I couldn’t be more proud of the 10 young people that have made up Mallory team for the past 3 weeks. They’ve been through some big challenges and tough adventures, and have done it all with smiles and enthusiasm.

They finished the course with a final jog and dip- all taking the plunge together with so much more effort and commitment than the first tentative splash a few weeks ago. I actually think some of them will miss this early morning ritual when they get home… even if they’re not keen to admit it!

The last activity was an 8.5km fell run over Gowbarrow fell. It was a closely contested race with one of our team coming in first with a very impressive time of 55 minutes. Well done Ted from Monaco! He told me on the very first day that one of his targets was to win the race, and he gave it everything he had.

Before they made the journey home, I met with each participant individually to discuss their successes and help them to set some goals for the future. Everyone who completes a Classic has the opportunity to earn the Classic Badge. It’s hard to explain exactly how much that little piece of metal means to these guys when they get to the end of their adventure and some are very disappointed when they do not quite reach the standard required. Mallory team have the unique accolade of being the only Classic group that I have ever given out a full set of badges to. They worked incredibly hard for them and can be immensely proud.

The Outward Bound Trust gets it’s name from a nautical term. The charity was set up in 1941 to train young men joining the navy to prepare them for their time at sea. Ships used to communicate to each other using coloured flags that they would hoist up the mast. There is one called the ‘Blue Peter’. It is a blue flag with a white square in the centre and it’s meaning is ‘OUTWARD BOUND’. It would be hoisted when the ship was loaded up, crew trained and aboard, ready to leave the safety of the harbour on their voyage.

For the last 3 weeks all of the team have been safe in our harbour, learning skills and overcoming challenges to prepare them for their futures. Now that they leave us, they really are Outward Bound, in their pride, compassion and energy for life. I wish them all the very best and hope they have many more exciting adventures to come. Well done Mallory team and thank you for a course that I’ll remember for a long, long time.

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Mallory team have covered an impressive 35km these past few days, discovering some of the Lakes’ most amazing places but also a real test for their navigation and team skills.

They spent two nights sleeping out under the stars and soaking up their experience. Whilst on the final night, they stayed in a bothy at the top of Grisedale Valley – an opportunity to at least dry out their soggy feet!

With only a couple of minor errors, Mallory successfully navigated the route, with plenty of laughs along the way. They are an incredibly proud and happy bunch!

Drawing on all of the skills they had gained from the previous weeks, the team then took to Fram, Ullswater centre’s resident boat, and sailed from Glenridding back to the centre.  For many of them it was a chance to catch up on some sleep as the wind was very light so it made for a very relaxing sail!

Bursting with pride having completed their exped and returned in one piece from their adventure, they had their official team photo complete with homemade flag and then rushed inside for showers and real food for dinner. There’s a fantastic atmosphere around the centre tonight as all of the teams come back together to share stories and compare adventures. It’s what the Classic is all about.

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Seeing the team head off into the hills without me will be a very strange feeling, but I am more than confident that they are capable of completing their amazing journey without my help. I will see them a few times each day to check their progress and bring them more rations, but they are trusted to complete the expedition independently. It is their final challenge as a team, and one that most of them have approached with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. I’m looking forward to seeing them rise to the challenge as a team, and hopefully the sun will reward their hard work by putting in an appearance!

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The team did an excellent job of working out each other’s strengths and making sure that everyone had jobs to do that they were happy with. It takes a whole team, understanding their roles and working co-operatively, to successfully sail this boat.

They have improved enormously from a very promising start just over a week ago and I’m very much looking forward to seeing where the next week will take them.

The team’s second expedition took them to the mountains of the southern Lakes. We set off on Saturday morning from Stonethwaite with a gentle stroll up the beautiful Langstrath valley and onto Angle Tarn.

First night’s camp was at Sprinkling Tarn, which was true to its name, giving us a sprinkling of rain through the evening and into the night. It didn’t stop the students enjoying their expedition rations though! The next day we set off early and made our way along the corridor route and up towards Scafell Pike’s summit. The weather closed in again and while there was no view from the top, the students enjoyed knowing that they were on England’s highest peak.

Making our way down under Broad Crag and onto Esk Hause we came out from under the clouds that hung around the tops and the team were finally rewarded with some spectacular mountain scenery. After all of the training and testing the group were ready to go it alone and headed unaccompanied down to the camp for the night at the end of Rossett Gill in Mickledon. Several of the team said to me that evening that this was the highlight of the Classic so far- being trusted to walk on their own as a team and getting themselves to the camp on time. It was a highlight for me too, that they’re ready to take on more challenges and be more independent. A real milestone!

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In an attempt to avoid the rainclouds Mallory team headed south earlier this week to Cathedral Quarry in the Langdales, where they learnt to abseil and manage the safety ropes for each other with the support of the instructors. As it turned out the weather was the best day yet, with beautiful sun and blue skies. We enjoyed exploring the underground tunnels around the quarry and looking at the spectacular rock formations.

The students are beginning to take over more and more responsibility as the course progresses and each day they have a leader who organises the group. It’s fantastic to see them growing together as a group and trusting each other as much as they do. They’re becoming a very reliable group of young people.

Yesterday was a more relaxed day for them to store up some energy for their next expedition which begins at the weekend. We went out onto Ullswater lake in canoes and after some basic skills coaching enjoyed a journey around some of the bays playing some very silly games. More than one crew got an early bath during ‘Froggie Football’!

The day finished with a session on the high ropes course.. Lots of commitment and dubious balance led to several of the team being left hanging around! Later in the course I hope to take them up Jack’s Rake on Pavey Ark, so being familiar with using cow’s tails is a very important skill, and they picked it up very quickly.

All together, the first week has been a busy one, with lots of variety to make sure that the young people are as prepared as they can be for the next 2 weeks. Next up: another fantastic expedition- a 2 night wild camp in the Langdales!

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Following a stone skimming masterclass on Red Tarn, the group enjoyed an early night and got up in good time the next day to scramble along Striding Edge and onto Hellvelyn and Swirral edge after breakfast before packing up the tents and walking off towards Grisedale as the days’ explorers headed up past us and onto the hills.

A climbing session in the afternoon has prepared the students for their first taste of multi pitch climbing tomorrow, which they’re all looking forward to. All we need now is a bit of sunshine!

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Mallory team, by first impressions, seem to be a very capable, enthusiastic team. All of them are at important milestones in their young lives, which is exactly when the Classic is designed to have the most impact. I am hoping that they will rise to the challenges that I set them and am very much looking forward to the next 3 weeks and the journey that we have started today together… even when it starts by jumping in the lake with them at 7am tomorrow!

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I’m 31 years old and grew up in Surrey. My first experience of the outdoors was the Duke of Edinburgh’s award at school. I vividly remember finishing the Gold expedition, throwing my bag down and promising myself that I’d never have to carry a bag like that again… As with most students, I didn’t realise at the time how important those few days were to me and what they would eventually lead to. It’s a real joy to me that I am now an expedition assessor and I am able to help students through the same life changing experiences that opened up my eyes to the outdoors.

In my own time I enjoy being in the hills and exploring new places. I love setting off and not really knowing where I’ll end up and what I’ll see. I enjoy following my nose and discovering what’s out there. I’m a keen gardener and grow my own vegetables on my little allotment in Penrith and that’s often where you’ll find me when I’ve had a long week at work!

This summer will be my fourth classic course at Ullswater. Each one brings a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Apprehension because I don’t know anything about the 16-18 year olds who I will share those 3 weeks with and excitement for all the adventures that they will experience and the journey that they will go on together as they learn about themselves and what they are capable of. The Classic Adventure aims to give students not only a chance to take part in all of the outdoor adventures that we can deliver, but also a personal journey of self discovery that will hopefully, at such an important age in their lives, inform their decisions and behaviour as they become the next generation of adults. It will be hard work for all of us, but I am very much looking forward to meeting them all and getting started.

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For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
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Elaine is an Expedition Assessor for our partner charity The Outward Bound Trust who inspire the next generation to realise their potential through discovery and adventure in the outdoors so Elaine spends a lot of her working day out in the open air. She also spends a lot of her own time in the hills and exploring new places.

Also make sure you keep up to date with Elaine’s everyday adventures this month .

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.