Month: October 2015

This week has been another busy one, with both Learn to Lead and Scrambling Courses going on… We’ve had a mixed bag with the weather, but it turned out ideal for the courses we were running! There been a lot of driving back and forth between Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia, but it’s been well worth it! The start of the week saw us coming back from Snowdonia, after running an ML refresher over the weekend there, so we stopped at Cadair Idris on the Monday on the way back for a quick trip up there, usually a hill we just drive straight past on the way to the more popular areas of North Wales, but it is well worth the stop – a lovely hill…

On Cadair Idris

Once back home in Pembrokeshire, we had Alec with us, on a learn to lead climb course for the week. We had a top few days climbing at several different crags, looking at lots of different rope work and movement skills, as well as climbing a heap of amazing routes. Alec did some awesome leads, and will go onto being a very competent climber if he manages to get out enough with his hectic schedule…! Thanks go to Alun for coming out with us to hold Alec’s rope…

Alec leading Red Wall, Porth Clais

Alec top roping at Porth Clais

Then it was back up to North Wales! the weather was decidedly windier and wetter than Pembrokeshire, but we made the most of it on our Intro to Scrambling course with Paul. First up we did the mega classic Bochlwyd Horseshoe (Tryfan North Ridge, Bristly Ridge and The Cribyn). We covered all the movement skills and mountain sense needed to keep yourself safe in the hills and looked at some navigation.

Looking towards Tryfan

Near Tryfan’s summit

In Sinister Gully

Due to high winds and general dampness, we decided to change our original plan of Crib Goch, to do the South East Ridge of Moel Siabod. Being slightly lower and in a more sheltered position form the prevailing weather, it proved a great decision. We had a lovely day, with Paul leading the way and making decisions and risk assessments. Hopefully Paul now has the confidence to go off on his own and tackle the steep scrambles of Snowdonia!

Moel Siabod’s South East Ridge

Finding steep ground on Moel Siabod

It’s been great to be back in the hills this week. After a warm sunny start to the week in Pembrokeshire, we had some time in the mountains both personally for fun, but also running an ML refresher.

Sunny Plumstone Mountain in Pembrokeshire – awesome bouldering spot…

After a last minute cancellation on our Navigation Course in the Brecon Beacons, I took the opportunity to get out and explore a part of the Beacons I had not been to before. It was a glorious spot with amazing Autumn colours.

Walking in the Brecon Beacons

Then it was up to North Wales to run a 2 day ML refresher course for Ben and Jack before an upcoming ML assessment. On the first day we looked at fine-tuning the guys navigation on the way up Cwm Tryfan, with a scramble up the south ridge, and on the way down the north ridge we explored different group management skills.

Coming down the North Ridge of Tryfan on an ML refresher course

On our second day of the ML refresher, we headed into the Crimpau, a great spot to look at the different micro navigation skills required on your ML assessment. Full of ring contours and re-entrants, you can get loads of quality practise in there. We found some short craggy bits to look at the steep ground and rope-work side of things, how to protect clients up and down steeper bits in an emergency, how to get yourself down with the rope, and some confidence roping.

Confidence roping on our ML refresher

What a week of weather, such a treat at this time of year…

Oh and this week we got our SPA provider-ship!  If you are looking for an SPA training or assessment in south west Wales at all, please get in touch. We will out dates on the website and CMS form this coming Spring!