1st bin up

So after arriving last night in Chamonix, Kenny and I got the first lift up the Aguille Du Midi and headed over to the Triangle on Mont Blanc du Tacul for a warm up route, we climbed a combination of pitches, 4 in total and then abbed off. The ice was generally good and this climb allowed us to blow a few cobwebs away and remember how to use axes and crampons! I think we mainly followed the German Couloir. A super warm day with many teams out on the Chere Couloir. After we abbed of we went and got our bags and made the 3-4 hour walk around to the Arete de La Brenva. Whilst walking over we saw a team lifted off a rock route, amazing to watch to watch the skill of the reacue team! We climbed a short and steep couloir to get up onto the ridge where we met the bivi hut. This small hut was really nice, we were the first team there but within 10 minutes of arriving 10 other climbers arrived to the small bivi. A cosy and socialable night.

Chamonix

Arrived at Chamonix, weather looking great. Time to pack for some climbing.

Gold Week

This week I have been working with a group of young people going through their Duke of Edinburgh Gold. The week was all about interacting with others, working as a team whilst carrying out some fun activities. On Monday we went up to a very busy Tremadog Upper Tier for a spot of bouldering and rock climbing where we looked at rock climbing skills such as movement, technique, belaying, rope work skills and pushing it hard. On Tuesday we went sea level traversing which involved climbing, jumping and swimming! So much fun. In the evening I met up with Donald and we went bouldering at the RAC boulders. On Wednesday we went kayaking and canoeing on the lake outside the centre, again I met up with Donald and went bouldering at the Cromlech boulders. Thursday we scrambled up Tryfan, we had very poor visibility and rain all day! I have to say, not all the kids loved this! Finally today we went Gorge walking, basically getting really wet and having a splash, brilliant way to finish the week. Now I'm driving out to the alps for a few days!

Strength in numbers

Today I was out with Matt and Rhyse and we headed up to Cyrn Las in Llanberis Pass. It has been dry for the last few days so we knew that it would be a good option. We climbed Lubyanka (E3 5c) which is a stunning route. We all got a 5c pitch and was a great route to climb in a 3. Many teams out on Main Wall (HS), in fact I counted 6 teams up there. After this we headed to Hidden Walls where I led up Rembrant Pussy Horse (E3 6a) and then Matt led up El Guide Direct (E3 5c). Rhyse had a shot on What a Difference a Day Makes (E4 6a) but got too pumped and bailed. A good day, despite being a bit chilly.

2 Wet Days off

This weekend was a complete wash out, so much rain! Fortunatly Dan wanted to take me down a river, he had his work cut out! We went to the Tryweryn which is a dam released river. We put in at the top where Dan taught me some skills, we realised I had several bad habits! We headed down stream but got out and walked around some the upper grade 4 section. We then did the whole lower section which has a spicy Grade 4 section which I did without swimming. The next day we went back and I paddled the whole of the upper section with several swims, mainly silly mistakes.