PTDofEgold

D of E Gold Expedition Competencies

Team Building

Leadership	Develops team members' inherent strengths and commits them to the group
Tolerance	Able to put aside differences for the period of the exercise
Cooperation	Willing to compromise personal positions to achieve the group objective
Organisation	Able to identify efficient and effective ways of deploying group resources
Facilitation	Quickly identifies and helps members to overcome obstacles to progress
Commitment	Demonstrates complete commitment to the group objective

Awareness of risk and health & safety procedures

Terrain	Able to describe nature of terrain Identifies risks posed by terrain and how to reduce them
Clothing	Selects items appropriate to the exercise and conditions. Uses them correctly.
Fitness	Carries a quarter of body weight over rough terrain for 20Km per day
Route cards	Knows why people need his plan. Creates usable tracings. Ensures Route Card is complete and legible. Stays on planned route, regardless of delays Camps 'wild' if benighted, rises early to reach camp site at planned start time
Weather	Obtains, interprets and acts upon forecasts

Proficiency in mode of travel (walking)

Routefinding	Selects the optimal route.
Hazards	Positions self/team to minimise hazards (including road safety).
Comfort	Checks condition of feet, shoulders, etc. and applies appropriate treatment
Keeping together	Stays within 5m of navigator. Watches for and rounds up 'singletons'.

First aid and emergency procedures

Accidents/Emergencies	Takes appropriate action to deal with the incident
Fetching help	Gets the appropriate help in a safe and efficient manner
Basic First Aid	Carries kit to treat these ailments assuming a 4 hour response.
Treatment	Applies appropriate treatment as specified in handbook, for:
	Blisters Foreign bodies in eye, nose and ear Recognition of sprains, dislocations and fractures Stopping bleeding Heat exhaustion Hypothermia Treatment for shock Resuscitation Cuts Abrasions Minor burns and scalds Headaches Insect bites Sunburn Splinters

Country, highway and other relevant codes

Country Code	Can recite key words. Minimises impact on environment, property and living conditions.
Highway Code	Can recite relevant information (Pages 3-9) Acts in a safe manner when on/near roads.

Observation, recording and purpose

Planning	Decides on and researches purpose in advance. Defines necessary observations. Devises efficient recording process.
Observing	Looks out for relevant info throughout exped.
Recording	Makes and retains a record of all observations.
Analysis	Manipulates records to support purpose report.

Navigation and Route Planning

Preparatory Map Skills

Nature of maps	Describes as a scale model.
Map direction	Can define Grid, True, Magnetic North
Scale, distance, time	Applies scale and Naismith.
Conventional signs	Knows them and/or where to check them.
Marginal information	Knows survey date and adjoining sheets.
Grid references	Derives and applies them correctly.
Contours and gradients	Identifies intervals, steepness, spurs/valleys.
Routes	Accurately describes terrain of route.
Features	Identifies point and line features from map.

Compass Skills

Cardinal/inter-cardinal	Can recite/identify position between.
Measuring direction	Gives bearings/reciprocals in degrees.
Setting the map	Can orientate the map by compass
Magnetic variation	Understands and can apply.
Taking bearings	Keeps compass to hand and uses to give 'sense checks' Can extract bearing from map or terrain.
Applying bearings	Can correct for use on terrain or map.
Walking on bearings	Uses 'distant' objects and leap frogging effectively
Care	Protects from physical damage and magnetic interference.

Practical Map Skills

Setting the map (1)	Aligns map with point features.
Setting the map (2)	Aligns the map with line feature(s).
Directions from map	Uses set map to identify general directions and line of route.
Position	Uses features to estimate position

Routes

Planning

Understands general nature of area.
Understands Scheme requirements
Has defined a purpose.
Climbs early, minimises climbing
Optimises underfoot conditions.
Wherever possible selects unambiguous features as checkpoints.
Identifies: 'handrails', 'aiming off' situations, 'attack points', 'collecting features'
Plans for foul weather and emergency escapes.
Produces usable tracing.
Transfers information legibly to Route Card

Following a route

Assesses each leg before starting (direction, terrain, distance, time)
Uses: 'handrails', 'aiming off', 'attack points', 'collecting features'
Ticks off features
Reviews each leg at end.

Camp Craft, Equipment and Hygiene

Selection of kit	Kit is sufficiently robust and light.
Care	Keeps kit clean and in good repair. Uses bivi-bag under tent. Pitches and packs tent to minimise creasing and spread of dirt.
Packing rucsacs	Uses robust waterproof liner. Optimises weight distribution. Keeps waterproofs, water, food accessible.
Selection of campsites	Avoids overhangs (trees, rocks) and visibility (yobs). Seeks shelter from prevailing wind. Seeks level site with smooth surface and good grip for pegs Seeks a source of water and conditions for hygienic disposal of waste.
Hygiene	Washes up after meal (not before next one) Digs 'wet pit' and carries solid rubbish Washes face, hands, feet and teeth daily. Selects 'uncampable' place for latrine, cuts turf, and buries 20cm deep.

Food and cooking

Food	Understands merits and demerits of dehydrates. Plans menu to: provide required energy, maximise carbohydrates, minimise weight, optimise use of Trangia, minimise washing up.
Cooking	Prepares food as per instructions Regulates burner to adjust heat/conserve fuel Removes burner to top up fuel.

back to P Turnill page