North Wales Cragging and Completion Seminar...

I have spent the last few days over in North Wales doing a little climbing following the ski season.

It's been great to get on some proper Welsh trad routes particularly on Holyhead Mountain, Gogarth and Rhoscolyn - some of my favorite crags outside the mountains.  This was a great opportunity, but one of the main aims of the week was to attend the British Mountain Guides Completion Seminar.

This was the final hurdle to getting full IFMGA Guide status and a copy of the Mountain Guide Diploma certificate.  So after, approximately four years of training and assessment on rock, snow, ice and ski (not to mention at least fifteen years experience to get there) Mark Walker and I received our badges from Tim Walker (BMG President).

It would easy to see this as the end of the process, but of course it's not!  It's the start of the ability to guide worldwide in alpine terrain and enjoy some great trips to some awesome places with some fantastic people....

AMI Workshop, Problem Solving...

Mark and I made the short drive down to Matlock today to meet up with Will.  The aim of the day was to revise and practice 'problem solving' techniques as required by the MIA syllabus.

We spent the day looking at a variety of up, down and sideways maneuvering on the crag practicing, hauling, lowering as well as counter balance and traverse rescues.

As usual Wild Cat was a good venue and quiet with just one other party ticking the classics of 'Lynx' and 'Cat Walk' among others.  Thanks to Will for agreeing to act as a body for the day...!

AMI Workshop, Critical Incident Analysis...

Another day at Stanage Edge today, this time for an Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) workshop.

As part of Instructors continuing professional development they choose to attend a number of workshops over a set time period.  Today, we spent our time reviewing some of the statistics relating to single pitch climbing accidents to identify any current trends.

This allowed us to then examine coaching strategies to address the greatest areas of risk.  Conditions were good with a cool breeze, ideal for the grit.  As a result the crag was particularly busy...

Stanage and Froggatt...

It's been a couple of changeable weather days in the Peak District with high winds and heavy showers.

Despite this Di, Nik and I have managed two full days of climbing at Froggatt and Stanage Edges. It was much colder today as the frontal system passed through swinging the wind around to the North West.  As a result it was bitter at the crag (as pictured!).

The friction was however unsurprisingly good, and there were plenty of folk out enjoying the fast drying gritstone.  Including fellow MIC and sponsored Edelrid team member - Adam Hughes...

ML Training and Climbing at Stanage....

It's been a good day out in the Peak District today with good gritstone climbing conditions.

Paul Knowles was out at Stanage Edge (pictured) with Sarah and Mark for an introduction to climbing on the gritstone edges.

I started the day over in Hope, acting as Course Director for a Peak Mountain Training Mountain Leader Training Course.  Following a brief introduction to the course we decided to head straight up on to Kinder Scout for some navigation practice and skills coaching.

On the moor the temperature was ideal for hill walking, and despite the cool northerly breeze and associated snow flurries (really - there were), the conditions were brilliant....

Technical Advisor Work, Rockcity...

Since arriving back in the UK it's been a busy couple of days.

First up on Saturday was a visit to the Rockcity Climbing Centre in Hull, to deliver some site specific training.  This training will form the basis for the delivery of climbing sessions for wall and visiting staff.

We spent the day looking at how to deliver safe and interesting climbing sessions in an indoor wall combined with some coaching tips.  This is the first course where we have been able to make use of the new purpose built bouldering facility - Bloccity.  If you are up that way, check it out...

BMG Ski Mountaineering Assessment...

I have spent the last week with Andy Townsend, Euan Whittaker, Mark Walker, Andy Nelson, and Paul Chiddle on the British Mountain Guides Ski Mountaineering Assessment.

With some fairly unseasonal and challenging weather we have visited a large number of venues in an attempt to find the best conditions - Les Aravis, Val d'Ferret, Les Grands Montets, Le Tour to name a few.

The 'Trou de la Mouche' and the Point D’Areu in Les Aravis were definite highlights but required some careful avalanche risk assessment.  There we substantial avalanches on similar aspects on both these days! Big thanks to Richard Mansfield and Bruce Goodlad who ran the assessment course and to a large number of Guides who I have joined for Aspirant touring days.

Just a one day completion seminar now stands between full IFMGA Guide status, which I am looking forward to in mid May...

Les Grands Montets...

Mark Walker, Euan Whittaker, Andy Nelson and I were out on Les Grants Montets today to practice a few skills in preparation for the British Mountain Guides Ski Mountaineering Assessment.

The visibility was poor high on the mountain but the snow conditions were good, allowing us to ski some good powder.

Andy is pictured digging a ski belay while holding fall during some roped skiing practice....