We are like many other groups in the country in that scouting is all about the great adventure. In recent years our outdoors training starts as early in the year as possible so that when longer days and nights arrive we are trained up to use every minute of daylight.

So what is this to do with a winter survival challenge. Most other people are tucked up in warm beds and thinking that TV is a relaxing occupation until the summer comes. Crisp mornings and a campfire are just as good with a frost provided you are dressed for the part. this year training for me was for mountain leading in the Welsh and English hills. There would be snow and ice and wind and rain. So practicing for this in the deep south of England means doing it when the weather is the same here because it is simply not good enough to do it on lazy summer days.

Our scouts will be taking part in more strenuous challenges as part of their personal development and so they were here too. A short hike with all they would have at their disposal for the weekend. It would be a hint of what is to come on the Lake district adventure in Summer 2008.

Winter madness commentary by Tony on a freezing weekend in the woods

So on a Mad Saturday morning we set out on stage one of the journey. Paul was to hike with the scouts cross country with kitbags and food through a maze of paths that would eventually lead to the helpful headquarters of Dolwin and Gray. Careful route selection meant that the scouts would not know where they were at the end and nor did they know that the adult campers were no more than 200m from where they had to make their shelters.

Russell Binnie was drafted in with rabbits skinning and cooking techniques. The scouts did amazingly well in fending for themselves with no cooking pots but a walking (not walk in) toilet as their concession to luxury. Fires were made with bark and flint and steel. Oranges hollowed out and cooked with eggs. A great time was had telling stories into the night.

The adult team camped out, some of them for the first time with us. Some hardy idiots tried sleeping on hammocks. Colin proved that it is possible to sleep in a string bag (for a while). Others chose tents. All cooking was on open first and backwoods style. Fish and even a couple of cakes were made in style.

At daybreak on Sunday the scouts site proved to be warmer and the leader site was covered with thick ice; including my sleeping bag. It was a good chance for us to see how we would work as a team for the year.