D of E, the longest day....

Up and out early, assessing and remote supervision of a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award starting today, 3 groups with theoretically intersecting routes.
The original submitted plans had 2 groups summiting Scafell Pike and one of them going on to Scafell via Broad Stand. We changed that, Broad Stand's reputation is well deserved and it's far too dangerous to consider for a group.
Our plan was to position ourselves on Mickledore and thus have an excellent vantage point and monitor any potentially dangerous decisions. However news soon came through that both groups were making very very slow progress, one was diverted to the coffin route and the other told to miss Scafell Pike and come straight to Mickledore. After 3.5hrs at 0°C!! we watched in dismay as they walked past and headed up the Pike. It gave us the chance to help rescue a young couple from Broad Stand, and then we wandered up to the summit to chat with the youngsters.
By the time we were all back at Mickledore it was past 5pm, with at least another 5 hours to go and the weather fast rolling in.
And therein lay our dilemma, the award is about developing independance and decision making, but as qualified adults we have an inherent duty of care.
As we cant actively intervene (or they fail) we asked some leading questions, and then  decided to track along parallel to the group. They eventually took the Foxes Tarn path after alot of wrong turns, and we scrambled up out of sight around the corner, listening to their ghostly cries through the cloud.
As the weather turned foul they eluded us at the summit, but after a sweep we knew they were heading into Wasdale - a potentially huge error. We headed off to block Lords Rake and anything worse, then contoured round, and in the gloaming headed to Wasdale Head. Pulling into Boot there was relief, high fives and a few tears as the group came into camp at 23.45 - a huge effort - when it mattered they pulled together, made some brave, and right choices - a few more days of that and I'll be happy to pass them.
We got home at 01.30 - a long long but very rewarding day. Shame we're up at 6.30 to do it all again....