yourself in the group then the whole trip could turn into a nightmare.
	One night is spent out during the training course. This will be camping in a remote situation, often high in the mountains and somewhere very spectacular. This allows us to look at ways of managing a group at a remote location, as well as talking through kit issues with your own personal gear.
Although we endeavour to choose areas that are sheltered from the elements, sometimes the weather has its own ideas! This does, however, allow us to test our gear in realistic situations, and for various forms of teamwork to be brought into play. It is only by being able to effectively manage a group in these conditions that a mountain leader can have confidence in their ability to spend the night warm, dry and with food in them. In inclement weather, it is all too easy to make a rush job of things and not bother cooking - a guarenteed way to lower personal and group morale, as well as everyone's effectiveness the next day on the hill.
	As Mountain Leaders, we need to have a good deal of knowledge about the mountain environment over which we travel. All through the course there will be opportunities to look at various examples of our impact on the environment- in this case, the erosion caused by hundreds of pairs of boots.
We must also understand the needs of other hill users, such as sporting estates, farming and the like. Although recent changes in access legislation has clarified a great deal about our legal rights in the mountains, we have a responsibility to be aware of other land-users. Here, a candidate is inspecting a rodent trap across a stream. These are placed by sporting estates to catch rodents that feed on grouse eggs and chicks, which reduces the number of birds that can be shot during the shooting season. Whatever our own personal feelings about this method of moor-management, it is important that we understand why estates are doing so, and can present a balanced argument to our group
	River crossing is an important element of the training course. We look at methods of crossing alone, in pairs and with more than one other person. Methods of using the rope when crossing will also be practised. This will often be done in a practical sense, after a theory session and dry run. The session will not last for very long, but the skills learnt are essential when considering the terrain over which we travel and the chance of having to make a river crossing for real.
The ability to effectively safeguard others on steep ground is an important skill. The ML award does not qualify the leader to set out on steep roped scrambles, however, and this element of the course assesses what can be done should the group find themselves in an area with one or two awkward steps barring the way. The solution is more often than not to provide reassurance and security by being alongside the person and literally giving them a 'helping hand'. This can be done by pulling up on the rucksack should straps or pushing gently from underneath - just enough to provide them with enough confidence to complete the step themselves.
	However, there may be a section of ground that is too long to be negotiated hith a 'hand on' approach. This will most often be during descent, where the map has not shown a section of hazardous ground, such as a few feet of steep, mossy rock. If there is no option but to cross this ground, the methods for deploying the rope are looked into. Anchor selection, group management and choice of appropriate roped method are are discussed and practised in a practical sense, with the focus being on avoidance in the first place and the safety, speed and simplicity of technique in the second.
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