News

Two contrasting Days - Hampton School

2010-01-16T14:12:00.002Z

Well, what a difference a day makes. Thursday was a beautiful cold crisp day but due to the conditions on the high mountains we stayed low and walked from Betws y Coed to Penmachno. We covered navigation skills and finished off at about 7 p.m. in the pub in Penmachno.

Friday was horrendous - full on thaw and strong winds. I decided that a shorter walk was in order so we travelled from Capel Curig to Ty Hyll via Llyn Crafnant and Llyn Geirionnydd.

Winter conditions are still good!

2010-01-11T09:32:00.007Z

We had a day out in Cwm Idwal Sunday and climbed The Devil's Kitchen and South Gully. Both were in fantastic condition although the Kitchen was very steep and would warrant grade V in my view. We were expecting loads of people but if fact it wasn't too bad as most climbers were on routes such as Central route, Devil's Pasture, The Screen. The Devils Pipes had quite a few ascents but looked a bit thin.

The picture above is of Steve on pitch 4 of South Gully (IV).

Check out loads more photos on my Flicker page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/8727868@N06/

Cwm Idwal

2010-01-04T21:56:00.005Z

I was climbing with Rich today who had travelled all the way from Bristol to take advantage of the fantastic winter condition we have at the moment. It was relatively quiet today with most people spread across a good selection of routes. Afon Ifan (Idwal Stream) II/III, South Gully IV, Central Route III, Chicane Gully III, The Ramp II, The Screen III/IV, The Devils Pasture III and The Devils Cellar IV were all in condition and climbed today. We climbed The Devils Cellar IV (with the direct start V) and Central Route III both of which were in fantastic condition.

The photo is of Rich on the direct start of The Devils Cellar (V).

New Route on Tryfan (?)

2010-01-03T20:38:00.006Z

Went out with Steve today to have a look at Tryfan. I must say the most difficult part of the day was the condition of the snow - it was very much one step up and 2 or 3 steps down. The snow was very unconsolidated with no base. We think we managed to squeeze a new route between Green Gully and Deffing out the Ben which was about grade 5 up to the point were we had to retreat due to a lack of time (the condition of the snow was really time consuming) but it looked like we would have finished up Green Gully anyway. I think we'll wait for better conditions before returning. A good day out though.

Crib Lem

2010-01-02T14:17:00.003Z

I was surprised how little ice there was around today. We had an early start this morning but by the time we got to the bottom of the Black Ladders Andy wasn't feeling very well so we changed plans and went for Crib Lem via David instead. By the time we got to the start of the ridge Andy was suffering badly so we decided that the strong wind and spindrift wouldn't help matters so we decided to head for home.

There were loads of people out today but I guess most of them would be aiming at the mixed routes or just going for a walk. It wasn't freezing that hard up high and as we descended we encountered rain.

2009-12-31T18:51:00.002Z

I'm almost free from my family commitments so I'm hoping that the conditions remain long enough for me to have some fun in the white stuff!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i bawb.

Hwyl

Berwyn

13/12/09 Yr Elan

2009-12-14T09:43:00.003Z

I had the smaller group today and we decided to go up Yr Elan (962m). We covered navigation and some confidence roping in descent. It wasn't so windy today compared to yesterday but it was still a lovely day with a fair bit of wind chill. The photo is of the group with the summit of Yr Elan in the background.

12/12/09 D of E Staff Training

2009-12-14T08:46:00.003Z

I was working with a group from London this weekend who ran the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in various schools and organisations around the Richmond area.

I went up Carnedd Dafydd (1044m) from Gerlan with a group of 7 and looked at group management and navigation whilst George took a small group of 4 up Crib Lem to look at security on steep ground and rope work.

Although it was dry the conditions were testing as the wind chill was calculated as about -27 degrees C. The ground was frozen from about 800m and the snow patches were solid.

A busy week at the Beacon

2009-11-20T20:33:00.002Z

Had a busy week at the Beacon this week it would have been even busier if it wasn't for the atrocious weather over the last couple of weeks. 'How could the weather effect an indoor climbing wall' I hear you say, well simple - you have to get there in the first place. I had a Climbing Wall Assessment scheduled to take place on Wednesday but the candidates, who were all from the same centre failed to negotiate the floods so they have had to postpone the assessment until Monday. The remainder of the week was spent running an in house staff training course at the local leisure centre climbing wall and in the evening I was running a NICAS induction course for local instructors. I did manage to run a CWA assessment yesterday even though the weather was grim everyone turned up for the course and they all passed. We were running another CWA assessment today but Leo (our new centre manager) was directing that one so that I could have a day off to shovel 2 tonnes of gravel - joy! Nice day today but looks like it's going to be wet again over the weekend. Still no sign of winter down here.

Climbing Wall Award Training Course

2009-10-20T10:36:00.002+01:00

I ran a CWA training course over the weekend for 5 candidates at the Beacon Climbing Centre. We covered subjects such as warming up, games, group management and belaying techniques we also covered leading and everyone took part in the Abseil and Top Rope Module on the Sunday afternoon.

The Lake District.

2009-10-17T20:41:00.016+01:00

I've just returned from the Lake District after 5 days of working with shop staff from all over the UK promoting Haglofs products. The work was generally guiding and instructing individuals on the crags and mountains of the Lake District and giving them an adventurous day out as well as trying out some Haglofs products. I was working with James Thacker and the boys from G2 from Aviemore all week. We had a great time and the weather was on our side for most of the week.

The week worked out like this:

Day 1: Dow Crag (Giant's Crawl - pic5)
Day 2: Raven Crag (Middlefell Buttress - pic4)
Day 3: Old Man of Coniston (navigation and rope work day - pic3)
Day 4: Raven Crag (Middlefell Butttress and Holly-tree Traverse - pic2)
Day 5: Pavey Ark (Crescent Climb - pic1)

ML Assessment at Plas y Brenin

2009-10-04T20:50:00.002+01:00

I had a couple of days working at Plas y Brenin this weekend. The weather was very changeable with high winds and heavy showers on the first day. Today was a lot better with only the occasional shower but it certainly felt cold on the top of Glyder Fawr with excellent views by the time we reached the top. The first day was spent looking at navigation skills in Cwm Dyli and the ridge leading up to Lliwedd (this is the bit that most Snowdon Horseshoers miss and is the true start/end). Today was a mountain day looking at group management on difficult terrain on Seniors Ridge with a descent down Y Gribin.

ML Ropework

2009-09-23T22:09:00.004+01:00

Worked for the Outdoor Partnership today and looked at ML ropework with 2 clients both of which are looking at putting themselves forward for assessment very soon. We went over to Clogwyn y Tarw in Cwm Idwal and worked over on the right and central parts to cover subjects such as direct and indirect belays, anchor types, lowering and abseiling techniques as well as confidence roping. The photo is of Arwyn being lowered in a Thompson Knot by Mike from a direct anchor.

Antur 'Stiniog Mentoring

2009-09-20T18:45:00.002+01:00

Martin and Marc with Moel Siabod in the background.
Martin a Marc gyda Moel Siabod yn y cefndir.

Antur 'Stiniog Mentoring

2009-09-19T19:00:00.002+01:00

Diwrnod da heddiw gyda 4 yn troi i fyny o Antur 'Stiniog. Aethom i ardal y Moelwyn o fewn tafliad carreg o Cnicht. Yn ystod y diwrnod oeddwn yn trafod ac ymarfer llywio yn y mynyddoedd gyda map 1:25,000 a gwaith rhaff i gerddwyr mynydd. Digon i gadw ni fynd am fwy na diwrnod felly mwy o ymarfer fory.

Had a great day today with a day spent mentoring 4 members of Antur 'Stiniog. We went to the Moelwyn area around Cnicht. We discussed and practiced navigation using a 1:25,000 map and rope work for mountain walkers. Plenty to keep us going for more than a day so more of the same tomorrow.

(l-r) Martin, Gareth, Marc and Rommee.

Dinas Mot

2009-09-14T20:11:00.003+01:00

A cold and windy day in the pass today with the sun tantalisingly close just down the valley. It was very quiet today with only 3 other parties on the crag. We did Western Slabs VS and The Cracks HS (the photo is of pitch 4 -The Cracks).

Mentoring with Antur 'Stiniog

2009-09-12T19:25:00.002+01:00

We had a very constructive day today looking at navigation and rope work. The weather didn't help much as it was absolutely beautiful all day! We just looked at navigating with the only a 1:25,000 map today in order to consolidate ground to map and map to ground interpretation and we went through the basics of pacing and timing. The rope work was a matter of running through the syllabus requirements of the Mountain Leader Award as the guys with me today will be going for their assessment in the next few months. The photo l -r is of Martin and Gareth with Afon Lledr and Yr Wyddfa in the background.

AMI Navigation Workshop

2009-09-06T15:57:00.003+01:00

Well, the weather forecast was wrong again today. We had a dry day again today with the rain not arriving until 3.00 - 3.30. We went to the area behind the Pen y Gwryd Hotel - Moel Perfedd and the southern flank of Glyder Fawr to look at navigation and to discuss teaching and navigation techniques. I was so busy I didn't have a chance to take a photo - well I forgot really! Thanks to the 5 who turned out to the workshop to make it an interesting and thought provoking event.

Diolch yn fawr a hwyl am y tro.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors - Trainee Workshop

2009-09-05T18:12:00.006+01:00

Had a great day today with 5 trainees on Tryfan. I was expecting a bit of a wet day but it was OK all day with very little wind and we even saw the sun at times. We looked at short roping techniques in ascent on Tryfan Bach and North Buttress Variant (2) and in descent on Little and North Gullies (1).

(l - r) Nat, Andy, Steve, Tom and Chris on North Buttress Variant.

Security on steep ground and Ropework

2009-08-30T17:35:00.003+01:00

We carried on with the Mock ML Assessment weekend today and looked at security on steep ground and ropework. We decided to work in Cwm Idwal and went up the gully beyond Homicide Wall and up on to Seniors Ridge and then down the obvious gully to the base of Suicide Wall. We then went down to Clogwyn y Tarw to do some ropework up the right hand side. The weather was damp for most of the day but not enough to get us too wet but this produced the longest lasting rainbow I have ever seen over Llyn Idwal (it must have lasted 2 hours) and then by 2 o'clock the weather changed to be more persistent rain and really strong winds.

The photo is of me on Seniors Ridge (thanks for the photo Matt).

Mock ML Assessment

2009-08-29T19:04:00.002+01:00

We had a fresh and breezy day up in the Moelwynion today covering navigation skills and avoiding bogs! We had a brief period of rain as a shower passed but other than that we had a dry day. Visibility was very good (unfortunately!) so we covered micro navigation and relocation skills. The photo is of (from left to right) Paul, John, Neil, Matt and Iestyn.

Tremadog

2009-08-22T22:32:00.002+01:00

Had a hot sunny day at Tremadog today with Dei and Dominic. We climbed Cnychwr (S) and Oberon (S) with a drink and a chip butty in between. The picture is of Dominic on the second pitch of Oberon.

Mynydd Mawr - 698m

2009-08-18T19:19:00.002+01:00

A nice afternoon with the kids.

First Aid

2009-08-17T09:28:00.004+01:00

I renewed my First Aid Certificate this weekend with Active First Aid Training. The course was run by Kath Wills at Canolfan Deilen Las (Craflwyn near Beddgelert) over two days. The course was very informative, practical and above all enjoyable. If anyone is interested in First Aid or needs to re validate their existing certificate I would certainly recommend one of Kath's courses. For more info you can visit her web site at Active First Aid Training .

Moel Eilio - 726m

2009-08-11T22:21:00.002+01:00