Lewis

So I'm on Lewis running an SPA training. Yesterday we started at the Sport Centre Climbing Wall and did almost 5 hours looking at good practise and group management issues in the wall as well as having a play with some less familiar toys.

 Testing assisted breaking belay devices

YY Belay Glasses- think we've got a sale!

Today we were of to Mangersta to look at some personal climbing and a little rigging. After a discussion about the scope of the Award  with regards to the approach (a scramble) and the objective hazards (a large drop into a boiling sea) we all added some layers (to cope with the gale) and got to grips with some gneiss climbing. Always good to visit a brand new crag! Route one saw Toby cleaning a little loose rock- unfortunately the offending rock ended up chopping his rope in 3 places (!!) the cuts being so vicious that they'd actually melted the core in part. Luckily there was enough rope to get him off- problem solving made real!

 Topping up at the stream before the walk in

 Mangersta

 Linda Norgrove's Bothy

 View from the wee bothy

 Just to the left…. not your typical SPA venue….

 Great to climb at a new venue

 Oops!

Triple Oops!

Everyone got some leads in and we looked at abseiling to retrieve Toby's gear since his rope was now to short to reach his second! Then we turned to rigging for groups with pros and cons of different systems, equalising 2 and 3 point anchors and methods of protecting yourself working near crag edges.

 Topping out

 Following to check out the gear

 Attentive team

 Cold hands!

 The crag

 Just check my funky extendable nut key cord...

 Not every day you see a Clog Cog placed any more

 Yes… that is a crutch

 Splash

 Hometime

How old? Paul… tell your wife I said you HAD to replace it!