This Saturday 27th March we’ll be at the Bristol Climbing Centre for their spring festival; competitions, free tasters, stupid discounts from Snow and Rock, fancy dress plus Sumo Wrestling for all.  Come and meet us if you’re in the area … http://www.undercover-rock.com

Mountaineering - The Essential Skills

What does mountaineering mean to you?

John Ruskin, Author, once said ‘Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery’

William Blake, English Poet, said ‘Great things happen when Man and Mountains meet.’

But this quote is one that I am sure all of us can relate to, may be in life and most certainly out in the mountains!

“Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”

UK Mountains are diverse and stunning with a unique climate, wildlife and environment. For climbers these mountains offer us some amazing challenges with a wide variety of climbing styles and grades.

But Mountains provide us with more challenges than just climbing, first we have to get to the location, deal with weather conditions, scramble over easier ground safely and that’s just for starters!

Learning more Mountaineering skills is an essential way of maximising your enjoyment as well as ensuring your safety in these sometimes treacherous environments.

Newly launched is a course which takes you on a practical and remote journey over two days across the North Wales Mountains where you will undertake the challenges and prepare your readiness for mountaineering in the UK.

The weekend will include skills such as preparation and planning, navigation both for day and night and in thick weather, bivouac systems, steep ground techniques, short roping & rope work for scrambling, equipment selection, journey planning, safety points and emergency procedures and much much more.

This course is unique where you will learn the skills ‘real time’ with ‘real time’ scenarios to test you. You will be coached through these fundamental skills of mountain craft with qualified, experienced but above all enthusiastic and committed Mountaineering Instructors giving you a real adventure, lots of fun and importantly giving you skills to keep you safer and happier on your future mountain days.

This course is suitable for everyone who wants to learn more, climber, walker or adventurer!

And let us leave you with one of our favourite quotes

“In the mountains, the shortest way is from peak to peak: but for that you must have long legs!’
Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher.

Last year we ran a workshop weekend with an emphasis on refreshing and learning traditional climbing skills.  It was so successful we are going to do another one Easter 2009.

Arriving on Friday evening leaving on Monday evening, you will stay in a beautiful village hotel just a few minutes drive from the very best climbing areas in the Costa Blanca and climb for three days with a highly qualified MIC guide.  The three days will be packed full with traditional climbing skills, including gear placement, anchors, safety and of course lots of climbing!  A fantastic get away to climb under perfect blue skies!

Weekend includes:

3 nights hotel accommodation (Fri, Sat, Sun), breakfast and packed lunches, 3 days climbing instruction (Sat, Sun, Mon), Airport transfers, transport to each climbing day, all climbing equipment.

Costs £349 per person.

Book now to reserve your place!

Performance Coaching Courses for March 2008

Level 1 - 15th - 22nd March
Level 2 - 22nd  - 29th March

Level 1 Intensive - 28th - 31st March