Gwilym's Adventure Blog

  This weekend I have been on Dartmoor running a Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment in super hot conditions at The Quay Climbing Centre, Hound Tor and Chudleigh. Lots of climbing done as well as looking at simple problem solving, abseiling and setting up of group ropework systems.

Coming out of lock down it was great to get out and run a Rock Climbing Instructor Training course at Hound Tor (very wet) and Chudleigh (dry and sunny) Since Sept I have been teaching 3 to 4 days a week at Bridgwater College. A mix out outdoor, classroom and First Aid. This will continue into the New Year whilst coronavirus is still causing us problems. I am not expecting the blog to be that busy for the next few months

After the group had an inside day with Mark yesterday, I was back with them at Chudleigh for the final day of a Rock Climbing Instructor Training course. The them was going down with both personal and group abseils looked at before revisiting some skills from day 1 to check their memories.  

Today, I was back at a very sunny (and less windy) Hound Tor for the first day of a Rock Climbing Instructor Training course with 4 candidates It was all about going up today with top ropes, bottom ropes and lead climbing. They will all be in the climbing wall tomorrow with Mark and then it looks like we will be having a going down day on Thurs!  

 Today for the second day of the Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment we were at a sunny but chilly Hound Tor for lots of different group sets up for both climbing and abseiling as well as a few more routes.

I was at The Quay Climbing Centre and the Chudleigh Rocks today directing the first day of a Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment. Chudleigh lived up to its reputation as an afternoon sun trap making it a very pleasant place to hang out and watch the candidates climb.

 Yesterday I was on Dartmoor  running an efficient rigging course for a couple fo RCIS who wanted to know how to use their set ups systems more effectively and also how to minimise the impact on the popular routes at Hound Tor Last night, I was out wild camping assessing an instructor in his skills to camp, cook and manage a group away from the comforts of a campsite. Lovely day yesterday followed but a wet and misty morning for the walk out.

Sunny but chilly at Houndtor for Day 2 of a Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment for Wet and High Adventures Ltd All 3 candidates put in the required effort and passed by displaying skills in Personal Climbing, Problem Solving, Group Management and Technical ability. Well done all! who are providers of a large number of Mountain Training courses.

Day 1 of a Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment based at Dart Rock for the morning and Chudleigh for the afternoon. 3 candidates on the course and we spent the day looking at Personal Climbing and Group Management both indoors and out. Working for Wet and High Adventures Ltd who are providers of a large number of Mountain Training courses.

Today I have been out in the sun running a Rock Climbing Instructor refresher course for members of the Mountain Training Association. 5 candidates who were keen to share ideas and review their own practices meant we got a lot done and some great discussions had. We looked at Top and Bottom Roping, Abseils and lots of ways we can prevent problems occuring Thanks for a good day

On the second day of the Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment I am directing for Wet and High Adventures Ltd , we headed to The Dewerstone where yet again we got away with the weather and only in the last few minutes did the rain come in hard. Today everyone sighed in relief at the much gripper Granite. Yesterdays slippery Limestone was pretty hard work all round. The candidates led routes, set up Top Ropes, Bottom Ropes and Abseils as well as dealt with various problems that I threw their way.

Today I have been at Dart Rock and Chuleigh Rocks directing the first day of a Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment. We managed to stay inside from the worst of the weather before dodging showers later. The evening was spent running a navigation refresher on Dartmoor for a client with a pending Hill and Moorland Leader Assessment.

On Day 3 of the Rock Climbing Instructor Training course we were at a (mainly) sunny Chudleigh looking at personal climbing, problem prevention and abseiling.  A few spots of rain just to remind us how slippery Limestone can be. Thanks to Jamie for tagging along again to develop his knowledge for future opportunities to work on these courses. Working for Wet and High Adventures Ltd a provider of the majority of Mountain Training courses