Wednesday 4 December 2013

Mountain Event Marshalling


Someone requested I re-post my thoughts on Event marshalling...

This isn’t a post about keeping warm while you’re moving; it’s about not getting cold when you’re standing still.

Pitched for a quiet evening before the rush

When am i most often in this situation? Belaying, and Marshalling Mountain Events. Belaying has its upside in that at some point it will be your turn to get moving again. With Marshalling, when it comes to a cold wet night/day on the hills, most have their own personal preferences for keeping dry and warm. Some would argue it’s a lost cause, give themselves up to the elements and settle for a predicable drenching. However; with the abundance of modern kit and forecasting, i think i have eventually maximised my chances, of maintaining some semblance of comfort, balanced against practicality, finally defeating the drowned Day-Glo rat look.
In some cases you’re in position for up to 12 hours and occasionally longer. If you’re lucky you’ll be on a magnificent summit on a glorious summer’s day, not to hot and not to cold. All the competitors are chatty and happy, and you have a continuous brew on the go. The reality is that it will be wet & windy with 10m visibility, the competitors are on their last legs, still relatively cordial but struggling to raise a smile. Ahh happy days...
The likelihood is you’ll get to your marshalling point and the forecast isn't looking good, looks like rain!! I’m not so worried about getting a soaking from a torrential down pour that has a direction and predilection for getting to the ground by the quickest possible means. I’m bugged by that pathetic mizz/drizzle that can’t make its mind up where it wants to go or want it want to be, it just seems to invade every nook and crevice, defying the best available Gore-tex, Event and Nikwax etc on the market.

So what can help…
A fine Snowdon Sunset


Keeping it light and staying warm
Ok i hold my hands up here, the keeping it light bit, yes i did take a portable telly up the top of Snowdon one year, but it was for a World Cup match.
However; stands to reason you don’t want to carry anymore than you need to for an event. So, I take everything i ‘might’ need and pack it in the car, I leave the final decision on what to carry about an hour before I set off up the hill. What to pack is based on the most up to date weather, satellite pics and forecast I can get hold of, from this info you can predict the next 12hrs. Extreme weather will determine if the event will be cancelled delayed or re routed. Over the years i have been on events where we have lowered the Summit due to extreme conditions with winds at 70mph plus. Air born sheep moving horizontally across your field of sight gives you an inkling that the winds picked up a bit.
If you’re looking at a 1hr plus strenuous uphill walk to your marshalling point with a heavy sack, your sweat is going to soak into your first and probably 2nd layers. I find it a good idea to at least take a dry set of base layers and give yourself a quick once over with the wet wipes, this will help keep you warm. When cold and damp and immobile your core temperature will quickly drop, even on a summers day it’s still surprises quite a few how cold it can get above 3000ft, hot drinks and food will help maintain some warmth, and regular light movement will keep the circulation going. It may look a bit daft but you can also try a few star jumps or sit ups.

Hope for a clear morning
Setting up at your marshalling point
Once in position establish comm’s with your base and other marshals, advise on your status, weather conditions etc. Next, work out the timing for your first expected competitors, do you have enough time to get some shelter organised? If so then set up camp and get a brew on. In poor conditions you will need help the competitors identify you position, spread a spare Hi Vis vest over you rucsac or tent, or if you have one tie it to one of your trekking poles. In the dark, a trail of light sticks usually works. (Don’t forget to collect them up afterwards) If the weather turns really bad and for your own safety you need to tuck in behind a rock of bit of wall to find shelter, let the other marshals and base know that your location is becoming untenable. If it’s too bad for you, then it’s more than likely too dangerous for the competitors, the base marshal will re evaluate the event to meet the conditions.
You will probably have to record and report the timings and status of the competitors or parties. This might sound obvious but don’t forget a pen and paper, keep them in something reasonably waterproof like a map case or small Exped or Outdoor Design bag, it only takes a few seconds when raining for the paper to get damp and fall apart. Also get yourself a routine for recording the info. When your tired at 3am in the morning it can get quite confusing, so I recommend that you log it as it happens rather than wait for a few groups to come and go. Don’t be put off from making groups wait until you have all the info you need. It may be the event policy that the teams must stick together, If individuals within groups are split up, do not let them leave your point until you are satisfied that they are all ok and safe to carry on. The usual things to check on are; do they have enough fluids? Is anybody injured or struggling? Look out for signs of Hyper or Hypothermia. You will need to pass this info onto the next marshal. You will probably be requested to take photos of the teams or individuals, at least this keeps you moving, but don’t do it at the expense of loosing control of the comings and goings at your marshalling point. If you’re offered a spare Mars Bar or chocolate, take it, maybe you’re OK but another team may need it. On a busy weekend it’s extremely likely that there will be more than one major event on the mountain, especially if you’re on one of the 3 Peaks. This can again lead to a hell of a lot of confusion on a summit. I have even broken up a few fights. Don’t be afraid to check and triple check team numbers even if it makes them think you may have gone a bit doolally.

What about shelter?

Small Tent
Terrain permitting i try and get a small tent up, I’ve used a few over the years. If the long range forecast is not looking to bad then I’ve used a half tent or (beach tent style) shelter. They are light around 1kg a really quick to set up. This keeps your stuff out of site and dry from the odd shower. With a few rocks inside they will take a reasonable breeze. They are also quite cheap under £20 so if it gets a battering you not to out of pocket. I would recommend you get one with a zip at the front otherwise they catch the wind like a spinnaker.
A Snowdon Sunrise

The lightweight tents i have used are Macpac Microlight at 1.6kg with a small footprint it will pitch almost anywhere, and allows you to manage proceedings whilst inside the tent. Mountain Equipment Dragonfly 2, just over 2kg, built around a free-standing 3 pole semi-geodesic design that does not rely on pegging for stability. Also has room for your pack. If you can pitch so that the event traffic goes past the fly opening and is 180 degrees to the prevailing wind, you’re in luck. On rocky ground where pegs are useless pin the guylines with available large rocks, when desperate i have even used a few nuts and cams.

KISU or Bothy Bag
I’ve used these over the years, there good for weight at approx 500g or less and usually under £20, at this price you can live with either losing it in a gale or trashing it. Try the JDS bothy bag

Bivibag
Good if the weathers not to bad and you can get have to have a couple of ours kip in between events, downside is that they are restrictive if you have to keep getting up and out to redirect stragglers

Cape
Dam well underrated. They will keep off the bulk of the rain and allow a reasonable amount of circulation to reduce condensation, downside is they flap about like a demented seagull in the wind, and turn you into human kite. Not very helpful if you’re marshalling near a potential hazard spot like Clogwyn Station

Toilet tent?
Well i would say no, but i have seen one in use, the good thing is you can stand up in it or even sit on a chair, down side is someone will take a pee in it when you not looking and also they tend to be a bit heavy side 3kg plus.

Umbrella

Nothing, Just stand there
Depends on how long you have to do this for, if it’s only a couple of hours it usually not much of a problem even in the worst weather. Good set waterproofs will keep off most of the rain. With a synthetic insulated jacket underneath you also can keep out the cold. Continually moving about keeps the circulation ticking over unless is so bad that you need to duck behind a rock. The problem then is then as I said above, the competitors can’t see you. I have used an old Neoprene Henri Lloyd before this works quite well as by standing around you’re not generating much sweat to build up on the inside. Paramo Nikwax systems are popular, unfortunately i run quite hot and find them a bit too warm for most occasions. So to the Pile/Pertex solutions.

So what’s my current kit?
-Iceberg Merino base layer
-Patagonia Regulator fleece
-Arcteryx Atom synthetic insulated jacket, or if dry but cold Rab Nutrino Down Jacket
-Mountain Equipment Kongur MRT Jacket
-Lowe Alpine Mountain cap or Arcteryx hat
-Mammut Base Jump pants (merino leggings optional)
-PHD Alpamayo salopettes (might be overkill but they are the best i’ve used so far, well made and the bib part keeps the vulnerable zip area dry)
-Sportiva Crest B2 rated boots (Decent amount of thick leather with these babies)
-Berghaus Gore-tex gaiters
-North Face Gore-tex Gloves (pair of thin inner gloves)

.........as you can see no single brand loyalty i’m afraid

-Thermarest Orange Prolite 4 with chair fitting, this is a really useful piece of gear, by slackening the side straps off you can almost lie back enough to get a comfortable quick kip.
The ‘bucket seat’ posture also keeps your back warm.
-Small First Aid kit, or roll of cling film, Compeed blister patches are probably the most useful item in your kit
-Headtorch and spare batteries
-MSR Pocket Rocket Stove, compact and light
-Insulated mug (that’s me)
-Small FM radio, (not too loud of course) on a quiet night the radio can be useful company for also when misty it will also help competitors locate you.

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