Winter 2008 |
10 - 11 May 2008
 
A delightful 2 days of scrambling with Sue in Coniston and on St Sunday Crag. First off a couple of Grade 1/2 scrambles to introduce ropework, basic scrambling techniques and views of a great lakeland valley from angles rarely seen by any walker. The next day developed on the first with an ascent of Pinnicle Ridge up St. Sunday Crag (possible the best Grade 3 in the Lakes). Great weather and views, despite the lighting and thunder in the adjourning valleys - very impressive! May 2008
  
This whole month I am working for the Army and TQ Mitre and therefore 4 days every week of mountaineering, rock climbing and kayaking. By seeking out the quieter and more adventurous places of the Cumbrian Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales, these recruits get to experience the variety and excitment that is on offer away from the tourist 'honey-spots'.
What could this mean to you? Well simply the fact that know matter the weather, ground conditions or your ambitions, you can be assured of a day that lives up to and (more than likely) exceeds your dreams. 19 April 2008
 
Trowbarrow quarry (near Carnforth, Lancashire) provides an exellent option when it is raining in the Lakes, or as in the case today providing protection from the cold easterly winds that were all over Cumbria (and other areas of the country I suppose!). West facing, 30 plus metres and with some good routes like Jomo VD, Truffle HS 4c, Jean Jeanie VS 4c, Assagai HVS 5a and Cracked Actor E2 5b. All round a good wee venue. |
15 - 18 April 2008
This week I have been working for TQ Mitre and the Army's Kings Division of recruits from ITC Catterick. The hightlight of the week was a beautiful days mountaineering on and around Kentmere valley. Clear skies, scrambling on dry rock and an office with a great view. |
First 2 weeks of April 2008
  
Some excellent weather over the last 2 weeks has enabled Mountain Instruction to work at a variety of rock climbing locations (Anglezark, Langdale, Twistleton, Coniston), paddle on many stretches of water in South Cumbria and cave under parts of Yorkshire (the weather plays a major part in cave selection). Looks like the weather is to remain cold and pretty dry for the next few days, with patches of remaining snow high up hanging around for a few days yet. |
February - March 2008
  
Well it has been a long winter season with a lot of play and work time, but no access to a computer for daily blogs. Shame but should change for next year. What has Mountain Instruction been up to? What haven't we been up to is more appropriate! Courses in navigation, snow holing, crampon skills, ice axe braking and winter mountaineering have been very popular, with a few photographs posted above. As has been the case over the last few winters, a number of days of excellent weather following by appalling conditions and considerable thaw did make for a few imaginative locations to be used. Providing quality instruction day in - day out is certainly something that Mountain Instruction strives to provide for every client. And from our feedback forms we are certainly meeting that aim. Happy days! |
10 - 17 February 2008
   
As far as I can remember I have never taken a relaxing / do nothing holiday and the last week in Norway certainly could not classify as a relaxing time. The only downside to the week was the cancelled flight out (due to fog) and a broken camera half way through the trip. Other than that a lot of ice climbing was done, including some mixed stuff in the Krokan area.
Quite simply Rjukan is an excellent valley with climbing available for all grades, abilities and fitness levels (walk-in distances start from 10 seconds to 20 minutes !). If you are interested then contact me for details - it really is an easy place to find and stay. |
4 - 8 February 2008
An exact repeat of last week this week! A second round of apprentices who were certainly lucky with the weather (wind and only the occasional heavy downpour).
So why is a Mountaineering Instructor working on a leadership and development course? Well it is because I like coaching people in what ever they what to undertake (be it leadership, team building, climbing, mountaineering, etc.) and to help them develop their potential.
It is possibly because of these 'soft skills' that Mountain Instruction has such a high repeat business rate. |
28 Jan - 1 February 2008
This week I have been working for Outward Bound Professional with Rolls-Royce apprentices. These are no VW owned car mechanics, but the aero engine manufacturers of the future. Ranging from civil and military aviation machinists, fitters, maintenance and modelers, these young individuals have had a fairly tough time this week (if you think throwing yourself into a near frozen tarn in the morning and standing up to your thighs in a flowing river to help your team build a water powered flag raise is tough). All will certainly return with many memories and hopefully new skills in dealing with teams and leadership situations. |
22 - 25 January 2008
  
A long and cold week working for TQ Mitre. A couple of climbing days (single pitch indoors and out and long abseils) and a couple of mountain days (Harrisons Stickle and Kentmere Pike - photos above) in often strong westerly winds. The snow of Scotland seems like only yesterday... Well it was - just ! |
20 January 2008
  
The North Ridge of Stob Ban provides a cracking day out with a little bit of everything to be had for the first time winter walker/mountaineer. So good is this route that we shared it with others on similar winter courses. The great views north at the end of the day were framed by the cloud level stretching out at around 1000m.
Quote - " to get this on my second winter day is special" . Well we aim to please! |
19 January 2008
  
Drove up to Glen Coe this morning and enjoyed the north ridge of Stob Coire na Tuileachan on Buachaille Etive Mor with Karen. Her first time with crampons and ice axe was no hindrance to her progress up this potentially daunting, but actually easy way up to 902m. Decent was down the NW flank into Lairig Gartain. A 6 hour round trip and a 5 hour drive from the south lakes meant for a long but very enjoyable day. |
17 January 2008
A pretty damp morning up in the Howgills, although the soldiers under training had it worst as all of their issue waterproofs decided to fail all within an 20 mins of each other! Moral - wear Paramo as this dried out in the clear late afternoon! |
15 January 2008
 
Well after an excellent christmas and new year and a long MOD course down in Surrey, it is back to work in the rain. This week I am working for TQ Mitre and Army "Soldiers Under Training" (they are not known as recruits anymore!) with abseiling at Parrock Quarry and bottom roping at a very wet but character building Tilberthwaite Quarry. |
20 December 2007
  
The weather keeps on giving - once again warm(ish) rock on Dow Crag's Giants Crawl. Over 115 metres of good fun which is often used on our rock climbing courses. To finish off, a beautiful sunset over Sellafield Nuclear Power Station - nice... |
19 December 2007
  
A excellent day had all to ourselves on Great Gable's The Napes. James and I saw not one soul all day on this scrambling course. The route? Threading the Needle, the Climbers Traverse, Sphinx Ridge (which should be started from behind the Sphinx as the moves are excellent - Grade 4) part of Arrowhead Ridge and finally Westmorland's Crag Pinnacle Ridge ( a total of approx 220 metres). The weather is set to continue just as in the photos. |
16 December 2007
Another cold and cloudy day up Wetherlam (763m). The cool NW winds providing many examples of rime ice and soil erosion through water expansion into ice. The high pressure is set to continue, although cloud levels are set to rise and eventually disappear. Great mountain photo opportunities will be available later in the week ! |
13 December 2007
 
These last two weeks have seen a continuous number of days out in the countryside of Cumbria. Walking in the Howgills and Langdale, climbing in Coniston and Lancashire, mountain biking around Grizedale and Windermere and today a chilly ascent of Fairfield (and examples of super-cooled water droplets freezing into the wind - Rime ice). The rest of the week is going to continue in the same active vein. Weather wise? Well the high pressure will continue to bring little if any rain, but a lot of hill fog. |
4 December 2007
A very windy and very wet day (pretty much the same weather for the rest of the week - with Friday being particularly cold) in the Howgills. Due to the wind approaching from a general westerly direction, the eastern Cautley valley provided essential shelter until the final summit ridge of The Calf (676m). As I said, very windy and very wet! |
2 December 2007
A wet and ever-so slightly cold weekend with a group of 16 - 25 year olds from an LEA centre. The high rain fall provided a sporting ascent of a local Ghyll which could only have been contemplated with men of stout heart, mind and stature! |
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