Rockclimbing!!

Just a review of my intro winter climbing week with Alan Halewood at Glenmore Lodge.

First off, much more snow than last year! Once again a mega day's travelling to get to Scotland from Plymouth, got to the lodge about 18:00 on the Sunday.

Monday morning we spent some time looking over the kit we should take into the hills and the kits that would be nice to take into the hills. We then looked at rope work for belays and the like since the other chap hadn't done much climbing before. We then went and spent the afternoon on the tower getting some practise using our front points. I then went back into Aviemore to spend money I don't have on a very very orange primaloft jacket.

Tuesday up to Ceist crag for a day putting the skills yesterday into practice. Up a unnamed route with a final section about grade III (or so Al said). I then got to try my jacket out for good as we packed up, it is warm! I also managed to destroy my B3 boots, the sole and the plastic body decided it was no longer time to be a couple!

Wed we walked in Coire an t Snechda, vis was ok as we moved in. Got all ktted up and then moved to the climb, this was a bit of a slog as we were a bit away from the start. This took some of my brave soloing along the soft ground. Al was great here pointing out how damn hard walking was so a fall would just have me sink! Got to the base of hidden chimney, it looked BIG, especially for a Dartmoor climber! Off we set getting to the mixed part of Scottish climbing. It was great. Windy and snow/ice falling everywhere, I ended up covered, even my tache froze up!
Got to the top after loving it, and all things considered not too cold, not that I could have got my belay jacket on in the wind even if I'd wanted it! Now time for a windy, haily walk back, really should have put goggles on!

Thurs, what a stunning day and what a walk in! Lurchers crag just seemed to stay miles away and I was on my chip strap after 30 mins! Got to the bottom of Central Gully last of all the teams we saw, all thanks to my slow slow feet.
Wow is all I can say for this climb, never climbed any ice before and the 2 ice pitches were FAT, scary but solid. I've got a video of me on the second pitch with only a little bit of swearing in shock as my crampon parted company with the ice, I'll post it up somewhere and link later on. Now before that 2nd ice pitch a big old lump of ice came thundering down, we covered up but I took it on my left arm. Whihch is now purple! Good thing I covered up or that would have been my face and I don't want to have to get the MRT out to get a concused Matt. After 300 odd feet of climbing there was a 80 foot solo out. Which considering I am not brave I'm chuffed that I did. Now it was time for a long slow walk back to the van, pleasantly warm. Softshell only too, didn't go near my hardshell which made for a nice day.

Final day and we went back to Coire an t Snechda where we went along the Two Ridges, or is it Twin Ridges, nice bit of fun there ending up with some instruction in abbing of double ropes, cows tails and such like.
Now with 30 mins to kill beofre the other team were ready to walk back with us Al went over assisted and unassisted hoist since I couldn't remember how to make them.

All in all this was an amazing week, I can't recommend Glenmore Lodge enough, and equally Al was great. A good patient teacher who helped me get going even when I was dieing and not happy. He has some photos on his blog but he gave me a copy so I'll try to host them somewhere in case anyone is interested. I'm the guy in the yellow salamanda.
As a course it felt as if it was aimed at not only getting us on the hills to enjoy ourselves but also in learning so we could get out on easy grade I or II ground without them when we want to, and learning is good.

Here are the frosty cold pics: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151414203049547.503632.513779546&type=1&l=95f7adc6da

Here is the vid: http://s140.beta.photobucket.com/user/fire_munki/media/Clip19_zps0c5e3677.mp4.html

Look out I might swear a little bit as I slipped! You've been warned.
 
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Hey guys, ive recently got into bouldering (indoors) so im looking for some climbing shoes. I rented some scarpa vintage ones which fitted perfect in a 10. But i cant find them anywhere online (that delivers) only collect in store no where near me. Can anyone suggest some good beiggnner shoes for me? between £30-60 ? Also im wearing cargo pants to climb is there any good trousers to buy or are these good enough? cheers
 
I used Boreal Jokers as my first shoe, they were decent enough for beginner shoes. They lasted about a year before wearing out and then I moved on to a higher performance shoe. The best advice I can give is to try as many pairs on as you can. Comfort is the most important thing initially until you get more experienced and know what you want from a shoe in terms of performance.

You can climb in anything on your lower half, but what I look for in bottoms is the ability to raise my knees as high as possible without restriction. Shorts are best for this obviously, but 3/4 length or full length climbing specific trousers often have diamond crotches to help with this.
 
I've always fitted La Sportiva so would suggest trying some, but in all honesty everyone's foot is different so head to Go Outdoors, local wall if they sell, Cotswolds and start putting your feet in as many as you can find!
 
Had a nice parcel arrive yesterday, shiny new pair of Mammut Nordwand B3 boots. Just as the season ends! But that's probably why they were a good bit cheaper than rrp.
 
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And there they are!

And here are a couple from this season in Scotland:
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and at the top after icing up:

P1110944_zpsb5fb3d31.jpg
 
Nice! I've not done any alpine/winter/ice climbing before. I'd like to try it some day.

Gutted at the moment as I'm still suffering from a finger injury I've had since Jan. My flat mate is in El Chorro right now trying to push his sport grade to 7a/7a+. Jealous.:(
 
Closest place to me is Awesome Walls in Stoke, so a good group of us had an induction on Saturday, spent about 2hrs climbing and trying ideas out, working out routes after that, lots of fun, did some overhangs.

Going back soon!
 
just had my first bouldering session at my local center that i didnt even know existed. absolutely loved it, but my body is aching all over at the moment! hoping to get back there on thursday for another go.

i dont know grades but at my local had a go at blue which was too easy, tried orange which were pretty difficult, dont most but struggled on a number. was watching 3 experts have a bash at a red route which they all struggled on, which was shimmying up a corner with hands in a crack, lean out onto a grip, then use backfoot and go along a celing upside down and across to otherside which i did, and they didnt :D
think they were pretty gutted a newbie did something they couldnt which i was impressed about. absolutely love the sport and can see this making me stronger and fitter! cant wait to be rested enough to give it another go.. just looking at some shoes on gooutdoors now going to go there and try a few pairs on
 
Gypo said:
First got into climbing age 18 and last year took it back up aged 29.

We have a brilliant selection of climbing centre's in Stoke, with a 4th opening in March. Each offers something different with excellent bouldering, top rope, lead and traverse provisions.

Awesome Walls - Bouldering, Cave, Traverse and training area
Audley Climbing Centre - Bouldering and Top Rope
Jubilee - Top Rope wall that covers three floors
Kiln Worx - New centre opening in March offering Lead/Top Rope i believe

Also we are only 20 minutes drive from the peak disrict which offers 100's of climbs all mapped in the peak district climbing guide.

http://stoke.awesomewalls.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Stoke0021-1024x679.jpg[IMG]
Awesome Walls Stoke - Upstairs Cave

[IMG]http://www.drclimbingwalls.com/images/news/health%20and%20wellbeing.jpg[IMG]
Jubilee Centre - Three Storey Top Rope Wall with Absail Platform

[IMG]http://www.peakpursuits.co.uk/umbraco/ImageGen.ashx?width=400&image=/media/55729/audley%20climbing%20centre%20lead%20wall.jpg&allowupsizing=false[IMG]
Audley Climbing Centre - Over 100 Top Rope Climbs[/QUOTE]

Which is better for bouldering do we reckon, Awesome Walls or Audley Climbing Centre? I'm fairly new to climbing so need plenty of problems around a V1 level.
Click to expand...
 
Well both have lots of videos on youtube to get an idea of whats at them in terms of audley and awsome walls but personally from videos id be inclined to check out awsone walls looks pretty awsone there!
 
well i had a look in go outdoors today... tried quite a range of shoes out and was happy on the fitment of the red chilli spirit vcr iz, tried them on the climbing wall, only to come home and read the reviews of people only getting 3-6 months of minumal useage out of them! abit gutted to say the least as i never paid much attention to the rest as i had my heart set on those so going to have to go back.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/spirit-vcr-velcro-p152222

now looking at a pair of evolv, that are laces. from what ive read, velcro is somewhat better and i wanted to avoid laces, but it seems the evolv bandit seems a pretty good all rounder in terms of grip and durability.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/evolv-band-it-evolv-p95490

am i better just going all out and getting la sportiva? bearing in mind im a total newbie and will be slapping my feet a lot and most likely wearing them down more than the experienced user?
i like these and they get a good all round review..
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/la-sportiva-miura-vs-climbing-shoe-p270351

scarpa seem the best durability it seems?
 
I'd be surprised if they let you return shoes once they've been used on a wall. I wouldn't worry too much about what other people say regarding the durability. You don't know how frequently they climb or how poor their footwork is! If it is your first pair and they are comfy, I'd stick with the Red Chillis until you wear them through to the point of your toe touching the wall.:)

Once you have gotten through your first pair you should be in a better position to decide what you want from your next pair of shoes. I wouldn't advise jumping straight in with the Miura VS as that is quite aggressively down-turned and you'd probably find them uncomfortable to climb in.
 
Still hoping that someone would open a decent climbing wall in Cambridge. I remember plans being floated a few years ago, but nothing happened. Wonder if I could somehow persuade the boss to let me put together a business plan..
 
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