Here Paul is the mountain safety for Bear Grylls (seen here without the helmet) filming a commercial with MJZ in Cheddar Gorge.
This project included a recce day followed by four days of filming in South Wales and Cheddar Gorge.
Paul was working with Jamie Edgell (Stunt Coordinator) and a team to ensure the safety of Bear and the crew.
Paul Platt (AMI Chairman) chaired an extremely successful AMI AGM the weekend of 26th/27th January 2013. There were a number of excellent workshops for AMI members throughout the weekend as the photos show. The association is now Professional having adopted a policy of Professional Standards. This now means that AMI members have to adhere to the code of conduct which includes Mandatory Continual Professional Development and Professional Standards. This ensures our members are safer and more Professional so look out for the AMI badge.
There will also be a development of the AMI magazine in March. This is changing its title to 'The Professional Mountaineer' and will go to all members of the following associations - AMI, BAIML, BMG and MTA. Get your copy too.
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Winter is here!
Ascent Training staff are qualified and experienced to guide winter climbs (snow and ice and/or mixed climbs) in the Lake District, Scotland and North Wales.
Please Contact Us if you are interested in developing your winter climbing skills or undertaking a particular route.
For more information on private guiding please click here.
Ascent Training has just had it's busiest year of school bookings. There are images on the Facebook page and some testimonials on the schools page.
We have had a number of new bookings but all schools from 2011 rebooked bor 2012 and bookings coming in for 2013 which include more new schools.
There are ML courses and rock climbing courses running during the month of August.
Please see our new Facebook Page for Ascent Training and Apex Training.
This will be kept up to date with photos and news.
Having a fantastic time guiding for Paul Walker and Tangent in Greenland. Finished the first trip and start the next expedition on Saturday.
Very cold here today and the wind has picked up this evening.
Bookings can still be taken while i'm away and i'll get in touch after the 11th May
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.
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