Peace.

It's 6am and the tents are fast asleep. In 20 minutes, we wake up 12 of them for what could be the most exciting 2 days of their lives. After 1000m ascent, they'll spend 2 days larking about on a glacier. They'l learn ice axe arrests, crampon use. They'll cross Hillary'n'tensing style crevaces and they'l learn rope work that will save their lives up there. They will climb frozen waterfalls and depend on each other every step of the way.

Don't panic. Please. We have highly qualified guides and excellent leaders. (and it's only for the older ones!)

This is the thrill seeking that alton towers can only wish for.. But for now... They're asleep. I've got a coffee and the sun is rising gradually and sunning the far peaks. We won't feel its warmth for a few hours yet in the bottom of the valley.

The rest of the sleepy scouts will be crate stacking, playing on jacobs ladder and taking part in a service project for the site.

Oh. And nipping into town for a swiss army knife. The deal there is that they learn to use them properl in a lesson delivered by our leaders. They make excelent souvenirs and they all seem to want one. MUCH better than 50 quids worth of chocolate.