Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Phil belaying on The Arete, Hannah Climbing Phil at top of pitch 2, The Arete Looking for gear on Original Route Phil at the top of Easy Route Today I took Phil to Avon Gorge to try some Multipitch routes. We were joined by Hannah who had kindly offered to come along for some climbing and a lot of belaying. We started by climbing The Arete (V. Diff 4a) up to Lunchtime Ledge. This is a 3 pitch route and I led the route with Phil and Hannah following on behind but building their own belays. We then climbed Original Route (Diff) where I climbed up and fixed a rope before abseiling back down and then climbed alongside Phil as he led his first 2 pitch Trad Route. He did very well and we topped out into amazing sunshine and it was probably too hot if I am honest. After Lunch (and having shed a few layers), Phil led Easy Route (Mod) whilst I soloed alongside him giving any advice he required. He climbed this in 2 pitches and again climbed very well. Weather depending we are off for som...

Phil on Stepped Wall (V. Diff) Phill on Think Again (F4) Stunning Surroundings RAF SAR Helicopter (Rescue 169) Today I took Phil out to Cheddar for the first day of his 4 day climbing course. Phil has done a bit of climbing previously in the dark and distant past so to test where he was at I started off climbing Stepped Wall (V. Diff) and Lucifera (V. Diff). Phil competently seconded both of these climbs and then we climbed two bolted sport routes callled Think Again (FA) and Busking for Bolts (F4+). As Phil climbed Think Again (F4) so well he took the chance to climb it again but this time on the lead. As a sport route all he had to worry about was the climbing and clipping the pre existing bolts. After a spot of lunch we looked at gear placement and building belays. To end the day on a high note, Phil then led Three Pounds per Tonne (F4) another bolted sport route. Unfortunately during the day we saw the RAF Rescue Heli out for what we assumed was a climbing accident. However the...

Tim on the downhill trails Some of the tracks Tight turns in the trees At Crowcombe Today my mate Tim came up from Dorset so we could have a blat round The Quantocks on our Mountain Bikes. We started at Lydeard Hill and mixed some of the downhill trails with more traditional cross country riding on the larger tracks. It was a great afternoon in the sun and my thanks go to the bike mechanic who watched my chain snap and rushed over to fix it before I could even get my tools out of the rucsac (Ok, I admit when he came over offering to help I took as much time as possible getting to my tools). Back on the rock tomorrow

 Andy at the start Practice rescue  Drying kit in the sun Today I took Andy for an introduction to White Water on the River Barle from Marsh Bridge down to Exbridge. Water levels were low and we did a little scraping in places but it was good where it mattered and we had some fun on a small play wave just before we joined the River Exe. Saw a few Fly Fishermen out and about and bumped into Dan and a few other paddlers just before Exbridge. After a civilised lunch in The Anchor Inn, I took lots of swims so Andy could practice his throwline and other rescues on me. We couldn't have asked for better weather but I would suggest unless we get a lot of rain soon then today will probably be the last Barle paddle until next October.

Will on Bulging Wall (V. Diff) Will on Step Across (Diff) Will on Zig Zag (V. Diff) Tom seconding Step Across (Diff) Today I took Will back to Dartmoor as he requested and we returned to Haytor for some short Granite climbs. During the day we looked at belays, route finding and climbing techniques and Will led Step Across (Difficult), Bulging Wall (Very Difficult) and Zig Zag (Very Difficult). We only had a short time on the moor as we needed to get back for Will's train but as we were leaving we were joined at the crag by Tom and his mate (both from Kilve Court) who were looking to get a few routes in the afternoon sun.  An icecream in the carpark finished the day off nicely

A blue sky sunny day Will dodging the waves Looking down on Will Me on the belay ledge Me on the belay ledge (close up) Today I took Will to climb sea cliffs at Swanage. The weather was great and I had even got the tides right (sort of). After abbing down onto a platform at Comorant Ledge that was about 3 inches above the sea and flooded with every other wave, we managed to flake ropes on a convenient ledge in the cave and I set off up Oran (S 4a) out into the heat of the sun. Pitch 1 ended on an amazing ledge that had clearly been used by all the sea birds as a toilet. Once Will had joined me I headed up the second pitch which was just as great and topped out onto a slighlty loose grassy slope. I am not sure what effect being splashed by the sea and climbing crumbly limestone had on Will but he has asked to return to Dartmoor for more Granite tomorrow!

William on Shark's Fin V0 5a Will on Right Chimney  Will on Raven Gully Me on top of Hound Tor in the wind Today I took Will down to Dartmoor for his first experience of climbing on Granite. Although the weather was cloudy at first, eventually the sun broke through followed unfortunatlely by wind speeds making it difficult to climb. We started at Hound Tor and climbed 2 problems on Sharks Fin with the first at V0 5a and the second at V1 5c before Will led Liars Dice (Severe) and  Right Chimney (VD). We finished with a solo of The Vice (VD) before grabbing a coffee at the "Hound of the Basket Meals" and moving round to Haytor where Will led the first pitch of Raven Gully (S 4a) before I continued up to the top. By now the wind so so fierce we decided to call it a day.