2009 courses online

20 Jan 2009

Finally I'm really happy to say that all the courses for 2009 have been finalised.  If you haven't looked around the site already, here's what we have got:

Holidays 

France with Corinne Theroux, top french competition climber.  Superb climbing at Chateauvert in the Provence Verte, staying in an idyllic restored villa in its own vineyard!
3rd - 10th October 2009

Turkey with Steve McClure - enjoy golden rock in a secluded rural part of the country not far from the coast.  There are two weeks available:
Week 1... 1st to 8th November 2009
Week 2... 8th to 15th November 2009

Courses

New! - Plastic to Pebbles - for people new to bouldering outside
New! - 4 steps to trad heaven - uncover the rock warrior inside you
New! - Rock Action course for people aged 12-17 in the Peak District - the only progression and improver course for young people in the Peak

Conan the librarian

There have been a few cold and bitter days out of the grit recently.  At times its been frustrating with snowy run offs meaning things are damp.  Last week, disappointment at not being able get on something I've been trying at Secret Garden led us up onto the top of the moor to Mother Cap.  Here I am climbing the super, all time, mega, classic Conan the Librarian (6b+).  Maybe I've overstated the climb, but climbing such a great line on such a great shaped boulder always gives a buzz.

David Mother Cap

 We moved on to try the one to the left called David (7b).  It goes up the wall using some incredibly minature crimps.  Many attempts of not being able to hold on led to actually being able to cling on in some fashion.  Finally after about an hour and a half I topped out.  One of those rare things happened, or maybe never ever things, where I was the only one to reach the top .  My 3 'normally much better at climbing than me' friends seemed to be overcome by gravity. 

Happy New Year!

09 Jan 2009

Welcome to 2009!  And a big hello to all the high pressure about.  Shame I've been a bit too feeble to go out and enjoy it properly.  Our New Year in Northumberland was fantastic, accompanied by blue skies and lots of sun.  Here's a picture of me on my nemesis, or at least its turning into that, Captain Haddock 7a+ at Bowden Doors - oh well, it makes for a nice picture.

Captain Haddock

The weather stayed as in this picture (apart from the day it rained) but the slightest whiff of a wind made it borderline impossible to climb and it was quite character building at Shaftoe.  But galient as we felt that day, Nic and I scooted back to Sheffield on the Monday unable to handle another day like that.

I've been very busy this week on the computer and hopefully, if you've had a chance to look around the site, you might have noticed some new additions.  Holidays is now on the home page and I can proudly annouce the 'France' holiday with Corinne Theroux.  A date is hovering on the horizon as I'm trying to fix up accommodation.

I'm now working with the Foundry Acadamy - for talented young people in the Sheffield area.  They got 3 minutes on 'Look North' the other day and is finding support from some pretty high profile people including Jerry Moffat, Steve McClure, Neil Bently and Ben Moon.  I'm in the process of trying to develop a residential course in the Peak District for young people too in the Summer holidays - so its all go as usual.

As for my climbing - this is it - my restful December is sadly (I quite enjoyed being lazy) at an end and I've started the 'be fit and strong for the Spring' campaign.  Let's hope my strategy works.

Next week I will make the formal unveiling of the 2009 holidays and courses with a big splash on UKclimbing.  Until then...