Train the Trainer

Alongside the Level 3 and RAMS pathway, we are also introducing something many of you have been asking for: a Train the Trainer provision within the OGA. This is aimed at organisations running multiple guides, or those looking to develop an internal pipeline of staff through an apprenticeship-style approach. In practice, it means you will […]

Standards

Industry Standards and the OGA There was a time, not all that long ago, when the adventure industry ran largely on experience, instinct, and reputation. You learned from those who had gone before you, you made your own mistakes, and—if you were lucky—you refined a way of working that kept both you and your clients […]

Remote Adventure Medicine Level 1 (RAMS 1)

Remote Adventure Medicine Level 1 (RAMS 1) – It Starts Before You Ever Leave There is a moment, usually sat with a coffee, when you look at a client list for your future trip and begin to piece things together. Ages, backgrounds, declared medical conditions, experience levels. You start to build a picture, and with […]

The Course I Wish I’d Had

The Course I Wish I’d Had – Reflections on building OGA Level 3 Thirty-five years as a professional guide. And honestly, the lessons that stay with you aren’t the big dramatic ones. They’re the quiet ones. End of a long day, something nearly went sideways. A decision you should’ve made two hours earlier. A conversation […]

A Cautionary Tale

There’s a point on nearly every trip when the day finally lets go of your shoulders. The bikes are cooling in the dark, the dust has settled back into the lane, and the group finds that familiar place between tiredness and quiet satisfaction. Boots are off, somebody’s produced a cold beer from the bottom of […]

MISSION REPORT – OPERATION SALTER FELL

1. SITUATION At 18:00 hrs Friday, OGA operatives Kelvyn “Skee” and JP “Dixon” deployed to the Trough of Bowland MRT base. Mission brief: minimal. Intelligence: sparse. One thing certain—nobody except the team leader knew what chaos awaited. RAF Mountain Rescue personnel were billeted in an undisclosed alternate accommodation. Spirits were high. Suspicion low. Rain… inevitable. […]

The Humble Bothy Bag

— Small Bag, Big Saver If you’ve spent any time guiding trail rides in the hills or moors, you’ll know how fast British weather can turn. One minute it’s blue skies, the next it’s horizontal rain. That’s when the humble bothy bag earns its keep. Originally designed for mountaineers, it’s one of those bits of […]

First Time Leading a Motorcycle Trip? Here’s What I Wish I Knew

You’ve clocked the miles, earned your stripes, and someone’s finally handed you the clipboard and said, “Right then, you’re in charge.” Whether you’re heading across the Alps, into the Pyrenees, or just corralling a few folks around the Lakes, leading your first motorcycle trip is a big moment—and a totally different beast to riding solo or […]

Understanding our Weather

By someone who’s hosed more mud off a bike than cleaned their house If you’re into trail riding in the UK—especially up here in the northeast—you’ll already know that British weather is less of a backdrop and more of a full-blown character in the story. I live in County Durham and do most of my […]

Remote First Aid – Some key considerations for you.

Remote location first aid, also known as wilderness or backcountry first aid, involves providing medical assistance in areas where access to immediate professional medical care is limited. Key points of remote location first aid include: Remember, remote location first aid requires adaptability and resourcefulness. Training, preparation, and awareness of the specific challenges of wilderness environments […]