This last week Paul has been working with Adrian to improve his winter climbing. Adrian aproached Ascent Training earlier this year asking what the best route for himself would be. He had led Scottish grade 4 routes but wanted more Avalanche awareness, improve his navigation, ropework and some winter climbing coaching. We decided that four days of one to one coaching would be the way forward. Below are a few photographs and video clips from a truly fantastic week. As you can see the weather and conditions were perfect. We based ourselves on the west coast and winter climbed on Ben Nevis and in Glencoe, had a mountain skills day on Aonach Mor and a coaching workshop at the Ice Factor.
Part of my role as AMI Chair is working with the other associations - British Mountain Guides (BMG), British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) and Mountain Leader Training Association (MLTA) - these four assocations have a group known as ACWG and there are very healthy relations growing. The last two weekends have been busy with this and I have been a guest at the BAIML and BMG annual dinners. So a little writing now to do for UKC and then off to Wales for an MLTE workshop and meetings about the AMI website and joint associations website.
Had a top day caving with Alan from Workington. This was his first day caving and I think he's hooked.
We descended Dr Bannisters and went through the system to abseil down the window pitch into Alum Pot. Laddered back out and exited via Diccan.
A short drive and walk we then abseiled into Calf Holes and popped out of Brow Gill. What a day.
It's caving season again folks so if anyone wants an experience like this please get in touch.
Apex Training has just completed a highly successful SPA training course with seven students. Paul Platt and Mark Quest were the instructors on the course. What helped to make the course was the fantastic weather as the photo's below show. This believe it or not was November. Mark is directing an SPA assessment tomorrow and Tuesday. Apex Training have the last of 2011 ML courses starting on the 13th November. So in 2011 we have delivered 23 MLTE courses.
Paul is caving with a client in the Dales tomorrow and caving with Cumbria University students on Wednesday
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Top tip from Petzl. How a prussik can be used to safeguard the scary situation when we lower off a single bolt.
Please click here to read the tip.
There's also many useful articles in this section and more will be added.Well so much for keeping this up to date! Somehow this year is flyng by. I'm sitting in a cafe in Mallorca waiting for a friend Justin to finish leading a mountain biking session and then we are off climbing. Been here for four days now and having a fantastic time.
Its been great to come here not only for the climbing but also because Justin, Sam and I will jointly advertise some rock climbing in Mallorca. This is a perfect place to learn to climb in the winter. I've climbed 280m routes and many sport routes in four days and the weather has been perfect. I'll be advertising these soon, keep an eye on the site.
We have just finished delivery of the July ML training and assessment course. Both were highly successful with 16 happy people. Of the 8 assessment candiates 6 had a straight pass, one a deferral for first aid which needs completing and 1 just a small amount to do.Well done to all.
August ML courses are full but there are places on courses in September and thereafter.
On Saturday I chaired the AMI EGM in North Wales. The aim to have incorporation of the association voted in. This was highly successful and the AMI is now moving towards a split between Charitable status and Limited by Guarantee.
The association is moving forward at a huge pace and in the last six months we have ensured Continual Professional Development is compulsory, developing Professional standards and now Incorporation.
Paul Platt has been Chair since January 2011.
On the 16th July I took two people climbing at Shepherds Crag in Borrowdale. Chris had been in touch a few weeks before for a day climbing with himself and a friend. Unfortunately the forecast was poor. After a last minute decision to go for it and dress accordingly we met at the cafe in the rain. The day turned out to be excellent with both Chris and Kate climbing extremely well in wet conditions and after we let a thunderstorm pass the sun came out and Little Chamonix was climbed in the evening sun.
The year for Apex courses has been very busy and looks set to continue.
We have four spaces left on the July ML training, four on the August ML training, both July and Aug ML assessments are full but spaces on courses thereafter.
Please see Apex Training for more details.
Since the last blog we have been busy and hence I haven't got round to updating this. We have a 5 day programme with YABC (burns camp from Manchester) which was a great success, a primary school booking for 40 based at Ingleton Youth Hostel, three days of caving instruction for a school and a day of ghyll scrambling for another school. That was June.
July so far we have delivered four sessions of canoeing, a day of caving for Dove Nest group and a cave diver who was in need of instruction in SRT. Fortunately the weather has been fantastic recently and a highly successful few months.
ML courses have also been busy (see the next blog) and also busy with the AMI.
Just completed an excellent week of caving work with IM Marsh students on a course organised by Duncan Morrison. Duncan delivers the LCMLA caving courses for Apex Training. We had an intro caving trip into Longchurn on day one and then a teaching SRT day followed by a short vertical cave and then a longer SRT trip on the second day. These two days were then repeated for the next group. Motivated, able students' made it a very enjoyable week.
For more information on SRT and what it's about please click here.
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