1993 or 1994 - it seems a long time ago now! I remember the feeling of working towards my ML and SPA assessments and like most people, thinking that these would be the limit of my journey through the awards. One of my ML assessors spoke openly about further awards - Winter ML, MIA and MIC. Usually those awards had only been mentioned in hushed tones, but they now seemed very accessible.
I spent time working in various centres, progressing through the awards, getting involved in the training boards and delivering a range of training and assessment courses. Lots of things come to mind - bad weather on the Brandon ridge in Kerry, stunning nights snow-holing in Scotland, long days climbing in North Wales and the Lakes.
What have the awards given me? Well, the opportunity to get into the outdoors, into some fantastic places, with great people, is probably what I value most. If we can learn off each other, even better!