Month: April 2017

Treader Tube Cliff Camping in Pembrokeshire…

These last couple of days I’ve been out Cliff Camping with the guys from Treader Tube. Tom runs a YouTube channel that aims at documenting adventurous and innovative stuff, making it interesting and engaging viewing for the audience. They’ve climbed, trekked, snow holed and dog sledded their way around the world, and this week they came to Pembrokeshire to experience sleeping on a Portaledge!

I’d gone on to YouTube and checked out a Treader Tube, they’ve got some really interesting videos on there and it seemed like the sort of stuff that Cliff Camping would sit really well alongside, so I was really excited to get some decent footage of me at work, the Portaledge and the beautiful Pembrokeshire coastline!

Team Treader Tube assembled on the Portaledge and ready to kick back and relax!

I met the Treader Tube guys in St Davids and we chatted through how it would work from my perspective of being on the cliffs and how and what they hoped to capture on film. With some very heavy haul bags full of climbing, sleeping, cooking and filming kit, we headed off to Carreg y Barcud. I love the climbing and the views along the coast at Barcud, it’s an impressive place – so a great location for an inspiring first visit to the Pembrokeshire sea cliffs!

The beautiful and atmospheric Pembrokeshire coastline, scene of the Cliff Camping night out on the Portaledge for team Treader Tube!

Being strapped up to a mic and having to wait for the camera angles, light and conditions to match, and then vaguely knowing what I was supposed to say and when was all a new experience for me – only the finished footage will show if I messed anything up or not! The guys from Treader Tube were super professional yet fun with it, and with their fancy cameras, drones, Go Pros and technical knowledge I’ve no doubt it’ll look ace!

After setting the ledge up and giving the guys a crash course in ascending the rope, we climbed some of the classic climbs at Barcud. The Treader Tube chaps were all indoor climbers with some outdoor climbing experience, so they took to the awesome sandstone slabs at Barcud no problem!

Climbing at Barcud during a Cliff Camping Portaledge experience in Pembrokeshire

Night was approaching so it was time for some tea and a last minute toilet stop, anext then a final trip back down to the Portaledge to get settled in for the night. A clear starry night halfway up an impressive sweep of sandstone, sleeping on a Portaledge that was hanging over the Atlantic Ocean awaited!

Getting the sleeping stuff sorted on the Portaledge, ready for a night Cliff Camping in Pembrokeshire

With sunrise we awoke pretty early and after a leisurely time sitting and enjoying the sunrise over south Pembrokeshire, it was time to head up for coffee and breakfast. Keen to get their drone out the guys headed back down to the ledge to capture some incredible shots – I can’t wait to see the one where the drone pans out from the Portaledge to get a bigger view of the cliff!

Treader Tube setting the drone off over Barcud, filming Cliff Camping in Pembrokeshire

An unexpected hail storm of gargantuan proportions swept over us and in no time at all the Portaledge was deep in icy slush! It took us by surprise but the guys rolled with it and got some great and dramatic footage! Just as quickly the sky was cloudless and blue, and we soon warmed up as I dismantled the ledge and the ropes.

The almighty hail storm! More like Scotland in winter than Pembrokeshire in spring!

A great and memorable night out, a pleasure to spend time with the guys from Treader Tube, and so looking forward to seeing the final footage!

The Treader Tube team after their Portaledge Cliff Camping experience in Pembrokeshire..

Walking and Climbing

We’ve had a super busy week both walking and climbing. First up I was working on a Gold Duke of Edinburgh training expedition, walking in the Brecon Beacons and then a weekend coaching lead Climbing in Snowdonia. Fun but looking forward to a day off! We have a pretty exciting couple of days coming up filming our Portaledge Cliff Camping with the guys from Treader Tube – if only the forecast was looking like the usual Pembrokeshire blue skies and magical sunsets!

My week walking with Ockbrook School running their Gold DofE training expedition saw us spend 4 days traversing the Brecon Beacons, from Dan yr Ogof to Pen y Fan. The two groups put lots of effort in and really pushed themselves physically, and with not one grumble! The weather was pretty perfect for them, not needing to put on the waterproofs all week! The students from Ockbrook are always really nice and great fun to be with. And being treated to bacon sandwiches in the morning by the teachers is always welcome! Unfortunately I won’t be able to make their qualifiying expedition (I’ll be on Kilimanjaro working) but I’ve no doubt they’ll all go on to pass with flying colours…!

Lunch stop, Gold DofE training, Brecon Beacons.  The start of a long week walking and climbing is made easy with views like these!

Descending Pen Y Fan, Gold DofE training, Brecon Beacons

Taking in the view on Pen y Fan during the Gold DofE training expedition…

A quick sort of kit and off to Snowdonia it was, for my first of two weekends with Hazel. She is looking to become a more confidant outdoor lead climber, be happy on sea cliffs and to be able to look after her partners on serious terrain. We were joined on the first day by Alastair, a friend and climbing partner of Hazels who hadn’t climbed in quite a few years. With a dry forecast we opted for Idwal Slabs, hoping to get lots of pitches in to give the guys a chance to re-acquaint themselves with the slick skills needed for efficient movement and the opportunity to place loads of gear and make lots of belays! Luckily they were up for a long day and we did 2 laps on the slabs over 10 pitches! A late finish but a brilliant day!

Alastair leading on Idwal Slabs during a trad Climbing coaching weekend in Snowdonia

Day 2 was just Hazel and myself, and our crag of the day was Clogwyn Cyrau, a beautiful spot situated above Betws y Coed. Our aim for the day was to explore as many different set ups as possible, giving Hazel the arsenal to be able to deal with anything presented to her at a belay. Along the way we climbed some lovely routes in the sun and practiced some abseil skills ready for her weekend in Pembrokeshire with me. A great long week walking and climbing!

Hazel setting up on Clogwyn Cyrau

Easter Climbing in Pembrokeshire and ML training Expedition…

The week in the run up to Easter has been very busy for us. First up we had return client Tony with us for a couple of days. He’s always keen to just do some lovely climbs. Having not visited the south Pembrokeshire limestone before, we headed to the Penally area each day. A day climbing at Fishermans Point and a day at Becks Point gave us loads of great routes in a very relaxed setting!

Tony climbing in beautiful Pembrokeshire Sunshine!

It was straight up to North Wales then to work on an ML training course expedition for Wet and High Adventures. I had 4 very keen and fun candidates for the 2 days so I had an easy job of walking in the Carneddau passing on some knowledge to them! We headed up from Bethesda and camped below Foel Grach, which we summmited at midnight during night-nav. It was then back over Yr Elen to give the candidates de-briefs and get straight back to Pembrokeshire for the start of the Easter weekend!

ML training in Snowdonia

ML night navigation training in Snowdonia

Easter is always a busy time on the Pembrokeshire sea-cliffs so you have to head to the lesser known crags to ensure you get them to yourselves! I was out on Easter Saturday with a lovely family of indoor climbers who were keen to climb outdoors for the first time, and learn a few bits and pieces. Pen Y Cyfrwy it was to be, we had beautiful weather and the cliffs were empty. Win!

Family taster Climbing session this Easter in Pembrokeshire

Easter climbing fun in Pembrokeshire

Easter Sunday I had the guys from Backabush Xplorers Walking club out climbing with me. With a large group in the morning we climbed at Newton Head, perfect for having a few climbs running at the same time. We had a nice social time and everyone pushed themselves loads! In the afternoon a couple of the guys stayed on with me. JP and Jennifer were keen to explore and try something more adventurous so we went to Saddle Head. We abseiled in and they seconded me up some routes there, getting to experience being “real” climbers!

Easter Abseiling in Pembrokeshire

Success! JP getting to the top of his first VS…

Climbing at Saddle Head in Pembrokeshire this Easter

A day off on Easter Monday, and with a nice forecast Joey and I decided to escape the crowds by visiting a crag we hadn’t been to before out at St Davids Head. It’s amazing that there are still so many great crags I’ve not climbed at – we really have so much climbing in Pembrokeshire! Penllechwen didn’t disappoint, a beautiful walk in, a scenic spot, quick easy abseil in and some lovely routes. It’s a pretty wild part of the coast here and good wildlife spottting is guaranteed – but we were in for a treat! Seals, Gannets, Swallows, Dolphins… Brilliant day to finish off the Easter weekend in Pembrokeshire, now a quick turn around before a week of Duke of Edinburgh in the Brecon Beacons!

Escaping the Easter crowds climbing in Pembrokeshire

Narrowly escaping getting wet!

Beautiful walk in to St Davids Head this Easter time…

Snowdonia Climbing weekend away!

We’ve just had a long weekend in Snowdonia climbing some classic rock climbs, the weather has been unreal and it’s been great to see Joey progress to being a competent multi-pitch trad lead climber… Combining days out with road biking, running, climbing and river swims – we had a pretty decent mini break away!

I always love getting up to the hills – about the only thing Pembrokeshire is missing. Our first day was a long one, after a bike and a run in the Ogwen Valley, we headed up for a late afternoon climb in Cwm Idwal. The Snowdonia Climbing Mecca was deserted and we had the routes to ourselves so we’re able to move fast. 13 pitches later and Joey had completed her first multi pitch trad leads! Great effort from her and we were heading down to a spectacular sunset down towards the coast and a well earnt beer!

Sunset in Cwm Idwal on a long day in Snowdonia Climbing some classics…

Day 2 of our Snowdonia Climbing trip started with a 60km bike ride, which was awesome and beautiful and well worth it – but left us both a bit tired for too much climbing! After a dip in the river and a lazy lunch in the sun (which was glorious!) we headed to a busy Carreg Wastad. We did a nice route I’d not done before, but couldn’t get on the classic Crackstone Rib, which Joey was really keen to lead me up! Next time! Walking down from the crag we had a beautiful moon rise over Pen y Pass…

Moonrise after a great day in Snowdonia Climbing and biking…

Day 3 in Snowdonia and we opted to climb the classic route Grooved Arête on Tryfan. I’d done the route several times before but I was keen for Joey to get some great leads on this classic of Snowdonia Climbing. We arrived at the base of the route to a queue, so we took a slightly harder but lovely variation on the right to bypass the first group (and the slippery corner!) and get some distance between us so Joey could get on the lead. Pushing on up the steeper corners of the route, climbing long pitches with a rucksack on – she put all her skills in to practise and led me up some of the harder pitches of the climb. Great to see her becoming a super competent trad leader! She was even so fast we caught up with another group!

Topping of a great few days in Snowdonia Climbing some mega classics, here’s Joey on Grooved Arête..