Let us know your top tips to get the most out of your QMDs!

I'm in the early stages of my ML journey and I've spent my fair share of time worrying if the days I've recorded (and planned) so far would qualify. Reading forums and scouring websites only made it worse. Then, one day, it just clicked that I can record whatever I want (as long as it ticks off a few of the criteria and I've learnt something) and I should focus on having fun and pushing myself. I like to plot out my own routes offline on my OS maps, then do extra research on the OS app to make sure I'm not over doing it. Helps with my visualisation and I'm picking up a lot of knowledge about map features.

Passed my ML reassessment last week. Your videos have been invaluable in getting me through it. Thank you.

Great advice Jez & a timely reminder of not allowing yourself to get sucked into the box-ticking. I heard from somebody else that I should focus on 'The spirit of the walk'. Once the Covid restrictions lift, I'll be getting out for some easy days for pleasure then begin to consider focussing again.

Great video thanks mate. Im on the ML path now. Ive decided to go for some nav skills courses before my ML training. Without a GPS i get well lost at night. I end up carrying a map , compass , phone and twonav out just in case. I love your last tip of remembering we do this becsuse it is fun :)

I looked out some help for weather forecasting, getting to understand the weather maps, patterns and cloud formations helped in the planning phase of assessment. Got really interesting and usually meant it was wet.

Really liked the way you put this across for some great tips thank you

I always thought when doing my ML, the weather where I didn't want to be out in aka heavy Rain and Wind sometimes at night was good. I remember doing Micro nav in 60mph wind near Sad Gill at 5am was still dark in wet mountain bog. It was horrendous, I'm glad I never had a group as it was just diabolical! I knew if all were to fail and I lost all hope and at 9am the weather would be very different and nice :O That said if you can nav in the poorest of weather it really shows on assessment, as you just walk around like it's your local park. Which takes so much pressure off as you say. That said it still be a hard assessment and your assessor might just make you follow the whole 3 days exped, think I had like 3-4 legs. Which at the time you start to question your self what's going on constantly in limbo about your nav. As of course your assessor just says "Ok", "hmm" or "fine", it's total mind ****. Getting a friend to go out who's good at Micro Nav and doing some follow and lead and just saying "ok", "hmm", "fine", with a quick review at the end helped me prep.

Cracker Jez. The review in the DLOG can be seen as a bit of a chore, but I found that it is where I really thought about what I got out of the day. It also reminded me when I had a look at my QMDs just before assessment that I was ready and gave me a confidence boost.

Hi, I would add to point 3 about the weather in that its not only about can you deal with the conditions when they deteriorate and you are in howling wind driving rain and sleet very poor vis and cold. As a Leader you should reflect on how you felt on those days as anyone you are leading will be feeling somewhat miserable and at times frightened so consideration should be given to how your group is feeling. Go out in dire conditions and experience not only dire weather but your own feelings and limitations and you will experience how your group will be feeling. I passed my ML a number of years ago and I deliberately went out in shocking weather to experience not only navigation but how my morale and body feels in those conditions and how I felt mentally and it stood me in good stead.

Hi jb good little video on qmds I live just outside the brecon beacons trying to gain my qmds and also practicing navigation it will be fantastic when restrictions are up and I can go up to north Wales or maybe sneak up to Scotland 😅😉

Really helpful video. You will know me from another website under a different name (It's the one for arguing that's also, sometimes, about climbing). This is a great video and. Counting down the days to be let out and have fun logging my QMDs!

That's a great video cheers, my ML stuff has generally taken a back seat after training as I didn't want to have to tick all the boxes everytime I went out, I wasn't enjoying it as much! Now after watching that I know I don't need every box ticked I can probably log some more. As an assessor do you discount QMDs in the log if you don't think they're good enough? I've heard people say that you shouldn't go to assessment with any less than 60 days as the assessor will likely discount a load of them

What can I say? Great and clear video. Precisely what I need and recognise most of you’re topics you mentioned. Specially after such crazy period.

I'm early on in my ML journey. Would you personally consider a 'failed' route as a quality mountain day? Very recently bailed on a scramble route (using a pre-planned bail-out discussed with my group) up The Old Man of Coniston due to wind & rain tipping the risk/reward scale. As a result, we were only out for less than 5 hours and the navigation to the point of bailout was pretty easy to say the least!

Hi JB. I came across your channel whilst researching the ML award. My question is in relation to logging overseas hikes on the DLog. I’m currently abroad and plan to be for the next 12 or so months. I’d like to understand if an assessor would consider a like for like overseas hike as a QMD? For example I’ve just completed 5 days on the Dientes de Navarino trek in Patagonia and was required to do my own navigation and route finding in conditions not too disimilar from UK mountains (wet, wind, not waymarked). Although I didn’t summit a peak I did cross a number of high passes with challenging steepness and terrain. Is this something valuable to record or should I really wait until I return to the UK to concentrate on home mountains? Much appreciated 😊

Hi mate, I've recently come across your channel due to researching the mountain leader course. I live in the Conwy Valley so not too far from you by the sounds of it 🙂 Can I ask a quick question about the QMD's: Can you D-log hikes done in the past or only hikes that you've done since registering for the course? Cheers 👍🏽

South Wales valley's here so most of my days will be done in the Beacons. Would I be able to do some QMD's in the valleys where mountains are usually 300-400m high?

Hi, have you got any videos on calculating slope angle and using the mountain training Roma card please?

If I put a 4-day backpacking trip in my DLOG as a QMD, does that amount to 4 QMDs?

Great video thank you. Just a question regarding DLOG. How does one use the expedition feature/ should i use it. For example, I did a 5 day self supported through hike camping in Brecon a while back and don't know whether to log each day separately (I have all the GPX files separate etc) or whether to log it as one expedition.

Hi Jez, thanks for the video. Do you get many RCI's coming through treating the ML as just the nessicary stepping stone to the summer MCI?

Is there an age limit to starting a ML course?

Brilliant. As I get in more qmds for my MLT, I want to include more wild camping experience which brings me onto the subject of tents. I am tempted to go for the vango helium f10. The 1 man is just over 1kg and the 2 man is 1.4 approx. The 1 man is lighter and requires less pitch space but the 2 man (for a bit of extra weight) gives more living space- great if confined to tent through bad weather...although it may be less wind resistant due to larger size. For the M.L, would you recommend a 1 man or a 2 man? Have you found the ideal ML tent yet? I know you have been searching. Rgds Imran

What do you do with your dog if you are doing an ML assessment? Aren't you away for a min of 3 days?

Being ex mil, we use Mils not degrees, do I need to change for the ML course?

Just a question for you, I come from a ultra running background and a lot of my runs/training runs are in the mountains and ranging from 4-10 hours depending on distance. Could these be crossed over as QMD's as well?

How much detail is enough for your DLOG.. Trying not to write a book. Also, pre planned rough routes plotted on OS Maps. May not have micro detail of the actual route you take, is it still worth putting that on your DLOG. Thanks mate.