Learning To Lead - Outdoors In The Rain

Yesterday in Glen Nevis we didn't get too wet - Jen abseiling at the end of the day

For the last 2 days I was teaching lead climbing to students from the UHI in Fort William. Yesterday Al Halewood and I took 7 students to Glen Nevis. We covered lots of nuts and bolts of climbing, including rigging, single pitch ropework, gear placements, building belays and abseiling. The weather was okay, actually quite warm (unfortunately for the snow, higher on the hills!), but it did rain and the rock was wet, so another greasy, slippery day on the Glen rock.

At the beginning of the day there was a little bit of dry rock at Kingussie Crag - Jen learning to lead

Today the weather was due to be worse in the West, and so we tried to avoid the worst of the downpours by heading for Kingussie crag. We did have a couple of hours without constant rain, so the drive was worth it, however, by the end of the day our waterproofs were given a proper testing, and only the brave wore rock shoes (not I !).

However it did start to rain - and so the hoods went up - Jen bringing Chris up

Despite the conditions, cold belays and colder hands, Jen and Chris stayed happy and focused. Hope you find a drying room tonight, and find a dry crag to practice on before next spring :)

Chris's turn to learn to lead on wet slab

Chris always seemed to be happy, even when wet and cold - prospects for a good climber in Scotland!

Jen smiling for the camera - happy inside, wet outside

Jen's all over the abseiling