Outdoor Adventure by Prof Terry Moore

I am sure you will recall my recent presidential columns over the last few years in Navigation News, often related to my own outdoor adventures.  On a number of occasions I also commented on the sometimes dangerous over-reliance on smartphone-based mapping and guidance, and the lack of knowledge and awareness of people venturing into the great outdoors.  I also ‘suggested’ that I thought it would be appropriate for a Special Interest Group to be formed within the RIN to champion the navigational aspects of outdoor adventure and leisure activities.  Although a number of people came forward to volunteer to become involved no natural leader emerged to take the initiative further. Well now that I have handed over the presidential chalice to Cynthia I will accept my own challenge and I will try and take this nascent group forward.  

So what is the idea?  Well let’s form a group within the RIN for all those who are interested in a whole range of outdoor adventure activities to share our experiences and promote good navigational practices.  And what do I mean by outdoor adventure (and leisure) activities?  A whole diverse range of outdoor sports including: walking, hill walking, mountaineering, scrambling, climbing, running, fell running, orienteering, endurance racing, cycling (road, gravel, cross, mountain and endurance), coasteering, canyoning, skiing (downhill and cross-country), pot-holing, scuba-diving, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, paragliding, hang-gliding, micro-light flying, etc., I hope you get the idea.  If I have missed out your activity then please do let me know.  We are looking to attract both individuals and organisations.  Are you involved in the Alpine Clubs, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), the British Orienteering Federation (BOF), the Scouts etc.; are you a Mountain Leader, a guide, and instructor; an outdoor centre; or the absolutely critical, and life-saving, rescue teams?  Do you provide equipment or services to the outdoor industry?  Or do you just enjoy the great outdoors for your own personal adventure and leisure.  Well if the answer to any of these question is yes, then please, please get in touch and let’s make this new SIG (Special Interest Group) a great forum for us all to meet, to share our experiences, and hopefully to further the knowledge of navigation across all our adventures.

The plan is to pull together a group of enthusiastic volunteers to start organising the Outdoor Adventure SIG, to discuss our thoughts and to start to plan the initial activities and meetings.  We would love to hear from you if you are interested in joining the group and especially if you wish to join the initial steering committee to get things rolling.  Let’s do it!

To get involved please contact admin@rin.org.uk