Long Day, Big Grin

Yesterday found me at Redpoint climbing centre in Birmingham. Bit off the beaten track for me but that was where my CWLA assessment was booked, so there I was. Unfortunately, the day's other candidate had been forced to drop out. So that left me one on one with my assessor, Joby, for about 6 hours.

Nail biting is how I would describe the experience. Kind of like doing three or four driving tests in a row but having to wait right till the bitter end to see if you had failed the first one!

Anyway, it all went well. So thanks to Joby, Martin the Redpoint leaper and Beth, Tash and Holly, my three willing students for the day.

Right, who wants to learn to lead then?

Seven Summits

Quality mountain days is a much used phrase in mountain leader circles. You have to log them to get your ML and lead them to get on the MIA. They have to be long days up high, with an element of adventure.

Glaramara Summit

So yesterday saw myself and Allan heading up Glaramara on our 'Seven Summits' day. He wants to bag all the Wainwrights and I need people who want to push the mountaineering boat out a bit. The promise of trying for 7 Wainwrights in 7 hours, including the two highest ones and the classic Broad Stand scramble on the way had him hooked. Glossing over the fact that at the end of the 7 hours we would be at the top of England, 5 miles from the car and on top of a crag helped.

Well we made it, nearly. 5 summits over 900m and 2 more around the 780 mark in just over 7 hours. Had Broad Stand been dry we would have made it. As it was it was wet, very cold and just a bit epic, it took a little longer.

The 'Precarious Pinnacle', Lord's Rake

As for the descent down Lord's Rake followed by a race to get as far back down the corridor route as we could before dark. Well, that became a quality mountain night!

Coaching Progression

Obviously, when you work part time at a climbing wall, unlimited free access is a bonus. Better still though is seeing some of your students really progress.

A couple of weeks ago I was working with some of the 'Rock Gods'. These are kids who just come to the club sessions, maybe once a week or less for two hours. They all lead at least 6b and and boulder at V5 or more. It really makes you work hard to to try and keep up with them!

At a more relaxing level, I was working this week with a brother and sister doing some of their early leads. I taught them to tie knots about a year ago and now I'm helping them work as a team leading 5's on the top wall.

It's all very satisfying.