Alan Halewood: Lochinver Climbing Festival teaching

Saturday, 19 September 2015

Lochinver Climbing Festival teaching

You've got to love Reiff. Even the busy bits are amazing. "Stanage by the sea" I've heard it called- miles and miles of excellent single pitch cragging in a beautiful setting and (unlike Stanage) often with its own dry weather microclimate.
Today I was doing a days work for the Northwest Highlands Geopark who have organised the Lochinver Climbing Festival up in the NW Highlands. 30+ folk have been climbing, listening to talks on Geology for climbers, the Ladies Scottish CLimbing Club and watching film of Dave Macleod reacting the first ascent of the Stack of Handa and ceilidhing in the evening whilst climbing, mountaineering and attending workshops during the day.
Today Tim and I had a group of 5 looking to progress their lead climbing. Tim took a pair and I took the other 3 but I also had Gill along to help out which made my job quite easy. Neil was looking to confirm that his existing lead climbing skills were sound and look at technique and ways of improving his leading. Alex and Martina are a novice leading pair with Alex having done a little on the sharp end and Martina wanting to be happy seconding him. As a team we climbed a number of Severes, a VS, Neil and Alex both led a great VDiff (that everyone agreed was more intimidating- and better quality than the Severes!) Alex also led a quick Diff at the end of the day. Whilst we were waiting for Tim's team to finish off I quickly took the 3 students onto the Pinnacle, the little landlocked stack which Gill also soloed. A great full day and top accommodation at GlenCanisp Lodge.
Tomorrow i hope to fit in a little cragging before the rain comes in. Lots going on for the Festival with more workshops and plenty of family fun with treasure hunts and geological games for the kids- wish mine weren't recovering from a cold or they'd be here too!