Training for the AMI

Last weekend, not only were the crags dry, but I had the pleasure of working on two AMI (Association of Mountaineering Instructors) trainee members’ workshops. 

The students attending the courses are in prep for their MIA award (Mountaineering Instructors Award). This award is the UK’s professional and industry standard for teaching rock climbing within the UK.

The weekend was focused on teaching multi-pitch climbing and moving efficiently with clients.

Day one we visited the Milestone Buttress. The day was focused on teaching stance organisation, progression of teaching, matching clients’ ability to opportunities available on the crag, descending, teaching students descending skills and traversing easy ground.

The students never let up with their questioning and I think it is fair to say the day ended with everyone having many questions answered.

Day two we visited Tremadog,  giving easy access to routes in order to get more climbing achieved. The plan for the day was to use VS 4C ground in view of taking clients climbing, still introducing certain teaching skills, but with the emphasis on moving as quick and efficient as possible. 

Routes such as the Brothers gave the trainee members some thought provoking stances to arrange. The day also encompassed descending skills again and looking at the often forgotten skill of looking after clients on path/scramble descents.

The weekend was topped off with a visit the Eric’s as always.

The AMI has trainee workshops running from April until October each year. They prove a very valuable resource where trainees can share knowledge, practice skills with like mined people and gain some first hand advice. 

With all aspects of AMI,  the sponsorship from Mountain Equipment and DMM is very valuable to the association and it is great to see students supporting both these companies within their equipment purchase. Some nice new looking kit last weekend.


Finally, every now and then I have to take a peep. I just never know what to expect. It is not just the fact there is a DMM link here, it is the fact the chap is, talented, passionate, dead keen, bold and down to earth. It really pi!!!!! me off,  always a great read and some bloody great tick somewhere.

Click here to check out the latest plan and keep scrolling down for the Canada action. 

Hacked Off

Welcome back.

I am very sorry for the lack of posts over the last 2 months. It was due to the blog being hacked and not being able to get the password re-set.

Finally,  I have managed to sort the issue out which means I can access the blog again.

When I last posted winter was over. Well that is what I thought. Then the end of March we had a large dump of snow, biggest dump all winter.

There was enough snow to ski from Bethesda up onto the tops and back again. No climbing to note but snow around for a week or so.

You would think it would all be summer summer here we come ? but today another thin layer of snow above 800m and it is the middle of May. A real mixed bag the last 4 months.

So the winter here in North Wales seemed a disappointment for most. I thought the 6 days I had booked into the CIC hut at the end of March would give me a great time up North. The fact I never even went tells you, if your were not aware already,  that by that time winter was well and truly over.

My Welsh winter season was not all bad. I managed 4 days out and in that time I managed 5 winter ascents of rock routes which had not seen a winter ascent and added 2 more new mixed routes in the Carneddau. I also got to check out Andy Turner's new bright blue Mountain Equipment gortex trousers. In such high demand,  these sold out very quickly. They are the new black.

There were more days that I could have climbed this winter but those days never tied in with my time off. Belive it or not Cascade had an ascent.

Finally I leave you with Ray's great invention

Every considered how strong those DMM cams are ?

Worried about those cams failing once you fall ?

Never fallen on a cam?

Fear not, check this link out and let the peace be with you.