Raft Building, Overnight Expedition and Climbing

Over the last two days I have been delivering raft building, Rock Climbing and assessing the students overnight expedition for their BTEC expedition skills unit.

Raft Building: On Wednesday morning the students were set a task to design and build a raft to transport them from one side of the bay back to the boat house. They got to choose their launch location, design and teams. After transporting their raft parts to the other side of the bay by canoe, the canoes were towed back and the students left to build their raft and paddle it back. The results were very opposite with one team succeeding and the other having a shocker!

Overnight Expedition: Following some previous training back at college and the completion of the mountain skills course over the last two days the students were tasked to plan a route from Wenallt back to the centre via the Aran Ridge. After being bused out to Wenallt both groups ascended Aran Fawddwy before dropping down to their chosen camp sites on the east side of the ridge. The following morning they made their way back to the centre in time for lunch.

Rock Climbing: Once the students had freshened up after their overnight Camp we headed to Barmouth Slabs for a spot of climbing in the afternoon sun. I took some of the students for some top roping on the lower tier, Gwilym took two students for a session on lead climbing and Rhys took the rest for some bottom roping on the upper tier. Rhys and I swopped our groups half way through the session. 

It was a great couple of days with the students really showing the skills they've learned over the past 13 months. All finished off with an ice cream in Barmouth before heading back to the centre. 

Climbing at the Dewerstone

Yesterday was the last day of the 2015 residentials for the Bridgwater College FdSc Public Services students. 

Gwilym and I took the students to the Dewerstone near Shaugh Prior in Dartmoor National Park for some rock climbing. We set up a number of routes on top ropes, the students then managed themselves having a go at all of the routes. 

As part of their ongoing assessment for the module they also took part in a session looking at suitable anchors and building belays. This was all done at ground level before Gwilym and I set up the climbs.

It was a good end to the two blocks of three days on Dartmoor. The students all showing good progress in the activities. 

Climbing at Dartrock

Today we only had half a day to do an activity with the FdSc students before returning to Bridgwater. As the weather was forecast to be inclement Gwilym and I opted to take the students to Dartrock for some indoor climbing.

I delivered a bouldering and movement skills session for half the group while Gwilym took the other half on the main wall for some roped climbing. We swopped groups half way through. 

During the break between groups we enjoyed a nice coffee and took advantage of the 2 for 1 friday cake deal with home-made carrot cake being the choice!

I will be back down on Dartmoor next Wednesday to Friday with the same group for the remainder of the Hill Skills course and climbing assessments.   

Climbing at Sheeps Tor

Walking up to Sheeps Tor

Gwilym teaching anchor construction

Beth on Dandelion (S4a)

Charlotte on Sheltered Crack (VD)

Ola on Dandelion (S4a) and Harriet on Barking Crack

Today I travelled to Dartmoor National Park with the FdSc PES students from Bridgwater College to work alongside Gwilym Starks to deliver 3 days of climbing and hill walking.

After getting three days worth of food from the supermarket, traveling to Dartmoor and settling the students into their accommodation at Whiteworks we made our way over to Sheeps Tor. 

It was a stunning day but a little windy so we started the sessions by teaching the students about anchors and set up and let them have a go on ground based anchors.

Gwilym and I then set up four climbs for the students to test themselves on and put their previous experience into practice. Three of the climbs were graded V Diff and the other Severe. After all had been on the four routes the students helped to coil the ropes and carry the kit back to the bus.

Bridgwater College Residential - Day 5

After a very productive but wet week so far Gwilym and I decided to take the student to Dartrock Climbing centre for their last activity in stead of the planned group activity out on the moor.

The students spent an hour climbing in the main area with Gwilym and an hour with me bouldering and having a go in the artificial cave system. 

During my session we covered efficiency when climbing and those that wanted to took part in a competition to see who could get through the cave system the quickest.

Today wrapped up a really good week. It has set the students up for a great two years on the course and given them an insight into the various activities involved and the types of leadership involved with delivering them.

Another stunning Day at Valley of the Rocks

It's been a busy month with the majority of my work coming in the form of freelance instructing for Exmoor Adventures. 

Valley of the Rocks in Lynton was the venue again today for a climbing and abseiling session for a scout Group from Wimbledon. It was great to be working with two very polite groups of young people at a beautiful venue on a stunning blue sky day. We set up three bottom ropes of varying grades and a top rope that transferred over to an abseil for the scouts to try.

Working with other instructors is something I always enjoy and today I was working with Dave Huxtable who was today also freelancing for Exmoor Adventures but his main job is managing the Pinkery Centre on Exmoor. Its good to bounce ideas of good practise around and see how others set up at venues.

It's great being an Outdoor Activity Instructor!

The last few days have been brilliant as an outdoor instructor. Continuing on from Friday I have been working for Exmoor Adventures delivering climbing at the Valley of the Rocks, Lynmouth as part of the new Somersault Festival and Coasteering. Here's my last three days.

Saturday

From 11.00 - 13.30 I delivered a climbing session at Valley of the rocks for 6 clients from the festival. The sun was shining and the wind minimal so it was a bit of a hot one. Todays group had some climbing experience so the first part of the session went swiftly allowing the clients to get plenty of climbing in and have a wander around to take in the stunning valley and coastal views.

After a very quick de-rig of all the ropes I headed over to Hele Bay near Ilfracombe to assist Dan (Exmoor Adventures) with a Coasteering session for 14 Stags! We got in on a dropping neap tide and due to the current weather the water was pan flat and clear! After some swim sections, some scrambling and a few small jumps we headed out to the point between Hele Bay and Ilfracombe to take on the larger jumps. The biggest of the day being about 7 meters. The session went really well and just as we got out of the water a heavy shower passed through.

My day finished by heading over to the festival site to collect my free staff entry and camping wrist band before settling into the crowd (3 rows from the front) to see Jack Johnson's set. Pretty Good day!

Sunday

The only work for today was to head back over to 'Valley of the Rocks' to deliver another climbing session for some festival goers. The session again ran from 11.00 - 13.30.

6 clients arrived on the festival transport today for the climbing session. 2 couples and a father and son. The session went really well with all enjoying climbing on warm rock in dry summer conditions and agin with stunning weather and great views along the north Devon coastline and across to South Wales. The highlight of the day being Fergus' comment about the session being a lifetime memory to cherish, spending quality time with his son doing something active outside and away from all the modern technology.

Another Great way to finish a day! Back to the festival site to meet up with Dan and the other instructors for a chilled afternoon catching some great bands over a couple of drinks culminating with local boy Ben Howard headlining the main stage! Another great set!

'The View West from the top of Castle Rock'

Monday

Just 4 guys today for the climbing session, 4 no shows so the festival must have got the better of them!

The session today was another mirror image of the last three days, the only difference being a slightly smaller group. The 4 guys today were really keen to learn the basics and get climbing. We also had a couple who had come down to the festival from Scotland who left the session buzzing and planning on getting more tuition and buying some kit to get out more back at home. The weather was once again amazing and brought the beautiful setting alive. 

Its been a really good 4 days working with some great groups who were all really keen to learn new skills and be outside. The added bonus being able to see some great live music in the evenings after the work was done. Looking forward to working at the festival again next year!

I'll leave you with a view back up the valley from the top of castle rock.

Lovely Day at Valley of the Rocks.

Today I have been working for Exmoor Adventures delivering Climbing sessions at Valley of the Rocks near Lynmouth, Devon.

The participants were all from the Somersault Festival. There are a range of activities on offer for festival goers. The plus side being a free ticket for activity staff so I will be going along tomorrow and Sunday eve to catch Jack Johnson and Ben Howards sets.

The 7 participants who came along today had a little climbing experience which made teaching tying in and belaying pretty quick. They then got to use the rest of the 2.5 hour session climbing as many routes and variations of routes as they liked. 

The sun shone for the whole session but it was very humid, the odd cool breeze that blew through was very welcome.

I am also delivering similar sessions for the next three days all for the same festival but different clients.   

Hackney Boxing Academy - Indoor Climbing

The indoor Climbing wall at the Wimbleball Lake activity centre was the venue for todays session. I have been working with the Hackney Boxing Academy on behalf of Exmoor Adventures. During the course of the day the three groups rotated around Indoor Climbing, Archery and Mountain Biking. I was on climbing duty for the day.

Each session involved the students in some top rope climbing steadily taking them from easy grade routes up towards the harder routes on the wall and a traversing task that encouraged the students to be competitive. The session wasn't just about the hard skills of climbing but also looked at the need for trust and communication.