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KEVI > Youth and Community > Duke of Edinburgh > Gold & Silver Orienteering 4-12-2006
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Gold & Silver Orienteering 4-12-2006Duke of Edinburgh AwardNovember 19-20-2006Walk One – WhiteburnshankThis was the first walk of the D of E silver. A 2-day walk and we got the luxury of sleeping actually in Whiteburnshank!The first day we started walking at 10:30am meeting at Clennell Hall. It was very cold but we were all wrapped up warm so soon as we got sorted into our groups and had a look at our route we were on our way. The sun started to shine and our group took an easier path rather than then walking the hill. At around 11-12am we had walked through the valley and there was frost and even bits of snow dotting the hillside. It was very festive. At 12:30 we stopped for lunch after having to backtrack because of some wrong map reading causing us to have been walking in boggy area. We stopped just before Puncherton Farm for around 15 minutes then carried on through past the barn and courtyard. The terrain was steadily getting higher and we weren’t far behind Mr. Whewell’s group. The rest of the walk took us past the farm on wide stretches of solitary moorland, ‘handrailing’ a fenceline. It was progressively getting colder and the sun started to set around 4:30pm. Our group met up with Mr. Whewell’s and we got the choice of taking the easier route or the harder. I chose the harder route with ten others. We worked really well together, with a quick pace and we were soon striding through the heather towards the forest. The mouth of the forest was covered with snow and was silent and crisp. Mr. Whewell taught us about pacing and helped us find how many paces we did in 100 meters. This is “good stuff” to know if you need to walk a set distance to locate a feature…. The darkness is creeping over us. It was the first experience I have had of walking in the dark on a D of E expedition. At first it was very eerie but you soon got used to it. The dark slowed us down and we got our selves lost quite a few times because it is always harder to navigate when you can’t see where you’re going. One thing I would suggest for walking in the dark is a head torch- they are extremely useful. Walking through the forest the trail we had to follow was marked with trees who’s branches had been cut off. Some parts were very steep and slippery and many times people in the group slipped and fell in the mud. It took us 2 hours extra to reach Whiteburnshank arriving there at around 7:00pm. The girl’s bedrooms were upstairs and while some boys were bold enough to camp out, others stayed downstairs in the main room and the barn. To us Whiteburnshank was like heaven, it had toilets, sinks, a cozy fire and mattresses, not forgetting a real kitchen! We all cooked our dinners on the gas cooker and while some of us relaxed in the main room others were “brave” enough to play American football in the snow. Every-one was in bed at 11:30pm all ready for a good nights sleep. Next morning I awoke at 7:15am - it was still dark. People were all ready up making cooked breakfasts down stairs so we joined them and as I tended to the fire my friend brought in the gingerbread snowman I was having for breakfast. Instead of packing away tents etc like we would have had to have done we cleared out our rooms and swept the floor. While one half of the students went out for their pacing and map reading activity the others stayed in the warmth and filled out their route cards for the practice expedition. Then the groups swapped over. Day 2 was much warmer than day one and every-one had started walking around 12:45. The route was very easy this day staying on the old drovers route of Clennel Street the whole way. In some parts it was quite up and down and we past evidence of bronze aged settlements. We got home bang on 3:30 like Mr. Whewell had predicted. This is probably the best walk I have been on with D of E as it was quite challenging but not as strenuous as I’ve done in the past. I was very proud of myself as on day 2 I navigated the best I ever have. This D of E walk taught me more about pacing and what my pacing is for 100 meters, but of course the best bit of all is it never rained once! Anna Warren, 10 S.Cheers for that Anna! A great weekend was had by all with the staff being very positive about the efforts and skills gained by the young people. Well done to all- Looking forward to the February weekend already!If you are a budding Journalist and want to write about your DofE or other experiences, send your articles (by e-mail or on disk) and any pictures to Mr Whewell in Community Office. |
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