In the water

Today I was working with Kath and Spike and we headed into one of the local gorges. The group of 18 kids had never been in gorges so were very excited to get stuck in on the first day of their week long adventure package. In the evening i took a small team of them orienteering around the centre before they headed off to dinner. After dinner I gave a lecture to 40 people about by alpine climbing trip in October. A long day and the ale was superb!

Half day at work

Today I was in acting as a Sherpa today for Matt's group. They were out on a Mountain Skills course and were heading up to camp with there bags. Due to one member of the group being quite unfit, I went along to help get them up to camp so they could dump their kit and go and bag a summit. We went down into Ogwen and the group eventually headed up Pen yr Ole Wen after setting up camp. I ran back down the hill and headed up to the lakes for my sisters wedding.

Helping on an ML Training

Today I was scheduled on to take a group from a Mountain Leader Training course to some steep ground to look at rope work in the ML context. Most of the group haven't used a rope in the hills so we had plenty to cover. We looked carefully at anchor selection, how to attach ourselves to them and safeguard others over different terrain. We also looked at confidence roping, lowering and abseiling. We did all of this up and around the PYG Track which leads up too Snowdon from Pen y Pass. Was a chilly and windy day.

Day off and a new crag explored

Today brought us good sunny weather with a light wind so Caff and I headed up to Diffwys Ddu (Cyrn Las Grey Horn) in Llanberis Pass. I had not been up here before so it was good to get up here while it is dry. Caff had only a couple of routes to do before he had done all the routes on this crag. We started up on The Grooves (E1 5b) and we finished on The Undercut (E5 6b), a route which hasnt had a second ascent. The route had plenty of pegs which are all in great condition with some great pumpy climbing. We then headed back to the bags for a bit of a refuel and I led up The Skull (E4 6a) and Caff went for Wrath of Khan (E6 6b) which takes a groove to the right of pitch 5 on the Skull. Again another route which hasnt had a second ascent. A great day finished with a pint in the Vaynol Arms.

Consolidation Day

Today was day two for the Discover Navigation course and today the weather was looking much more promising in terms of navigating. It was overcast with low cloud. Today we looked at navigation strategies on terrain off the beaten track and looking closely at contour features. We set off from the bottom of the Watkin Path but then branched off left and circumnavigated Yr Aran away from paths and super obvious features.

Navigation Course and evening climb

Today I was directing a Discover Navigation with 6 clients, all who have very little or no navigational skills. The aim of the day was to introduce the basic concepts of using a map and compass. We walked out from the centre and headed up Crimpiau covering all sorts of different terrain and looking at different strategies to get from A to B. The weather was fine and clear today so after work I headed up to Dinas Bach with Tim and Dave and we put a top rope on an E6 which hasn't had a second ascent. I got to the top an all attempts but didn't manage to get it clean.

Rock climbing all day - perfect

Today was the final day for Chris and Tye on the Rock Improvers course. It was a beautiful day so we opted for Flying Buttress (VD) on Dinas Cromlech in Llanberis Pass. They led the whole route with me just hanging around helping out with anything they miss or questions they have. We had just enough time after the route to head down to the the Cromlech Boulders for a little burn out.

After work I headed down to The Great Orme with the two Dave's and Will. We started at Lower Pen Trwyn where I climbed Pinky Pink Snuffs it (7a) and Night Glue (7a+). I then headed up to Mayfair wall and on sighted The Bloods (7a+). 3 great routes in an evening. Feeling a wee bit tired now.

Burning on the rock

Day 2 of Rock Improvers so Chris, Tye and I headed to Clogwyn Yr Oen in the Moelwyns. Chris and Tye got straight on the sharp end and lead up Chic (VD) and then they went on to lead the first two pitches of Slick (VD). The guys then set up an abseil and we headed back to the centre for tea and cakes. This evening I headed out night naving with Jo who has her summer mountain leader assessment coming up. Another long day.

A full day at work

Today I joined day 3 for a Rock Improver's course as it was multi pitch day for my clients Chris and Tye. We headed down to Tremadog and I led them up Christmas Curry and Rio. They were both building belays and getting themselves ready for two days of leading routes themselves. It was an overcast day but fortunately it never rained. When we got back to PYB I took the whole group into the bouldering wall for a technique coaching session, looking at improving their technique and movement. After dinner I had to give an hour long lecture about climbing the Eiger to everybody staying at the centre, a good turnout off 40 odd. A long day at work.