rock climbing

Climbing Rope work techniques and abseiling in the Snowdonia mountains

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Good stance organisation is essential for multi pitch climbing

Good stance organisation is essential for multi pitch climbing

A day out learning and practicing rope techniques for climbing in the mountains. We spend the day setting up belays and safe ways to Abseil off a route if the weather comes in. We covered so much including leading with appropriate rope systems for on multi pitch routes, stance organisation, Location of you on a stance, rope preparation, Belay systems, and abseiling.
We discussed a lot of climbing issues such as double vs Single vs twin ropes for routes, Safety of climbers on stance. Efficient changeover at belays, stance can accommodate everybody/organised such that the leader can move off with the minimum of fuss and disruption, leader and second stacked in climbing order (e.g. leader at top/outside; second at bottom/inside), leader on stance at side they will move off from for next pitch. Leader/second clipped in without crossing ropes Sort ropes out so leaders rope on top of stack (back coiled). Tying into anchors (single and multiple): linking anchors with sling Vs tying into anchors, clipping ropes and extending runners. Belay direct and in direct. Abseiling from rock anchors, backing up anchor for first person down. Cows tail on harness for clipping into belay, the use of friction devices and the use of the French Prussic.

What a day!

In reach and out of reach anchors

In reach and out of reach anchors

Climbing multi pitch routes in the Pass with good ropework

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Climbing on the original route VS on Dinas Mot

Climbing on the original route VS on Dinas Mot

Climbing multi pitch routes in the Pass. This day allowed Jim and Simon to practice their stance manage and multi pitch rope in truly exposed situations. A great day out and it all came together for them. If you want to extend your climbing to multi pitch situation but just to check out efficient systems to use let me know. Have a look at http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-climbing-courses-snowdonia/

Never a more important time to keep your ropes organised

Never a more important time to keep your ropes organised

An excellent day out climbing the route Main Wall on Cyrn Las. We had just the perfect weather!

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Just entering the chimney on Main wall climb, the third pitch

Just entering the chimney on Main wall climb, the third pitch

It’s the most beautiful valley, the Llanberis Pass, with the best mountaineering route at HS on Cyrn Las. On most days it is cold but with the weather we have at the moment it was the ideal route to do! Cyrn Las is an impressive crag. The route Main Wall, is the easiest route on the cliff, and a classic, but looking up you will struggle to see where it goes zig zaging about on the face.
Excellent exposed pitches on Main Wall

Excellent exposed pitches on Main Wall

A day of working with multi pitch rope work on the Sea Cliffs.

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Being able to see your partner helps in communication. Stopping things going wrong

Being able to see your partner helps in communication. Stopping things going wrong

A great day out at Castel Helen, on the Anglesey sea cliffs. Learning to deal with ropes on multi pitch climbs. Having systems to deal with your ropes can save you time when you don’t have a lot of space hanging around on a sea cliff. Multi pitch climbing requires attention to detail in these space restricted situations.

Keeping the ropes apart helps to stop ropes getting twisted and therefore drag

Keeping the ropes apart helps to stop ropes getting twisted and therefore drag

http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-climbing-courses-snowdonia/

A family adventure day out with the kids in Snowdonia, North Wales

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Learning to climb is such great fun

Learning to climb is such great fun

We had a great day out climbing in Snowdonia. One the first day we went rock climbing and the kids just loved it. It is so different to what they had been used to. What looked impossible when they started seems easy by the end. They improved so fast in the end they completed everything I gave them as a challenge, I couldn’t find a harder problem so they were winding me up! It was amazing! On the second day we went up the mountain Tryfan which is a real mountain where you have to scramble in places and they loved it! It has a real peak and excellent views from the top, assuming of course you get a clear day! It’s a real goal to summit and when you get here you feel like you have achieved something.
If you are looking for something different to do have a look at http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/ and contact me for a special personalised weekend. Personal guiding for the family is £300 for the weekend included all the technical equipment and, you will do so much!
Just so relaxed!

Just so relaxed!

Climbing outdoors for the first time -Single Pitch Climbing at Holyhead Mountain

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Hanging on in order to solve the crux move
Fancy learning to lead outdoors. Get your season off to a flying start with our Rock climbing courses. We got a great out at Holyhead Mountain. It was just warm enough to get some classic routes in. We started on Mrs Murdoch, New Boots and Panties, Laceration, Teaser, Cursing, and ended up on C’estla Vie as the day warmed up! Nice to get a good day in so early in the season. If you have been on the indoor wall and fancy transferring your skills to the outdoor have a look to see what we have to offer. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-climbing-courses-snowdonia/

Abseiling safely

Abseiling safely

Scrambling whilst practicing short roping techniques.

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The main Crib Goch ridge in the background

The main Crib Goch ridge in the background

Geraint and Rob wanted to develop their scrambling experience in the mountains and also learn the rope techniques required to develop their scrambling. So we spend the first day scrambling looking at safe and efficient roping techniques required in order to move fast across this type of ground in the mountains. They had the opportunity to put all these roping techniques in to use on the second day by leading a scramble themselves using direct and indirect belays they had learn on the previous day. I have never seen two people move so efficiently on their day out using short roping. It was good to see they had picked up and remembered everything from the first day! http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-scrambling-courses/

Success! Finishing the Crib Goch Ridge

Success! Finishing the Crib Goch Ridge

Guiding/Leading Climbing in Llanberis pass, Snowdonia. Clogwyn y Grochan.

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Good Bridging stance

Good Bridging stance

We did a series of routes along that wall. Brant Direct which is a well protected HVS following a crack with continuous bridging and jamming all the way up. Our second route was Kaisergebirge wall another excellent HVS which follows a rising traverse with great exposure. We then finished the day with phantom Rib a superb 3 star VS which has an excellent second pitch. An exposed rib with small holds which gets more exciting as you progress. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-climbing-courses-snowdonia/

Climbing Faith, on Idwal Slabs in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia.

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Lovely slab climbing

Lovely slab climbing

Considering the weather forecast we had a great day out climbing Faith on Idwal slabs. The route had some exposed moves but all with good friction so it was ideal to do in the wet. It’s an excellent climb to practice belay building and it has bomber gear placements! It is not as well climbed as some of the other routes and it certainly isn’t as polished as Charity or Hope. The first 4 pitches are continuing interesting with an easy scrambling final pitch! Then a few pitches of scrambling to get off. For more information on what you can do with Mountaineering Joe have a look at http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/

Guided Mountaineering multi-pitch climbing on Main Wall (HS), Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia, in North Wales.

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Some exposed positions ...the belay before the crux

Some exposed positions …the belay before the crux

We had a full on day working our way up Diffwys Ddu, on the south side of the pass. It was a great mountaineering day out. Main Wall has just about everything on it. Walls, grooves, chimneys, slabs, cracks and ramps. The crux is two thirds of the way up the route. A move around a corner which feels very committing as you leave your second but it’s easier than it looks. It’s a great route for practicing placing gear without being too committed , never being too steep. You do need good route finding skills as it zigzags up the cliff. So if you are looking to develop your leading techniques with solid route finding skills it’s a good one to try, but allow yourself a long and good weather day for it. Have a look at our learning to lead climbing courses, where you will get very personal and tailored coaching. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-climbing-courses-snowdonia/