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Self doubt
Self doubt Self doubt can be limiting in life. I recently was inspired and thought I would share my feelings. I don’t usually read books. Never having had the drive as a child, or being taught how to love reading. Comics were more my thing, because I found this easier to follow the pictures. […]
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The Ice piton or “Bulldog”
The ice piton or “Bulldog” For most of you who have played around winter climbing, you would have come across a piece of protection called “The Bulldog”. For those who haven’t, it is not a dog. It is an ice piton, or ice hook, shaped like a miniature ice axe, with a sling on the […]
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Trad Climbing Rack
What is in a trad climbing rack? This is the second in a series of articles where I will be writing on suggestions of what different climbing racks consist of, from our point of view. We looked at a sport climbing rack on our previous article (click here). We are yet to look at trad […]
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Sport Climbing Rack
What is in a sport climbing rack? This is the first in a series of articles, where I will be writing on suggestions of what different climbing racks consist of, from our point of view. We will be looking at sport climbing, trad climbing, aid climbing, winter mountaineering, and winter climbing. We have already looked […]
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BMC Climbing Injuries symposium
BMC Climbing Injuries symposium summary As a climbing coach and instructor, I thought it would be interesting to attend the BMC climbing injuries symposium. The room was filled with medical professionals, from Osteopaths to physios and doctors. I must say, it was interesting, but a fair few terminologies went straight over my head. Below, […]
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Staying injury free – article 1
Staying injury free – general overview Having spent the last three and a half years with injuries on and off, dealing with the frustration of not being able to climb, coming back to climbing too soon, and either re-injuring or having a set-back. I realise I have learnt a lot from the sport injury specialists, […]
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Scrambling – Article 3
Staying safe on scrambling terrain – scrambling ropework Scrambling ropework is a hot topic, and tricky to explain. So, I will do my best. There are a variety of ways of protecting scrambles. This depends on the experience of the participants, the route, terrain, weather, etc… Please find below the different belaying techniques that […]
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Scrambling – Article 1
Staying safe on scrambling terrain – Scrambling grades explained Here in our first article, on scrambling. Here we will explain the scrambling grades. Firstly, what is scrambling? Scrambling is the middle ground between hill walking and climbing. Where the path steepens to the point which also requires the use of hands to gain height. It […]
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Freedom and entrapment
The feeling of freedom and entrapment is common as a climber, father and husband. As a climber, I want to climb more. Being a husband, I want to spend more time with my wife. As a father, I want to spend more time with my kids. Then there is work. (Having worked very hard at […]
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Success and failure
22 October 2017 – Success and failure are part of climbing? Right?? After a recent trip to Yosemite Valley, I came back with mixed emotions. I had set out to try and rope solo a route on the mighty El Capitan. Managing to get to the top of pitch 12, then an old injury […]
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In Situ – article
Aha! A nylon loop protrudes from a crack, ‘My saviour. Clip it.‘ I relax and my body snatches some energy as I breathe again. But now the crack plays mean; too wide for torquing the pick but too narrow for the shaft. My tools hang from my wrist as I jam and crimp for another […]
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