For as long as Paul Fox can remember he has loved running through the great outdoors, usually with his mad and muddy collie, “Spook”. Now, Paul, a former member of the Tavistock Section of the Dartmoor Rescue Group, offers courses on navigation, compass, map work and hillcraft skills, based on Dartmoor, so that anyone who has ever wanted to go and explore off the beaten track can learn or develop existing navigation skills so they can experience the beauty of Dartmoor and discover its many mysteries for themselves.
Ten Tors 2011By Paul Fox
IT’S that time of year again when Ten Tors training and navigation courses are in full swing and nearly all of my weekends are spent on the moor.
The Ten Tors Expedition and Jubilee Challenge is an annual event held on Dartmoor for walkers aged between 14 and 20 covering distances of 35, 45 or 55 miles with an overnight camp. The Jubilee Challenge, introduced in 1977, covers 7.5 or 15 miles over one day and is intended for walkers with different abilities.
The weekend of the 14th and 15th of May will see up to 2500 participants engaged either in teams of 6 taking on up to 55 miles of moorland or individuals covering
up to 15 miles over rough terrain braving whichever variety of weather Dartmoor has in store. Leading up to the event the teams are involved in an intensive programme of training walks which allows time to develop fitness and campcraft as well as familiarity with the variety of terrain and weather which the moor has to offer. Because the teams are often over-subscribed the walks also allow some selection process to take place. The weekend of April 9th and 10th saw glorious sunshine, particularly on Sunday when the south-easter- ly wind dropped away and the teams toiled under cloudless skies and full packs. At this stage in their training my team’s navigational skills are well-devel- oped, particularly those who have completed previous events, although they still require some form of supervision. I have lost count of the numbers of training staff at checkpoints I have come across peering into the gloom or nervously scanning the horizon with binoculars for signs of their charges which is the main reason why I prefer to follow my teams. As their expe- rience increases they are often not aware they are being supervised as I may be some distance away, although being a runner means I can be quickly on hand if needed. With only two more training weekends to go before
the event the teams have bonded well with team leader and navigator roles becoming more defined. As trainers we’re hoping for at least one day of poor visibility to sharpen up these skills, although I don’t think the teams will be!
As the packs have become heavier, fitness and stamina have increased and teams coped well with the soaring temperatures over the weekend. By the time of the event their fitness and navigational skills will better those of most adult walkers I know. At the time of publication the routes will all have been walked and memories made. I’m sure all participants will come away with an experience they will carry with them and a resolve to return next year to be part of this wonderful event. More from the moor next month.
For those who would like to gain a nationally recognised qualification or if you would just like to explore a
different side of the moor off the beaten track, visit
email: enquiries @
4windsnavigation.co.uk or call 07971 954588 for full details
www.4windsnavigation.co.uk or 26
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