AMI Trainee Workshop Day 2-Dry Rock

Second day of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors Trainee workshop and today was all about climbing: parallel, series, series to parallel, teaching progressions, options for descent and even the odd problem to solve. Glad it was drier today! Captions at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/climbwhenyoureready/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1587532551281555

AMI Trainee Workshop day 1-pass the dry pants!

Wet and remarkably cold today (think more like late October than July) on Curved Ridge. It was a challenge to maintain a learning environment and to prevent the day becoming survival only for the 3 MIA Trainees I was working with on day one of an Association of Mountaineering Instructors Trainee Workshop. Nonetheless each of us took a turn mountaineering the team up the route and we paused in descent to look at a couple of technical issues when getting a team down over a steep drop too. Drier tomorrow I hope! Captions on Facebook.

Teaching climbing observation day

Today I was out observing Andy who wanted some feedback on his progress towards gaining the Mountain Instructor Award. He'd arranged 2 volunteers from Glasgow University Mountaineering Club to teach climbing to and with a sunny and, importantly, breezy forecast decided that Polldubh would fit the bill as a teaching venue to meet their aspirations. Well done Andy for seeking some feedback (I'm off to write it up now :-) ), nice to meet Ellie and Rona too! More pictures at:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/climbwhenyoureready/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1584573388244138

Soggy and sunny on Skye.

I spent the weekend working with Craig and Gordon as part of a Mountaineering Scotland course aimed at teaching mountaineering skills. The weather on saturday was dreich and cold but we headed into Coire Lagan. The guys have a little rope work experience and were keen to do some more. We looked at improving their movement and confidence on slabby ground before doing some rope work on and around the lower part of Collie's Route before fleeing the heavy rain. Another of the MS parties assisted a father an daughter pair down of the hill in poor weather. Today with a slightly more mixed forecast we headed up in to Coire an Dorus. The lads used their movement and rope work skills to climb up and out of the the narrow 'Doorway' and to the summit of Sgurr a Mhadaidh. From here we practised some careful route finding to work our way down the Western Face Route in poor visibility. A day of occasional views and decreasing showers. Well done to both the guys for pushing their comfort zones in some poor weather. More pictures and captions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/climbwhenyoureready/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1581265361908274

Today on the Aonach Eagach

After a busy few days revalidating my First Aid Qualification with BASP at Nevis Range (excellent course as ever- highly practical- well taught and ever interesting) and running both CWA and Foundation Coach Assessments (well done to Laken and Rosalind on the former and Ian and Ella on the latter) today it was back to the mountains.

 Laken improvising to talk about movement

 Jeff on cleaning wounds

 Ian keeping the team engaged

Ella getting them active

Today I was out with Mike, Mark and Alan working for Steven Fallon Mountain Guiding on the Aonach Eagach with Jonty along to gain experience towards his MIA Assessment. Although the general forecasts mentioned a chance of thunder the Met Office's specific forecast was more optimistic for our intended peaks. It turned out to be even nicer than expected. We had a hot and sweaty accent of the east end and made good time over the first Munro of the day and the pinnacles. At the low point of the ridge and after all the scrambling Mike was feeling quite off colour so he opted to descend north to the Kinlochleven Road- at one of the few easy escapes from the ridge- with Jonty. The rest of us summited the second Munro and headed South back to recover the cars before picking the others up. We had a little sun, a little mist and a few spots of rain/light showers- and mostly dry rock! It was only on the return to Fort William that the heavens opened and we heard a little thunder.