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Alan Ward is an internationally renowned Mountain Leader with a wealth of experience in guiding, safety and first-aid training, and navigation training. 

 

Alan’s relationship with Rohan began many years ago when he was trekking through the Himalayas. He was wearing several bits of Rohan kit, but he felt that they weren’t quite performing how they should be. He got in touch with our HQ to voice his opinions and to his surprise, was subsequently invited to come and meet with our design director to offer his expert opinion on our upcoming ranges. Alan collaborated with us for a number of years testing and wearing our clothes, and even guided our staff on a few mountain treks. 

 

Alan is now in semi-retirement from his guiding career, but he still regularly undertakes expeditions and offers his training services and expertise to outdoor enthusiasts around the world. 

 

Here is an account of his recent trip to the Kasbah du Toubkal in Morocco to deliver a UIAA Mountain Skills Course and two REC First Aid Courses with colleague and friend Helen Menhinick.

 

 

Mountain Training in Morocco – Alan’s Story

 

My relationship with the Kasbah du Toubkal goes back several years when I was there to lead groups up Mt Toubkal (4167m), North Africa's highest mountain. In 2018, on a Toubkal ascent, our guide Mohamed asked if I could provide some internationally accredited training for the local mountain guides. Covid-19 prevented further training until now when Helen Menhinick and I travelled there to deliver a UIAA Mountain Skills Course and two REC First Aid Courses as volunteers. Helen and I delivered this training through our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies which meant the local mountain guides received the training without cost to them.

 

We spend our time delivering practical skills training combined with presentation-based demonstrations. The guides at the Kasbah were highly experienced and knowledgeable, and much of the course material covered skills they use on a regular basis. But they were especially keen to learn the map and compass skills that the navigational aspects of our course delivered. 

 

Having been an International Mountain Leader for many years, I'm now reaching the end of my career. It's therefore very important to me that I give something back to the mountain training system, and the work that we do with the Moroccan Mountain Guides is particularly meaningful to Helen and me. The High Atlas Mountain Guides are all exceptionally skilled and experienced but most of them don’t have internationally accredited formal qualifications, so to be able to provide them with that training is a pleasure. Working with the local culture and sharing knowledge with these mountain guides has been a fantastic and humbling experience. 

 

 

Industry expertise

 

With a lifetime’s worth of experience and knowledge, Alan is the ideal person to provide advice and guidance on outdoor clothing. 

 

When choosing your gear, it’s vital to consider your specific end-use requirements. Versatile clothing is great for embarking on a wide variety of adventures, but to get the most out of your gear, you need clothes designed specifically for your purpose. For instance, if you are trekking high up in the hills in cold weather, you need an effective layering system that can keep you warm but also remain breathable when you are moving around and increasing your body temperature. What I like about a lot of Rohan clothing is that much of the range has been designed with a specific end-use requirement in mind, and the technical features of the clothes revolve around that requirement.

 

We’ll be sharing more of Alan’s stories and clothing recommendations, so keep your eyes peeled and watch this space.

 

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