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Tagged | mountain training

What is a Quality Mountain Day?

What is a Quality Mountain Day?

Blog Post
Articles

Mountain Training have updated the definition for a QMD. We look at the changes and provide an assessors point of view on what we’re looking for when reviewing people’s logbooks.


Posted on 2 March 202430 September 2024
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Mountain Leader Syllabus Updates

Mountain Leader Syllabus Updates

Blog Post
Articles

Mountain Training recently undertook a review of the Mountain Leader scheme to ensure the award remains current. We take a look at the main changes here.


Posted on 1 July 202218 March 2023
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How to Become a Mountain Leader

How to Become a Mountain Leader

Blog Post
Articles

We take a look at the Mountain Leader award and what’s required at each stage of the scheme along your journey to becoming qualified.


Posted on 25 July 202131 December 2023
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Mountain Leader Good Reads

Mountain Leader Good Reads

Blog Post
Articles

A selection of recommended books for Mountain Leaders looking to increase their wider understanding of the mountain environment.


Posted on 24 June 202129 May 2023
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Rock Climbing Instructor – the New Single Pitch Award

Rock Climbing Instructor – the New Single Pitch Award

Blog Post
Articles

The Rock Climbing Instructor qualification is the new name for the old Single Pitch Award.

We look at the updates and changes to syllabus here.


Posted on 27 June 20199 June 2023
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Recent Posts

  • Bristly Ridge East Face Topo
  • Arc’teryx Alpha SL 30
    Backpack: First Look
  • The First Welsh Rock Climbing Guide?
  • Climbing Qualifications Syllabus Updates
  • What is a Quality Mountain Day?

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International Dance Day spent rigging for @hedydd_ International Dance Day spent rigging for @hedydd_dancecompany at @theatrclwyd in Mold.

Performance this Sunday for the theatre's birthday open day. Lots on, from building tours, cinema tasters and cardboard cities, to backstage experiences, instrument petting zoos and live music on stage.
Lovely weekend on our Learn to Lead Trad Rock Skil Lovely weekend on our Learn to Lead Trad Rock Skills course with 3 psyched climbers here in beautiful North Wales.

We do a lot of matchmaking here at Mountain Independence to make these skills courses happen for individuals. If you're keen to learn to lead sport or trad I have a couple of folk looking to find dates for a trad course in the near future. 

We're passionate about climbing and developing folk's confidence to have their own adventures. Check out Dan's review of the course here;

"Fantastic introduction into lead trad climbing. There's a lot to cover but the pace of the course was perfect and I came away feeling confident I could get stuck into more trad climbing.
Stu covered a broad range of skills, theory, and etiquette, was very patient with questions and prior skills, and gave us a really good balance of practical experiences.

I absolutely recommend anyone curious about trying out lead trad give the course a go!"
Sykehusfossen yesterday with Ben & Damo. Worth the Sykehusfossen yesterday with Ben & Damo. Worth the long (for Rjukan!) walk in. Thanks to @youroutdoor for the recommendation; it's in good condition and we enjoyed taking a steep groove a little left of the easiest line which was ace.

Rest day today, the guys have been enjoying the various flavours of warmth on offer in @rjukanbadet and the sights of the town. 

If the accessible, reliable and quality ice climbing on offer in Norway is something you'd like to experience, either as a guided trip or developing your personal skills, then get in touch. We can supply all the technical kit for folk just getting started.
Thanks Damo for this shot of me at Ozzimosis today Thanks Damo for this shot of me at Ozzimosis today. I've been out in Norway the last few weeks in Hemsedal and Rjukan with clients. Ben and Damo had a couple of skills days between Krokan and Ozzimosis and we're gearing up for a multipitch adventure tomorrow. 

I've had a gap open in the diary for ice climbing guiding/instruction in Norway (Rjukan/Lillehammer/Hemsedal) between the 9th and 12th February (changeover travel days into Oslo Gardemoen either side on the 8th and 13th February) for anyone who might be able to capitalise on a last-minute ice trip. Get in touch for more info.
A nice adventure with @butel.mountaineering making A nice adventure with @butel.mountaineering making the most of the last day of the winter conditions in Eryri last week. Loads of folk out enjoying the climbing on the East Face and Bristly Ridge itself. 

Defaid Gwyn ** 105m, 4 pitches 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑
East Face of Bristly Ridge | Y Grib Bigog

Takes the left rib that merges with Tower Buttress.

1. V, 6. 22m Start just right of the rib, up a shallow groove steepening at a shield of rock with cracks either side. Arrange gear for the crux, up the right crack, to a niche and pull up right to a ledge.

2. IV, 4. 35m Step back left, then right to surmount a short crack and drop down to a small col. Continue up the ridge line with interest to a large ledge.

3. III. 30m. Skirt left and back up right to join Tower Buttress on broken ground as far as a bay. Belay in a left facing corner with a steep, chockstone topped crack.

4. V, 6. 18m Mantle the chockstone to a ledge. Pull up left into the stepped groove with plentiful gear afforded by the right crack, pulling out left on turf. Finish easily up to the crest of Bristly.

Tom Butel and Stu Lade 10/Jan/2025.

📸 Thanks to @eddysmountaincompany for the crag shot.
I had another good day up on the East Face of Bris I had another good day up on the East Face of Bristly Ridge with Mark Stevenson on Monday climbing Giant’s Steps Buttress, taking the original summer line where Dwarf Steps Variation previously traversed left avoiding the crux 4a pitch. We thought it gave a good pitch of technical well protected V,6 climbing, with a precarious move exiting the groove that Mark dispatched. Follow the summer line and description throughout.

After climbing Giant’s Steps Buttress, we abbed down the adjacent gully and traversed in to the top pitch of Grooved Buttress which gave a good pitch though with wispy turf in places.

I've knocked up a quick topo of some of the lines here, a high resolution version can be found on the blog of my website, link in the profile.

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