Early Saturday morning, six brave groups of students set off from Monyash, fully loaded with everything needed to survive in the wild for two days—tents, sleeping bags, stoves, clothes, safety gear… and maybe a bit too much spam.

At base camp, they learned the fine arts of tent-pitching and stove-wrangling before settling down for what was supposed to be a peaceful night. That peace was shattered at 1:45am when a rogue peacock strutted a little too close to a tent, causing a group of students to scream loud enough to wake the sheep—and send Mrs Connolley sprinting across the field in her pyjamas, ready to take on the 'attacker'. (Spoiler: the peacock won.)

Sunday morning saw some campers enjoying a gourmet spam-and-egg breakfast before heading off to Baslow. Despite somehow getting lost on a route with only one footpath, all groups made it to the end, exhausted, slightly sun kissed, but still smiling.

Huge thanks to Laura Warren for coming along (even though she’s technically left Netherthorpe!), to our Mountain Leaders David Hormigo and Graham Hill, Greg Mason and to Natalie Connolley for her fearless midnight wildlife rescue.

Well done to all the students—you earned those blisters!

Tony Castellucio