26th July, Arrival In Peru

Maz and Rich. They live in Bermuda at the moment, but are probably on the move again! Here we met up in a cafe in Cusco. They were on holiday for a massive family reunion. The next day they would start the Inca trail...

In the centre on Cusco. Here I'm very busy acclimatising. Here it's over 3300m altitude, so the best thing to do is walk around in flip flops and take acclimatisation very seriously...

The rest of the team doing the same. This is Becky taking hydration seriously..

Night falls fast. This is the courtyard in the middle of our hotel.

Wow, on the 24th, I was ice climbing with Lena in Chamonix, now something different...

I had to travel on my birthday - 26th! So travelling to Peru turning the clocks back 6 hours, meant that I had a 30 hour birthday! I met the Scout team from Andover at Heathrow, and we eventually made our way to Lima, and Cusco in Southern Peru, at 3300m. The trip was mainly to trek the Classic 4 day Inca trail to Machu Picchu. I was working for Adventure Peaks.

I managed to immediately meet up with friends Rich and Maz who were having a great holiday form Bermuda. They were about to start their Inca Trail the next day...

Craig Y Castell - 15th April

Pitch 1 of One Step in the Crowds

At last in the uncertain North Wales weather there was a day of sun and clear skies and it was initially warm. At last a good day to get out and climb. It was however still too cold for the higher crags, so we headed for the less busy crag of Craig y Castell in Tremadog. One Step in the Crowds (E1 5b) looked brilliant so we set off. When I got to the sloping ledge after the first roof, I wanted to see Lena having fun climbing, so split the first pitch into 2 here and belayed. The second half of this pitch was also great, moving around the larger overhang to the ledge above. Things got easier now, on the top pitch and the slabby finish was a little thin at the end! A really good climb.

Bus Stop Quarry - 14th April

Blast Shelter Crag at Bus Stop Quarry. Biggles Flies Undone starts up the left edge, then right to a couple of footholds, to find a left slanting crack leading left to the top.

On the Saturday, Lena and I head for the slate at Bus Stop Quarry hoping we could stay warm enough to do some climbing, between showers. I manage to just about stay warm enough to lead 'Biggles Flies Undone' (E1 5b). However it was cold enough to wear my belay jacket for the climb. A great little route.

Slate - Friday 13th April

Catrin leading on slate

On the last day of the week for Catrin and Tanya we decided to get onto Slate. We headed to Australia Lower, and 'Above the Rails' (aka 'Level above Looning the Tube').

Catrin started the day leading a couple of climbs called 'Kinder Surprise' and 'Sport 4 All'.


We then moved up to 'The Sidings' for another couple of leads for Cartin. This finished with a great leader fall for Catrin. This turned out to be useful because she had been away form her indoor training all week, and her normal fall training as part of her routine. So her fall on the last lead of the week was hopefully good prep for the Saturday (14th April) BMC Leading Ladder Final at Reading.

The blue water of Dali's Hole

Catrin in Bus Stop Quarry

We finished our day in Bus Stop Quarry. Time was short, but there was time to top-rope a couple of climbs, so Catrin cruised up Solstice (HVS 5b**) first then Equinox (VS 4c*).

Catrin on the final section of Equinox

So ended a great week of climbing in North Wales. The family were now off home to prep for the Saturday Final in Reading.

On the Saturday 14th April Catrin competed in the BMC Leading Ladder Final and came second place in Cat A (Female Under 16) - congratulations to you Catrin :)

Contact Max (email - max@maxhunter.co.uk or 07724740225) for your own Climbing/Mountaineering course in Scotland or Wales.

Catrin At Tremadog - 12th April

Catrin ab'ing down Hail Bebe

On the Thursday, after a good day out at Holyhead Mountain, we all headed for Tremadog. Again we had some great weather, and we were able to enjoy t-shirt weather all day, with light winds and no rain. Catrin decided to start the day with some leading again, so we headed for Hail Bebe (VD **). Catrin was belayed by Tanya as I hung about seeing what Catrin was doing. Again the climbing was easy for Catrin, but she focused on good gear placements and belays. At the end of all this we all abseiled down back to the bags and a lunch in the sun.

Catrin on Poor Man's Peuterey

After lunch I took Catrin up Poor Man's Peuterey (S ***) to get to the top of the cliff for some top-roping. Catrin found the climb straight forward except for the 'snake belay' at the end of pitch 2 - where she calmly told me to 'hurry up, beacuse there's a snake here!' - so I belayed just above the 'nose' to get Catrin away from the trees, snakes and general wildlife!

Catrin on the last pitch of Poor Man's Peuterey

Catrin top-roping Silly Arete

I lowered Catrin down Silly Arete (E3 5c***) so she could enjoy careful 5c slab climbing. As usual she made light work of it and was soon back at the top.

Catrin making light work of Silly Arete

We ab'ed down Barbarian and got back to the Cafe to chill out - another great day in the sun.

Contact Max (email - max@maxhunter.co.uk or 07724740225) for your own Climbing/Mountaineering course in Scotland or Wales.

Holyhead Mountain - 11th April

Hat (VD) in the middle of the photo

On the Wednesday, 11th April, we headed to Holyhead Mountain with an open mind. The weather was brilliant for us, and we had fantastic views of the mountains of Snowdonia. Catrin decided to get stuck into leading straight away, and she started with D'Elephant (VD) on the Central Slab. Catrin climbed easily, and focused on good ropework with the double ropes, and a high quality of gear placements at regular intervals.

Catrin leading Hat

We then moved on to the Sub Slab and Catrin led Hat (VD). Hat seemed to be a much better quality climb, being more sustained and with cleaner, more solid rock.

Catrin ab'ing down after leading all day

We all had a great day in the sun (although I put a jacket on towards the end of the day). Tomorrow Catrin will lead again, but also top-rope some harder climbs.

Contact Max (email - max@maxhunter.co.uk or 07724740225) for your own climbing/mountaineering course in Scotland or Wales.

10th - 13th Sept, Practice Gold D of E Expedition

A fantastic morning in the Black Mountains overlooking Llanthony Priory.

The group were already busy getting on with their day.

In the distance you can see one of the groups on a training session led by Sarah.

Working for A to Z Expeditions, HSM school from Ascot underwent their Gold D of E Expeditioon training in Spectacularly hot weather in the Brecon Beacons National Park. They were trained by myself and Sarah Deamer. They are now fully ready for their qualifying expedition with me in late October. That'll give their feet, knees, ankles and sun burn time to heal - ready for a possibly cold October snap...

A Refreshing Change In This Heat

With Outposts Ltd today we went for some welcome caving. The staff and all the girls got stuck in (not literally) and particularly enjoyed the caving watersports - here you can see staff enjoying the 'Washing Machine'. I think it was the hottest day of the heatwave so far - and definitely felt like it standing in the carpark in a caving suit !!

Not many days to take off for Peru now...

Avoiding The Storm

Rain in the morning, but thankfully it didn't come to much. After a few hours the limestone dried out and the budding climbers were able to climb. Will we escape tomorrow...
I realised today that I've only got 8 days before I meet my group, for final preparations, to go to Peru..
Better get some last minute shopping done (any excuse to buy kit)..

Starting With Outposts Ltd

Today I started working for Outposts Ltd. This busy company will have lots going on over the summer. I'll be looking after the climbing for the next few days, but there is also 'gorge walking', paddling, hill walking, orienteering etc, going on around the Brecon Beacons. In these photos, Lee Cave was running a 'gorge walking/canyoning' work shop, using Anne Canning as a victim/volunteer.

2009 Winter Season Starts

Poor conditions at the beginning of the season lead Chris Walker and I to do some dry tooling down the road from Fort William. Fun, but we hope for better conditions soon..