Sandy Paterson Mountaineering

This is a blog of my personal and work climbing along with all the other things I do in the outdoors. Please feel free to have a look at my main website.

Over winter I will try and blog at the end of each week, however I will aim to tweet each day so feel free to follow me @SandyPMIC



http://www.sandypaterson.co.uk/

Monday 24 September 2012

Summer Mountain Leader Training

Enjoying some navigation around the Burma Road

Summit of Ben Macdui.........Summer??

Cloud Bow early on a cold morning

Navigating while looking onto the Shelter Stone Crag

Relocation skills while navigating
Last week I was working at Glenmore Lodge directing a Summer Mountain Leader Training course. A full course of 12 candidates enjoyed a good week and although cold at times the weather was good to us. A real highlight was Saturday morning waking up high on the plateau after a camp and being treated to some stunning weather including a very cool cloud bow.
 
A great week with a great team, hopefully we will see some of them back next summer for their assessment.

Sunday 16 September 2012

SPA Training

Rigging and running group abseils in the sun
Al running through a top rope set up

Al abseiling in to rescue me and demonstrate a Y hang pick up

I was at Glenmore Lodge last week working with Al Halewood on an SPA Training course. Day 1 had us at Cummingston with our team of 7 looking at personal climbing, abseiling and group warm ups. The weather was cold but dry so not too bad. Day 2 had us at Kingussie Crag looking at top rope, bottom rope and abseil set ups for groups. The sun was out in the morning but some cold and heavy showers had us scuttling back to the Glenmore Lodge climbing wall in the afternoon! Day 3's weather was fairly wild so we made use of the climbing wall at Glenmore Lodge again plus the granite towers outside.
 
A great few days with a keen team, hopefully see them back for assessment next summer.
 
The weekend off for me before heading back to Glenmore Lodge to run a Summer Mountain Leader Training.

Monday 3 September 2012

CWA and SPA Workshop

Cliff top discussion
On Saturday I was on a Mountain Training Scotland seminar on the CWA and SPA courses. About 14 providers and directors got together to discuss certain aspects of the awards. It was great to hear other peoples views about the award and generally chew the chud. Thanks to George Mac for facilitating the day and Jon Jones and Al Halewood for running sessions during the day, all very useful.
 
Good timing for me as well as I am back at Glenmore Lodge next week working on an SPA Training course.

Visually Impaired Mountaineering Course

Norma, Richard and John on the Summit of Ben Rinnes

Sam and Richard on the way up Ben Rinnes

The camp at Bynack Stables after the midges!

Full moon at Bynack Stables

The team catching up with Eric during his bike ride

David climbing at Cummingston

Coming down from Bynack Mor

Jennie leading the team up to Bynack Mor

Norma climbing at Cummingston
Last week I was working at Glenmore Lodge on their annual Mountain Craft course for Visually Impaired people. It was a great week with an amazing team. During the week we went to Cummingston climbing, spent a night out camping, used the indoor climbing wall at Glenmore Lodge and went up Ben Rinnes.
 
It was truly inspiring to watch the VI's just getting on with everything and not letting their impairment stop them enjoying the great outdoors.