MIA Trg Aonach Dubh

The west coast didn't let us down again today- we had sunshine almost all day for our climbing on the East Face of Aonach Dubh. Lots of ascents of classics like Curving Crack, The Long Crack, Archer Ridge and Quiver Rib. Some good efficient rope work developing- well done team.

Cool climbing Walls?

A little extra for you:http://www.oddee.com/item_97954.aspx

MIA training mountain day

Day 4 of the Glenmore Lodge MIA Training and we woke to a light drizzle but the promise of a bright day. After a quick confab we decided it would be the mountain day so we took the team to Buachaille Etive Mor. I went with Jason and Kev up Lagangarbh Butrress and down Broad Buttress to introduce them to the 'dark art' of short roping in a British mountain environment. As the day went on the weather came good and by the time we started down it was a lovely day.

MIA training at Glen Nevis

Day 3 of the Glenmore Lodge MIA Training and we were looking at the nuts and bolts of teaching climbing in multi pitch climbing at Polldubh. Johnny, Dave and i racked up 7 pitches and an abseil looking at the rope work involved. The midges were pretty horrific on 3 Pines but we headed up onto Secretaries into the sun and the breeze for a damp slabby first pitch and then some "crimpy awesomeness".

Day 2 Climbing at Cummingston

Our second day of the Glenmore Lodge MIA Training took us to the 'costa del Moray' to stay dry. We started the day looking at warmups and bouldering. Revisited the familiar issues of belay building and plate orientation, did some single pitch climbing and looked at protecting ourselves in descent.
Tomorrow we are heading west for some multi pitch rock and mountaineering in Lochaber.

Sunny MIA Training first day

For the next 9 days I am working on an MIA training course for Glenmore Lodge. Today we were treated to a lovely Cairngorm day for the start of the course.
After introductions and admin we looked at what the 8 candidates hope to get out of doing the course and what being an MIA is about. We used this discussion as a springboard to examine some of the less obvious roles an MIA may, or may not feel able to fulfil, particularly when it comes to 'other adventurous activities' such as combined rock and water activities or advising on high ropes courses. This in turn set us up for a trip up towards Coire an t Sneachda to look at dynamic risk assessment by revisiting the skills of a good Summer ML; showing what level of knowledge and ability is expected of an MIA holder.
First day of a long and busy course.

Bring the pain...

I'm taking a few days holiday with the family in Keswick prior to a stint of work at Glenmore Lodge. Its been a busy summer and with the arrival of baby Kaye and lots of work I'm not feeling the fittest. There's nothing like easy yourself back into a fitness regime..... or so I'm told.... I just tend to go for an unscientific beasting when I can.
Today it was Keswick to Threlkeld to Blencathra House to Skiddaw House. Then a right turn down the long valley and a left along the roads and bridleways... rolling up and down until the last left turn and the painful big climb up past Dash Falls back to Skiddaw House. Finally it was along the Longscale Fell track to the Latrigg Car Park and a good swift descent back to Keswick. I reckon its about 56 km and about 1400m of climb. And it hurt. and then I arrived back at my in laws just in time to take Sandy for a bike ride!!

1100m climbed, 300m to go and thats 200m of it right ahead... bring the pain!!