Monday 11 July 2011

Touching the cake hole



Something to wet your appetite! This great little film is from a euro ice road trip. This film shows some fantastic ice climbing footage. Is this something you want to do? A Winter Skills Course with Skylark Mountain Adventures is the first step towards safe enjoyable winter mountaineering/climbing adventures!

Imminent conflict



A fantastic days climbing on Black Ladders.......Awesome!

Friday 1 July 2011

Millstone - Climbing

Last week I had a great day climbing with Kim at Millstone. We arrived at the crag to find we were the only people at the crag and perfect conditions. Kim hadn't climbed at Millstone before so we decided to tick some classic! They were all 3*** routes in my book.





The Mall VS 4c
Down as in the top 50 in the guidebook this route didn't disappoint with lovely sustained climbing.















Next up Great North Road HVS 5a also in the guidebook as top 50.

Chris tightening up his boots ready for a wild HVS!






Chris on Great North Road.

Great climbing in a really wild position but well protected climbing! Check out the dude in the sky.







Chris leading Billingsgate E1 5b. A great route with a crux at the top with not so fantastic protection. One not to fall off!




Kim Seconding Billingsgate E1 5b in style.
 Kim just pulling through the crux on Billingsgate E1 5b. Good effort Kim!
 The last route of the day was Knightsbridge E2 5c. A great little finger crack with small but positive protection. A great  way to finish off a top days climbing!

SPA Preparation Course

 



Day 1 SPA Preparation
The first day was spent looking at setting up bottom/top ropes and group abseils. We also looked at problem solving which included stuck climber, hair caught in belay device, climber off route etc.

David on the crux of Slippery Wall HVS 5b






Here is David belaying Enda up Slippery Wall 
HVS 5b



Enda Seconding and on the crux of Slippery Wall.











Day 2 SPA Preparation

The main focus of this day was lead climbing. We started the day off at Stanage and the headed over to Birchen to avoid incoming bad weather.

Here is Enda placing a cam on the first lead of the day. Black Hawk Hell Crack S4a.

Enda topping out at the end of a good weekend on Sail Chimney S 4a - Birchen. Top effort chaps!