Photos from the weekend

I have had this weekend off and have had a very enjoyable couple of days with my family. We headed to Conwy Slab yesterday afternoon where Archie bagged a couple of routes before the rain hit. On Saturday afternoon I was out with the Llanberis Team on a rescue to a fallen climber in the Llanberis Pass. Last night we were out again to a group of 9 Three Peak challengers who had got lost and hypothermic descending the Pyg track in foul weather in the dark. I was in bed by 2:00am so glad to have the day off today.

Dog Training in Northumberland

I have been in Northumberland for the last few days at a dog training centre with Skye. You can read all about it on Skyes Dog Blog.

AMI Workshop for MIA Trainees

This weekend I have been working on a workshop for the Association of Mountaineering Instructors. The workshops are designed for trainee members who are preparing for MIA Assessment. Yesterday 6 trainees and I headed to Lion Rock to look at multi pitch problem solving and improvised rescues in the sunshine. Today I was joined by Baggy and we took 3 trainees each on a mountain day looking at short roping skills in Cwm Idwal in the lashing rain and strong winds! I was out last night on the helicopter with the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, we had 5 rescues in one afternoon so a busy day!

Milestone Buttress

We were lucky enough to enjoy a day of fine sunshine in the Ogwen Valley today on the Milestone Buttress. Mike & Joe each lead alternate pitches on Rhowan Route and Pulpit Route in good style with me alongside. They have both done really well this week and I wish them both the best in their future lead climbing. Over the course of 5 days they have gone from occasional indoor climbers to leading their own multi pitch routes and managing abseil descents off again. Good stuff!

North West Face Route, Cwm Idwal

Yesterday was a very wet and windy day with 50mph winds on the summits and heavy rain showers all day - not an ideal day for climbing! The boys and I decided that a grade 2 scramble would be a better idea allowing us to wear big boots and waterproofs. Mike & Joe lead North West Face route with me alongside and then organised an abseil off before a blast up Seniors Gully and down the Gribin Ridge. As soon as I got down the pager went off and we were called to help a couple that had not read the weather forecast and were stuck on Crib Goch! The knees are slightly tired this morning!

Lighthouse Arete, Gogarth

Well Mike, Joe and I decided we fancied an adventure day of multi pitch climbing today so left the rain and low cloud of the mountains for the sunshine and warm rock of Anglesey. Well sort of! It was overcast and very windy when we arrived with the lighthouse flashing away nicely. I abseiled down and I could not help but notice that the usual belay ledge was very wet when boom I was drenched from head to foot in a massive wave! I decided we would skip the first pitch then and climb the top 3! We topped out as the rain set in and the lighthouse started up its foghorn with big grins all round. Lunch in the cafe was followed by a session at the climbing wall where the boys learnt to lead and each ticked 5c and had a spot of movement coaching. A great day out!

2010 Brochure Out Now

Our new 48 page full colour brochure is now available for courses in 2010! If you have not received your copy yet then click here, fill out your details and we will pop one out in the post!

5 day learn to lead rock climbing course

I have been joined for the week by returning client Mike and Joe for a 5 day learn to lead rock climbing course here in Snowdonia. Today we headed up the Idwal Slabs and progressively looked at the many skills involved in multi pitch climbing and abseil descents. It was dry bright and sunny and a very pleasant day. I bumped into a couple of friends from Spain who were over here enjoying the cooler weather!

Family Rock Climbing Course

I have been with the Jones family this weekend for a family course. Yesterday in very wet and windy weather we headed into Cwm Tregallan on the back of Snowdon to spend a day looking at mountain navigation skills. The weather was ideal for that but not a lot else!! Today it has been dry and bright and we have been climbing at Holyhead Mountain on Anglesey. We climbed Black Owen, Slab Direct, Tension and Stairs. Skye came along both days to keep us company!

Cneifion Arete

Keith, Louise and I had a racing start on the Cneifion Arete today. The day started bright but rapidly deteriorated as forecast and we topped out as the wind and rain really hit. The weather meant I was then busy on Snowdon with the rescue team! Thanks to louise and Keith fir a great couple of days.

SARDA on the One Show

SARDA Wales were on the BBC One Show at 7:00pm this evening - I have embedded it here in case you missed it:

Clogwyn Y Person Arete

I have been joined for two days by Louise and Keith for an advanced scrambling course. Today we have had a great day, not too hot and dry and sunny all day. We made the most of the weather and headed up the Clogwyn Y Person Arete, across Crib Y Ddysgl and down its North ridge. A great day out in the mountains. Last nights daily rescue was for two missing people on Snowdon but thankfully they turned up safe and sound.

Advanced Scrambling with Jim

I have been out with Jim today who has recently joined my mentor scheme. The original plan was to have a day of climbing but the weather changed our plans as the rain drummed off the cafe window this morning! We decided to go scrambling instead and did the Cneifion Arete and then some navigation practice. We did have a temporary bright spell but otherwise it was overcast all day.

Crib Goch - Twice in one day!

I took Gez, Andrew & Shae up onto the Crib Goch pinnacles today via Cwm Glas and Bwlch Coch and then back along the ridge to Garnedd Ugain and down the North Ridge. It has been a cracking day with blue skies and sunshine - a real contrast to yesterday! Last night the pager went off just before 9:00pm and we were called out to help two people stuck on Crib Goch. We climbed up and roped them back down which meant we were not down until past midnight. To top it off I found an unconscious male lying in the road on the way home and had to give first aid and call an ambulance for him when all I wanted to do was sleep! Dog training tonight and then sleep!

Intro to scrambling course

It has been a very wet day here in Snowdonia. I have taken Andrew, Shae and Gez onto Tryfan, accompanied by Kurtis. We headed up Little and North Gullies to avoid forecast SW gusts and looked at movement skills, route finding, dynamic risk assessments and on the way down some emergency ropework. We all had a very enjoyable day despite a lack of sunshine and the kit should dry out tomorrow!

Film work for Mens Fitness Magazine

I have been working for Mens Fitness Magazine today filming a promotional advert for Timberland clothing. I met up with their actor and film crew this morning and took them on a scrambling day on the Carneddau. The film shows me taking actor Nick for a day out involving grade 1 and grade 2 scrambling, talking about what scrambling means and providing some instruction in movement, safety, ropes etc. I employed Bryn for the day to look after the film crew on the steep ground and they were very pleased with the end results. I kept getting told off for smiling too much so worked hard at looking like a rugged mountaineer - I am not sure I pulled it off but see what you think from the photos!

Navigation & Hill Skills Course

I have been joined for the weekend by Ian, Pete & Caroline for a 2 day navigation and hill skills course. We have been ably assisted for the day by Jim who is on my Mentor Scheme for trainee instructors. We headed up the Watkin Path into Cwm Tregallan on Snowdon and during the day looked at:

-Introduction to different map scales
- How to set the map
- How to interpret contours
- How to interpret key symbols ie how to find a footpath, fence, stream etc
- How to plan and follow a route using paths and other key features
- How to plan and follow a route across featureless terrain
- How to estimate distance using pacing and timing
- How to navigate in poor or limited visibility
- How to use the compass
- How to re-orientate yourself if you do get lost

It has been dry and bright all day.

Family Rock Climbing Course

The Galvin family and I headed to Upper Tier Tremadog today for their final day of single pitch rock climbing. It was a lovely sunny day and they were great company - even managing to climb E1 by the end of the day! This evening I was out on a couple of rescues on Snowdon.

Family Rock Climbing Course

I have been joined for the first 3 days of this week by the Galvin family for a family rock climbing course. Yesterday Bryn took them to Lion Rock at Llanberis whilst today I took them over to Anglesey where we avoided the worst of the heavy rain. We have had a great day with lots of laughs and some good climbing and abseiling.