You don't always get good paths

Hill Skills and Mountain Skills Courses available now!

Mountain Training, the official body that oversees popular training for qualifications and personal skills such as Mountain Leader. They have introduced the Hill and Mountain Skills schemes in April 2014.

Mountaineering Joe has become a provider of these courses. Have a look at our walking section for more information on how you can get on one of these courses!

If you are new, or are looking to improve your skills, to walking in the hills and mountains of the UK, these courses could be just what you need to enable you to learn new skills and to increase your confidence and to plan your own adventures in the mountains. This is ideal for parents who want to build their children’s independence by allowing them to plan the walks. so eventually you will feel confident that they know how to look after themselves in the future whilst walking in the mountains.
For more information visit http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/walking/

Being able to look after yourself rewards you with beautiful days out in the mountains

Being able to look after yourself rewards you with beautiful days out in the mountains

Guided walks on the Anglesey Coastal path.

,

We were walking along the top North east coast sheltering from the high winds from the south and it worked. We were rewarded with not only excellent weather but also excellent views for the day. We walked from Red Wharf bay to Puffin Island. Considering it is the heart of winter it is still excellent conditions for walking on Anglesey.

The wild life at Red Wharf Bay is stunning

The wild life at Red Wharf Bay is stunning

For more information on the Anglesey Coastal path Walks and what you can do follow this link http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/anglesey-coastal-path/

Scrambling up Clogwyn Y Person Arête.

The last technical section on Clogwyn Y Person Arête

The last technical section on Clogwyn Y Person Arête

This is one of the greatest natural lines in Snowdonia and a great 3 Star, Grade 2/3 classic scramble on Snowdon. The day was looking a bit misty but the weather never really came in, in fact the wind dropped and it turned out not to be as cold as expected! No real wind on the Crib Goch ridge which made it a delight! We descended the north ridge back down in the valley…simply a fantastic day out. For more ideas about what you could so have a look at out scrambling section http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/scrambling/course-5-classic-snowdon-scramble-clogwyn-y-person-arete/

Enjoy the Anglesey Coastal path with a guided walk. Today we were on the Four Mile Bridge to Ravens Point section.

, , , ,

A great day out on the Anglesey Coastal path. Some beautiful views along the coastline with some dry and mild winter weather to enjoy this area of the island. We are providing all the guiding, and the transport so you don’t need to do a circular walk, so you get to enjoy much more of the coast. Have a look what guided day walks we have to offer …http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/anglesey-coastal-path/

Some stunning coves along this section of coastline

Some stunning coves along this section of coastline

Winter walking in Scotland is looking excellent for next year

, , , , , ,

The winter walking season is nearly upon us. I will be running some guided walks this winter in Scotland and Snowdonia so if you fancied getting into winter walking drop me a message and we will work something out. Have a look at what’s on offer with Mountaineering Joe. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/mountaineering/winter-skills-walking-and-mountaineering/

The ridges starting to get their wintery feel

The ridges starting to get their wintery feel

A good day out considering the weather, scrambling in Cwm Idwal, in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia

, , ,
Great views down the Nant Ffrancon valley

Great views down the Nant Ffrancon valley

Scrambling out in continuous heavy rain but we were sheltered in Cwm Idwal from the high winds of 60mph! we were climbing on the cliffs of Glyder Fawr which face north east, climbing next to North west Face route and did the continuation slabs above. This protected us from the prevailing south easterlies . But we never ventured to the top because of the wind forecast. Instead we escaped off Glyder Fawr on to Seniors’ ridge and in the shelter of Cwm Cneifion back down into Cwm Idwal. The rock was in good condition allowing for some excellent scrambling. We really got a good mountain day out of nothing considering the weather! For more ideas on what you can do have a look at http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-scrambling-courses/

A good day out Guiding on a scramble in the Nant Ffrancon Valley on Milestone Buttress, (Ogwen Valley Area) Snowdonia called Milestone Buttress Approach (grade 3).

, , ,
Starting the difficult moves up the flake on Milestone Buttress Approach Scramble the crux of the route

Starting the difficult moves up the flake on Milestone Buttress Approach Scramble the crux of the route

Milestone Buttress Approach is a brilliant scramble up the main face on Milestone Buttress on the west side. It is such good scrambling but the rain did come in during the morning! Low temperatures were forecast so we went for Milestone Buttress as it low down in the valley. We were scrambling on the right hand side on the west face of the buttress. We scrambled on a route called Milestone Buttress Approach just right of Pupit route. The rock has excellent friction and full on grade 3 scrambling pitches up the main face. It was a wet and windy day but excellent scrambling. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-scrambling-courses/

Scrambling on the North West face of Glyder Fawr, Idwal Valley, Idwal Staircase and the continuation on the slabs above. Snowdonia

, , ,
Owen crossing the waterfall on Idwal Staircase

Owen crossing the waterfall on Idwal Staircase

This is a very wet (grade 2) scramble this time of the year with the amount of water coming off the mountain at the moment. Scrambling either side and in a waterfall! The north west face is only broken by one gigantic ledge otherwise it is a series of discontinuous slabs. We started on Idwal staircase scrambling our way up on the right of the waterfall, crossing it to continue up the left side. Just getting very wet crossing it! The scramble continues at the top of the waterfall on the left after the big break weaving its way up to a big wall and passing below it on a steep ramp. We arrived before we knew it, on Seniors Ridge. What a great day out even if it didn’t stop raining! http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-scrambling-courses/

Looking down into Cwm Idwal.. We has the place to ourselves!

Guided day out scrambling in Cwm Idwal, in the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, North Wales.

, , , ,
Very wet but happy...a good day!

Very wet but happy…a good day!

We had a great but wet day out in Cwm Idwal scrambling just right of Idwal Slabs on the North West face. We started on the North West Face Route on the slabby face just pass Idwal staircase, on excellent friction rock. When we arrived at the break which is half way up the cliff and then we continued up on the left via a series of grooves and ledges until we arrived at Seniors Ridge. There were streams coming down! Wet but warm for the time of the year. http://mountaineeringjoe.co.uk/rock-scrambling-courses/

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

, , , , ,
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/