Gwilym's Adventure Blog

I have just got back from a Bridgwater and Taunton College residential on Dartmoor with Level 4 Public Service students. Climbing, navigation and gorge walking were the activities and we had dry but cold weather all week which helped out a bit with morale.

I have been working in conjunction with Bridgwater College this week managing activities for a group of MOD apprentices on their adventurous activity team development week. Thanks to all the instructors (Swifty, Paul, Mark, Robin and Stu) who have worked with me and made my life easy (ish). The groups climbed, biked and had a 2 day expedition across Dartmoor. Next week three of these guys and 2 others will be running an identical week in my abscence as I am realising one of my life goals tomorrow as I fly out to the Galapagos Islands for 2 weeks. Normally I would be nervous of being away with a big event on but the team worked so well this week that I am completely relaxed about leaving them to it. Cheers guys. Be good and have fun

Today as the weather was looking a bit damp Dan and I took the FdSc Students to Dart Rock for some indoor climbing. Dan ran a bouldering class whilst I supervised the roped session (which the students managed themselves on) before we swapped over. As always the Dart Rock cake was up to a good standard and as we left it was raining so clearly a good decision made.

I was back at the Car Park Crag at Goblin Combe today working with the same group as yesterday. It was another progressive session with the students managing themselves at the end and experimenting with blind climbing and with restricted limb movements. a grey morning soon cleared up and it was yet another sunny day.

Today I was back out in the sun with the same FdSc students as yesterday and we headed to the Car Park crag at Goblin Combe. It was a progressive day with the first round of climbing supervised directly but by the afternoon they were managing to tie them self in, climb a route, belay and lower all by themselves using a buddy check system. Next week we look at how to set up climbs so they become even more self reliant. Apologies for whatever has blured the lens today

Swifty and I took advantage of the nice weather and spent the afternoon at the Dewerstone swinging leads on The Camel (HS 4b), Fly on the Wall (HS 4b). Then Wayne joined us and we climbed Pinnacle Buttress Direct (HS 4a) as a three. Given the great weather and lighter evenings I was surprised there was only one other team out climbing.