Dave and myself put on our packs and trekked the base route up to the Plateau on the top of Khao Mot Deng last week with the aim of doing a little bush-walking and GPS logging a fixed base route.

This route will form the base line from which other exploratory routes leave and return to the lodge, it departs from just behind the main lodge ends at a great camp area on the top of Khao Mot Deng. It is a relatively easy and can easily be completed in a couple of hours.

On the way up there is a small rock outcrop which affords great views out over the plains past Khao Ito.

 

 

On the way down we followed the route of the watercourse that is the origin of the stream that runs past the Wild Lodge. It is possible to canyon down this stream and Dave and I descended for a few hundred metres before deciding we were not equipped with the right gear for the canyoning style scramble down and returning to the base route.

More pictures as the routes are developed over the next couple  of months.

Sally Madden and Andy Mac (IYA big cheese in UK)  ran an International Youth Award group leader course in Bangkok during June and as a bolt on to the end of the course brought the attendees down to the Wild Lodge to have a look at what outside providers (such as ourselves) can offer for IYA groups.

The IYA award (D of E in UK) is a great program that gets students into the outdoors and challenges them though a series of projects and expeditions rising through Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

Attendess of the course came from all over Asia and the award is growing rapidly thoughout international schools in the region.

Upon the groups arrival at the lodge we had coffee and bisuits and, as usual I pointed out the parts that were still under construction (August 15th is the final completion deadline) and told them to feel free to wander.

I also assured them that the high ropes challenge course was defintely finished 

We also showed how the lodge has been used as a base camp for Bronze IYA programs and induction training, and talked about more challenging Silver and Gold routes into the forest directly behind the lodge.

Coffee over, we split into two groups and ran high ropes and low ropes workshop sessions entitled “adding value” showing how addtional team exercises can add to an IYA weekend.

During lunch both Sally and I chatted about risk assessment and then Dave “Old School” Williams and I gave short presentations on what we could offer in terms of locations and programs for IYA training and expeditions.

Dave runs a fantatsic kayak and nature touring company called Paddle Asia based down in Phuket and is the man to go to for anything in the Andaman Sea or Khao Sok National park in South Thailand

We had a fun day and it was good to swap idea and experiences with like minded people.

Big Thanks to Sally and Andy Mac for running the program and taking the time to visit us.

Anyone interested in possible locations for their IYA programs contact us :) Anyone interested in starting an IYA program in their school, have a look at www.intaward.org/