Gwilym's Adventure Blog

With the current Coronavirus situation limiting movements and social interactions, there will be nothing to report for a while. As such, the blog is on hold until normality returns.

Excellent couple of days on Dartmoor (Dewerstone and Leigh Tor) running a Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad course for Hannah and Marcus We got away with only a little drizzle and mainly nice weather. Loads of skills covered over the 2 days and we even managed to multipitch a 15m Mod at Leigh Tor. Both managed to lead a couple of climbs each on day 2. These course are excellent for turning indoor climbers into outdoor climbers and I am keen to run a few more once the summer kicks in properly. Working for Wet and High Training which is part of Wet and High Adventures Ltd.

3 new Beach Lifeguard Trainer Assessors were produced this weekend at Brean Sands. It was a little chilly in the sea but all 3 did well and are looking forward to running their own courses in the near future. I have two of these courses on the go at the moment with the second one due next weekend.

Back in El Chorro to meet up with Jay and Anna for another week in the sun. A couple of multipitch routes (5 and 6 pitches) plus 12 single pitch routes ranging from 4c to 6b followed by a nice grade 3 Via Ferrata to finish. A couple of windy days that were best spent down low plus being bitten/stung by an unknown assailant give me a very swollen itchy ankle just added to the fun. I am now at Malaga airport waiting for a flight back to the UK

Today I have been at The Life Centre running an Indoor Climbing Assistant award for 6th form students from Plymouth College Lot of stuff covered today including personal skills, coaching skills and "assisting" skills.

This week I have been at Quantock Lodge running a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification for Wet and High Adventures Ltd. A busy week with pool based and classroom based sessions covering everything from First Aid, Water Rescue, Legal Knowledge and Observation skills All 6 candidates (plus myself) who took the exam passed. Tomorrow morning I will assessing another group of candidates and then time for a day off on Sunday. Can't wait!

What a day. Yeah Scotland, I knew you could do it Salamander Gully III 4 on Beinn a Dothaidh with Charlie. Very good ice, blue skies and eventually low wind. I was so warm and for the first time ever, Charlie took a layer off on the belay. First 2 pitches for Charlie, the main 2 pitches for me including the short steep crux and the last pitch back to Charlie to finish in the sun (last picture) and a walk out.