What are Backwoods Skills?

I've realised that all the words I use day-in day-out to do with all these outdoor activities are in fact total gobbledegook to many people so I have decided to right some explanations of some of the terms and some descriptions of what some of the activities involve.

So now I thought I would turn my attention to 'backwoods skills'. Backwoods skills (not to be confused with backwards skills which would be something else entirely)  are those skills associated with living off of the land, not like the Good Life with an allotment and a compost heap, but making tools and gadgets out of sticks and stones using a knife and axe. it is what most people would think the quintessential image of the scout, making a chair out of some sticks and lighting a fire by rubbing 2 sticks together.


Backwoods cooking is then the art of cooking on an open fire without the aid of utensils, pots or pans, knowing how to cook without utensils, without pans, spoons, bowls or other usual kitchen implements. It involves cooking using sticks, rocks and the foodstuffs themselves as the utensils. It takes a certain amount of knowledge then a lot of inventive thinking to create menus which you can cook using only the utensils nature provides.


Backwoods skills are growing in popularity not least because of TV shows by the likes of Ray Mears and Bear Grylls but they have been taught in Scouting since the beginning, in fact they are a large part of the original handbook; Scouting For Boys by Baden-Powell himself. The Scout motto 'be prepared' is a very good maxim for Backwoods activities.


Courses teaching backwoods skills like those offered by Darren Ellis Mountaineering teach tried and tested techniques handed down over generations and we try to emphasise and encourage the adaption of these skills and of prior knowledge to overcome problems that arise.

Areas covered in our courses include:

• Lighting fires without matches or lighters.
• Collecting & preparing fuel, identifying different types of wood and their respective benefits.
• Cooking on open fires.
• Cooking without the aid of utensils.
• Building shelters.
• Making simple rope and containers.
• Use of knives and axes.
• Wood crafting.
• Finding directions
• Camp siting
• Wildlife

Check out our website for courses or get in touch to organise your own course.


Darren Ellis

Our First Three Peaks Challenge event.

On the 6th - 8th May Darren Ellis Mountaineering ran its first Three Peaks Challenge, and what an eventful course it was!

We ran an open Three Peaks Challenge event, open meaning anyone could book to come on it so we had a mixture of people who didn't all know each other before the event. Dean and I were the instructors and Tony did most of the driving of Excalibur-Molly the VW van. Our trip started in a sleepy village near Sheffield at 8am. We set off north in Excalibur toward Ben Nevis. Members of the party who had never visited Scotland before were astounded at the scenery using up most of their camera memory before we even reached Glen Coe! On arrival at the car park at the foot of The Ben, there was tangible excitement in the group and we set off at a rapid rate (after many group photos). We made good time up The Ben, again many photos at the summit before a race back down, one of our party came into difficulties on the way down causing us to have to stop and then slow our pace for the rest of the descent. Still, we made it back to the bus before dark and only slightly behind schedule. 

Through the night, Tony helmed the ship southwards to Scafell Pike where we arrived almost back on schedule, so we set off up the mountain in the absolute pitch dark. Head torches donned we marched up the lower reaches with difficulty before stopping for first breakfast at sty head tarn tucked beside a wall for shelter from the wind. From here to the summit of Scafell is a difficult trek, by the time we started this section it was light enough for us not to need torches and we picked our way steadily along the wet, treacherous rocks. The final push for the summit took its toll on our team but with perseverance, we made it to summit number 2. We raced back down to the van where our personal chef (Tony again) had bacon and sausage sandwiches ready for our second breakfast! Thus refuelled we had another nap while it was up to 3-time van rally world champion Tony to gain us as much time as he could as we raced for North Wales. 

We arrived at the foot of Snowdon with 3 hours and 15 minutes to get all the way up and all the way back down again, it was going to be nigh on impossible to manage. We opted for the Miners Track with the hope that the long track would enable us to move quickly and cover most of the distance in little time only leaving the steep zig-zagging path at the head of the valley which would slow us down. We made the summit in just under 2 hours, no mean feat! However, even that meant we only had around 80 minutes to make it back to the van. We had the quickest of summit celebrations and just a couple of photos and then we were off, back down the mountain. We made it down the steep section and onto the track in what we thought was good time. Just the march along the track to go. Every bend we rounded we thought would be the last and as we turned the corner we imagined seeing the car park in front of us and each time we just saw another sweeping descending section of track. It seemed to go on and on forever, but as we rounded the last bend and caught a glimpse of Excalibur, we gathered all the team together and trotted down the last stretch to home with 6 minutes to spare. We walked into the car park cool and slow, knowing by this point that we had time to spare, as those waiting at the car park jumped around and shouted to us to hurry up.

The trip was enjoyed by all, not everyone finished but everyone managed to achieve at least one peak. Everyone definitely experienced a great challenge and it took its toll on all involved. A big thanks to Tony for driving us and to Dean for being the other leader, keeping everyone going and keeping them all safe well done you guys. In addition, a huge well done to all those who took part, Each Peak individually is an achievement, all three is a triumph! This is not an undertaking to be underestimated!


See the photos here.


Darren Ellis

What is Weaselling?

I've realised that all the words I use day-in day-out to do with all these outdoor activities are in fact total gobbledegook to many people so I have decided to write some explanations of some of the terms and some descriptions of what some of the activities involve.

First up is 'Weaselling'; I'm not sure who came up with this sport nor who named it. I'm sure it’s one of those activities that most people have done as kids and I'm sure it’s something which most climbers resort to around the crag regularly (there are even some climbs which feel more like weaselling, Telescope Tunnel on Birchen edge certainly). 

Weaselling basically involves squeezing through gaps in rocks (over, under or between) clambering over boulders and generally re-enacting many of the movements of caving, only above ground. It usually involves a great deal of scrambling over rocks and plenty of opportunities to get muddy and grubby, all that good stuff kids love! This was probably what motivated someone at some point to think it was a good idea to name it and take groups off onto the hills to engage in it in a more structured and purposeful manner.

It’s the sort of activity that is great with groups with any level of ability, fitness or experience. An activity everyone can enjoy. Its popularity with groups and outdoor centres is probably down to its accessibility and the ease with which those who don’t feel confident can miss any sections they don’t feel comfortable with. Unlike in a caving or rock-climbing situation where the whole group must do all or nothing weaselling can be dipped in and out of, allowing people to do one ‘squeeze’ and then miss another without any great drama.

If you want to have a go at weaselling then get in touch with us darrenellis@live.com or visit www.adventure-skills.co.uk.


Darren Ellis