Last week was spent with Rachel and Simon on a 5 day learn to lead course in Snowdonia. Simon had done a little bit of leading before and progressed through to leading VS4c at the end of the week. Rachel had not lead at all before and progressed to leading Severe. The photo shows here making the exposed step onto the arete of Scratch at Tremadog - a 4 pitch classic Severe. Well done both!

The weekend was spent with Tom and Gareth on an intro to climbing course. We spent a sunny Saturday at Holyhead Mountain and then climbed Ordinary Route on the Slabs on Sunday. Best wishes to Toms daughter who went into labour on Sunday morning!

In Wales

I am working in Snowdonia at the moment. The good weather has come to an end this afternoon with heavy rain set for the next couple of days. Friday and Saturday were spent with Bill and Andy. We climbed Crackstone Rib, Skylon and Dives/Better Things on Friday and then Tennis Shoe & the firts two pitches of Ordinary Route on the slabs on Saturday. I climbed Cenotaph Corner on Friday night with a friend of mine, Pete.
This morning was spent at Tremadog on Striptease and Christmas Curry.

Wow what weather

Another beautiful week of sunshine. I have been working from home most of the week and have managed some cragging in the sunshine as well as playing in the garden with the kids. On Thursday afternoon I joined up with Simon and went to Shorncliffe in the Wye Valley. Not a sould was about and the limestone reminded me of the sort you find in Spain - coarse and weathered - not the usual Symonds Yat polish at all! We did 3 routes but I can only remember the names of two of them - All for One and The Luaghing Cavaliers. The latter is a 3 star HVS 5b and was wonderful - one of my favourite routes in the valley.

Friday night was spent up at Bishops Cleeve and then Saturday afternoon Alec and I climbed White Knight, a 2 pitch HVS 5a, that was very sparse for protection and got me sweating! We then did an "Alec" route that was not in the guidebook but went at about VS4c over the roof of a cave - I will say no more!

Rob

Spring has sprung

I spent last week working for Hereford & Worcester Army cadets. They were a great bunch and enjoyed a week of climbing, caving, canoeing and walking in the Brecon Beacons. Here is a photo of some of them on the top pf Pen Y Fan last Tuesday.

After work on Friday I headed to Windcliffe with a friend and we spent a very pleasant couple of hours climbing on warm limestone - we could easily have been in Spain.

We headed up to North Wales on Saturday morning and left the crowds behind by doing some good mountain routes, the best of which was Grey Slabs Arete, above and right of the Idwal Slabs, which goes at HVS 5a and is on wonderful rock.

I joined up with another friend, Andy, on Sunday and we headed into the Llanberis Pass. We did Diagonal on Dinas Mot and then Skylon on Carreg Wasted.

Sunny Sunday

Yesterday was a beautiful day. I was with friends climbing at the Roaches in the Peak District. Andy and I climbed The Sloth, Damascus Crack with the 4c finish, Sauls Crack, Left Hand Route and Right Hand Route. Hands are a little sore this morning!

I am working at Symonds Yat and on the Brecon Beacons all week this week with a group of Army cadets.

Rob