Dart Loop

Thursday was a paddling day and Leo, Sinbad and I went for a blast down the Dart Loop.  Sinbad was keen to try out his new Christmas present, a Pyranha Burn from a very generous Santa!

Newbridge

Paddling

On Sunday I joined up with my friends at WKC to do the Pete Collins memorial race which this year went from Dulverton to Exe Bridge.  The water levels were low but it was good fun to be doing a white water race again - I do miss the Exe descent I hope someone revives this event soon.

Quay climbing wall

On Friday Noel and I took a group of our students to the Quay climbing wall in Exeter.  The new wall is in Haven Banks opposite AS Watersports and has a great variety of top ropes, leading walls and even some auto-belays it also has a great feeling of space and light, which is unusual for a climbing wall.  I am sure we will back many times over the next few months.

Baggy Point

Saturday was a windy and wild day at Baggy Point but we remained dry all day even though you could see rain over Hartland.  After a few routes on the slab we went over to have a go at Shangri-la but the winds and waves that resulted from the tail end of hurricane Katia had just started to build up and hit the bottom of the route so we beat a hasty retreat.  Back in Croyde we watched some surfers trying to get on some massive waves without much success - very brave!

Sennen

John at Sennen

The weather on Sunday was windy and with rain forecast so we opted to go to Sennen for some leading practice for John and Andy.  The rain showers came in during the afternoon and we had to beat a hasty retreat back to the shelter of the town.

Bosigran

After my day at Baggy point I drove down to Cornwall to meet up with Andy and John for a weekend on Cornish granite.  We had a very busy day on Saturday climbing Alisons Rib, Door Post (HS) and Commando Ridge before retiring to the pub for a well earned curry and a pint!

John and Andy starting pitch 1 of commando ridge

Baggy

Friday was a sunny day at Baggy point and I met up with my old friend and fellow instructor Baz for a few routes in the sun. 

Baz at Baggy Point

Hound Tor

Another sunny day on Dartmoor for the students from Court Fields.

Coasteering

Wednesday was a beautiful sunny day at Croyde in North Devon.  We met up with Russ Johns and did some extreme coasteering with our students as a part of the annual activities week.  The students enjoyed the big jumps into the warm sea and exploring the caves - an exciting day.

Baggy Point

Saturday was a beautiful sunny day in North Devon and low tide fell in the middle of the day making it an ideal opportunity to visit the coast.  After warming up on some of the single pitch climbs we finshed the day by climbing Kinky boots (VS).  The sunny conditions had attracted a large number of climbers and even more surfers to this beautiful part of Devon - a great day!

Alan on pitch 2 of Kinky Boots (VS) at Baggy Point

SPA Assessment

This weekend I was working with Simon Tong delivering an SPA assessment course.  We met the candidates on Friday evening for a session at the Rock and Rapid climbing wall otherwise known as 'The Mill' in South Molton.  On Saturday it was hot and sunny and we had a perfect day for assessing personal climbing skills at Sheeps Tor followed by a day at Chudleigh looking at managing groups, top roping, bottom roping, problem solving and running an abseiling session.

 We will be running an SPA training course on 15-17 July 2011.

Simon assessing gear placements

 

Candidates leading

SPA Assessment 5/6 June

There is one place left on the SPA assessment course, get in touch if you need an assessment before the summer starts or the school break up.  Cost £130 - all candidates must be registered with a home nations training board e.g. MLTE, MLTS, MLTW or MLTNI to take part.

Introduction to outdoor climbing

Belaying at Sheepstor

Rebecca and David came down from London for their first taste of outdoor climbing on Dartmoor having climbed regularly indoors at the Castle climbing wall.  The weather over Easter was wonderful with hot temperatures on 20th and 21st April.  Wednesday was so hot that we were glad to be in the shade of the trees at the Dewerstone and practicing skills on a few multi-pitch routes.  The following day we had a session at Sheepstor where 5 routes were climbed and both Rebecca and David set up top ropes and bottom roping systems and even did an abseil before getting back in the car for a long drive back to London.

Rebecca climbing at Sheepstor

SPA assessment 5/6 June

We are running and SPA training on the weekend of 9/10 April and an assessment on the weekend of 5/6 June.  The courses will start on the Friday evening with a wall session and visit crags on Dartmoor, Chudleigh etc over the weekend. Get in touch if you would like to book a place.

BCU White water

Just had a great weekend doing a BCU white water safety and recuse course on the Dart and Erme with Dave Jackson and Ollie Vass.  I can thoroughly recommend this course if you are a paddler but make sure you have a dry suit!

SPA training 9/10 April

We will be running an SPA training course on the weekend of 9/10 April.  The course will commence on the evening of 8/4 with a visit to a local climbing wall and then visits to local Devon crags such on Dartmoor and Chudleigh over the weekend.  The cost will be £130, for more information get in touch with me maldickson@yahoo.com

Click here for the  SPA Handbook