What should I write in the Description box of a DLOG quality day entry?

For walking entries, review the relevant quality day definition before selecting the entry 'Type'. For a quality day to ‘count’ it must evidence the criteria in the definition.

 

Select the most relevant option from the other drop down menus and tick any relevant summits.

 

In the ‘Description’ box at the bottom, course directors will be looking for a thorough yet succinct overview of the activity, and why you think it meets the quality day definition. Points to touch on include:

 

  • What situational factors (e.g. weather, terrain/route etc) and group characteristics (e.g. experience, maturity, fitness, etc) influenced the planning and actual leadership of the day? Did you have to adapt the plan and if so why? OR why did the plan work?
  • Route plan/route description (including summits if relevant)
  • Details of any navigation challenges/successes
  • Details of knowledge areas increased and relevant skills practised
  • Details about when your judgement and decision making was required
  • What did you learn?
  • Any note-worthy events (consider unexpected changes in the weather, conditions, gear malfunctions, or other stand-out moments)

 

It is usual for a candidate to cover all this in a paragraph or two. For example, a quality mountain day entry might look like this:

Area: Carneddau

 

Description: 

Plan: walk with Dan up East side of Pen Yr Ole Wen, over the Carneddau and Pen yr Helgi Du to finish in Capel Curig. Good start, timings spot on during the first leg. Enjoyable approach to the summit of Pen Yr Ole Wen. Used some of the broken terrain to practise moving on rock. Stopped in the summit shelter, noticed the wind had changed direction and the weather was beginning to turn = waterproofs on.

 

The cloud lowered on the way to Carnedd Dafydd and I messed up my bearing off the summit and we walked in totally the wrong direction! Slogged back up the slope, adjusted my timings and continued to Carnedd Llewelyn. Cloud finally lifted coming off Pen Llithrig y Wrach. Final descent very wet – streams a lot larger than anticipated and ground very boggy = wet feet. Thankfully this was towards the end of the day!

 

Must remember to estimate the bearing before taking it from the map. Dan forgot waterproof trousers but he managed and I’ll remember to ask before we set off next time!