Coaching Movement

Using video analysis to help coach - Rosie, Rachel and Brett

For the last 2 days I've been working for the College in Fort William (UHI WHC) on a climbing movement workshop, at the Ice Factor. It was a great few days, and I enjoyed working with the students - thank you to Rosie, Rachel, Brett, Sam and Catherine. One of the best tools that the students liked was video analysis on my new tablet, and a coaching application.

The Ice Factor has been busy this week preparing for the 'Festival Of Ice' - it looks set to be a great event - and the set routes look fantastic.

I spent the first half of my week working at OB and working on my website and van ready for the launch of Hunter Mountaineering - now set to be about 13th November (13 - my lucky number?)

Outward Bound

Ben Nevis without snow in the background

Today I was working for Outward Bound, Loch Eil. Here you can see we went for a canoe on Loch Eil with Ben Nevis in the background. As you can see there is no snow visible at the moment - it was actually warm today.

Gareth on Scimitar ridge in Glen Nevis.

A panorama of Glen Nevis looking West, from Scimitar ridge.

A panorama looking East.

Glen Nevis With Outward Bound

This week I had another couple of days with Outward Bound in Glen Nevis.

Today I discovered that my old faithful camera, that has seen me through many battles and scrapes has developed a major problem - the screen no longer works! The photo above shows that if I still point in the right direction it seems to be okay - but maybe I need to start looking at new cameras!!

A Quick Paddle

The mist clears to reveal Ben Nevis in the background

Working for Outward Bound today Matt led a morning paddle across Loch Eil. The thick sea level morning mist slowly cleared and revealed the Ben in the distance. I had my winter tyres fitted yesterday, so middle autumn is here and winter is in sight. This morning, most of us had our first morning of scraping ice off our windows - happy days of snow and ice are ahead ...

A clear view of the autumnal Ben Nevis

Glen Nevis And Dry Rock

Kirsty

Today at WHC I was with the first year students on the ATM degree course and it was a practical day of climbing for them. We went to Glen Nevis and worked around lots of other crag users, including Outward Bound. We covered climbing skills like belaying, abseiling and a variety of knots and hitches. The weather was good for us all day, and the rock was dry throughout. A great day and everybody made a lot of progress - although for lots of them their favourite sport is still paddling and mountain biking !!!

Quintin

Outward Bound

Miss Sarah Hamilton on the 'Travelator'.

Today I was working with Al at Outward Bound Loch Eil. Today was very windy and dashed all ideas of watersports on the loch with the group. However we had an excellent morning in Glen Nevis on Scimitar ridge followed by on grounds activities in the afternoon.

Scimitar ridge was busy today and so several groups get their turn at the exciting scrambling available in Glen Nevis..

Take a look at my FACEBOOK PAGE ...

Term Has Started At The College

Group 2 - Kirsten, Natalie, Anne, Edith, Emma, Jackie

Today I was out with some of the new students on the ATM (BA (HONS)) degree course at UHI WHC. It was the first practical day of the Hill Walking module. Some of the students have done quite a few adventurous activities before the course, and quite a bit of world travelling - but still they were saying 'WOW' to the views of Ben Nevis and the West Highlands, so that was good to see. Hopefully today has set them up well for their walking exped next week. One of the students was Natalie who last August did a Classic OB course with Instructor Martyn Stott. This has inspired her to want to go on to become an OB instructor at the end of this 4 year course, or possibly she'll take my job and teach new College students.

23rd - 28th Aug, Gold Open Qualifying Exped

Meg inside the emergency survuval shelter during training. They ended up using all the time, at the drop of a hat, and the drop of some rain!!

Today was Chris Bryants' 40th Birthday, so Alison Culshaw got me to organise his presents all over the Beacons, so he found this surprise at the end of his days walk, his van was covered in beer and balloons, and his house had the same treatment - apparently Chris loves Beer and Balloons !!! Happy Birthday Chris...

Here we see the shelter again, as you can see they are sheltering from some very serious storm weather !!!

So, I had some time for some photos, waiting for them to emerge - here is Pen y Fan and Corn Du in mist

Steve Ironside sporting his Outward Bound jacket !

John Knight sporting his solution to the rain !

Finally the group did emerge from the group shelter, and here they are on their way to Steve to explain!

Good, a test of their nav skills, the obvious group of 5 in front, can you see the group of 4 girls in the background on the RHS.. Nobody really got lost! Well done...

Here is group C on day 2. Beth, Alex, Shannon, and Sarah

Another chance for me to take photos, waiting for the groups. Here is Pen y Fan and Corn Du.

Fast group B having a rest. Navid, Matt, Rob, Imogen, Rio and Anna - wait till you see Anna's blisters - she NEVER complained !!

Group B on their way

Posing - who told them to do that !! Navid, Matt, Rio, Anna, Rob, Imogen

Okay so here are Anna's blisters... She never complained, awesome.. I thought these were bad until I saw Shannon's ...

Group C, Shannon, Sarah, Alex (wearing my jumper!) and Beth

Shannon's blister - not good!

Matt.... Obviously it was my turn next ! ...

Another week working for A to Z expeditions. This week working with Steve, Jason and John. It was an Open Gold Qualifying Expedition. Everybody passed this week, congratulations to you all ...

West Coast Of Scotland

Last week I went on a mini expedition with Outward Bound (Loch Eil) (National Citizenship Service) to a secret little spot on the west coast of Scotland. In fact not very secret (Smirisary beach) - but we did have it to ourselves for the 24hours we were there. The group loved it, and the temperatures were so high that the evening activities completely consisted of messing about in the water, and playing in the sand. It was obviously one of my toughest expeds!

Some of the group loving the sunset colours

The sunset was stunning

The Challenge At Outward Bound

This week I was working at Outward Bound in Scotland and the course was 'The Challenge'.. The post year 11 students were from Manchester this week and we definitely had a lot to stretch them with this week. We started with climbing, abseiling and scrambling in Glen Nevis, above.

On the rock day I worked with John Cuthbertson from Snowgoose Mountain Centre. John also used to work at Outward Bound. He also used to work on Gower in South Wales, so we talked about our favourite sea cliff climbs.

Steall Falls on day 1 of our 2 day expedition.

The southern side of Ben Nevis. Carn Dearg nearly visible in the swirling mist on the left.

On day 1 of our exped we crossed the wire bridge over the 'Water of Nevis'. Two winters ago this river was frozen (when we were all climbing Steall Falls) and I walked across.

Paul, the senior mentor for the team, was the last to cross.

Binnein Beag visible on the southern side of Glen Nevis, as we were on our ascent of Meall Cumhann on the northern side - With Ben Nevis further north of us.

After the exped, we got back to the centre and went on our water day which was gorge walking in the Dubh Lighe near Glenfinnan. An awesome day of gorge walking with jumps, slides and sumps! I even got to practice my forward flips and backflips (not perfected yet - still turns into a face plant!).

So a great week comes to an end and they move onto their next adventure in week 2 of 'The Challenge'. Next week I hope to be have an adventure somewhere too... I'll probably be caving in Porth yr Ogof, and climbing in Morlais Quarry!

Classic Adventure - River Roy

The Classic Adventure group are VERY glad to see a bridge over the Allt Chonnal

Working for Outward Bound, I headed off to check up on a Classic Adventure Group on their final exped in their 22 day course. This is their 3rd exped on their 3 week course, and this time they are on their own for a 4 day exped, being checked up on, once a day. This was their 3rd day and it started well, but then later they had to wade across a burn, before they met me at the dangerous Allt Chonnal. This was their final obstacle before their day walk was over. It was obvious that we could not cross it, so we headed off upstream for a crossing point. After about 1km the group were very relieved to find this bridge.

Never has a bridge been so welcome

White Falls falling into the River Roy

The group setting up a high camp above any possible flooding with a rising river

Evidence of flooding was all around the shores of the river. The bridge we used was about 2m above the river but it had flood debris stuck on it. The flood debris was found 2-3m above the height of the river, including the grounds around the Bothy. The group managed to find some high ground to camp safe for their last night.

Outward Bound

Last week I was working for Outward Bound. I was running a course called Serious Adventure for a group of people who came together and met on the course.

The Sat - Sat course was a great success, and included a 3 day expedition in challenging conditions. The group really came together during the week and I think some lasting friendships were made. Congratulations to the whole group for the success they achieved.