SPA Assessment

John enjoying being guided up a route at Cummingston

Dealing with abseiling problems at Kingussie

Stuck climber on a bottom rope

Earlier in the week I was working with John Armstrong at Glenmore Lodge on an SPA Assessment. The team were all from the UAE and had been across in Scotland for a while doing various NGB awards. On day 1 we headed to Cummingston to look at personal climbing and abseiling, were we had nice sunny weather. On day 2 we headed to Kingussie Crag to look at group set ups and issues. The weather was not quite as nice as day 1 but we still managed to look at all the rigging and issues that we needed to. The team all did really well and passed their SPA Assessment, well done to them.

Scrambling on Ben Nevis

The start of the difficulties on Castle Ridge

A damp pause for a photo

Tim enjoying the exposure in the crux of the route

Mona coming up the crux corner, in the rain!!

Looking up towards Ledge Route from the CIC Hut

Last Saturday I was out in Ben Nevis with Tim and Mona. This was a birthday treat for Tim from his brother. We headed up to the CIC Hut and then decided on Castle ridge as the odd heavy shower was coming through and this would allow us to move fairly constantly. We headed up Castle ridge with the odd shower and then came down Ledge Route as the weather cheered up a little. A great day out on Ben Nevis with great comany thanks Tim and Mona.

Ropework and Self Rescue - 11th - 12th August

Building Belays at Kingussie Crag

Last weekend I was at Glenmore Lodge working on a Safe Ropework and Gear Placement day followed by an Introduction to Self Rescue Day. On day one we headed out to Kingussie Crag were we had nice sunny weather with a good breeze. This allowed us to look at gear placements and equalising belays using diffrent methods as well as self protecting personal abseils. Sunday had us spending the day in and around Glenmore Lodge were we looked at some self rescue techniques. During the day we covered Y-Hang Abseils, Prussiking, Lowering past a knot, abseiling pas a knot and hauling from within the system.

 

A good day with lots of technical ideas cover. These are great days for people who climb on multi pitch crags or remote crags and want to be a bit safer.

Navigation Week

Looking towards the Northern Corries from Craggan Gorm

Looking into Loch Eanaich from the summit of Sgor Gaoith

Loch Morlich from the rim of Coire Laogh Mor

Looking back towards Beinn a Chaorainn from the north ridge of Cairngorm

Looking back towards Aviemore on the way up Craiggowrie

I have just finished a week at Glenmore Lodge working on a Hill Skills and Navigation course. My team and I had a great weeks visiting a number of areas in and around the Cairngorms. We had a few cloudy days at the start of the week to look at some poor weather navigation techniques and then the last three days have been lovely. This has allowed us to have some great days in the hills enjoying the views as well as looking at emergency procedures and macro navigation.

A great week. This weekend I am back at Glenmore Lodge working on a safe ropework and self rescue weekend. Fingers crossed the weather holds for us.