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Rock and Sun Blog and News Pages
November 11, 2008
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.
  
November 7, 2008
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!
October 15, 2008
This is what the R&S European office did in their lunch yesterday!
The weather was so gorgeous, with perfect blue skies, that we had to get out and climb. We did a very quick ascent of the Penon d’Ifach, Calpe, Costa Blanca, and ran back down then back to the office to work!!
Here is a photo to show you that actually we are having some fantastic weather, its way up in the north of Spain that is suffering!!
Come join us now!!!
September 24, 2008
There has been much talk in the media over recent weeks warning us of bad investments and unprotected companies.
We are taking this opportunity to remind you of what Rock & Sun gives you.
- Rock & Sun are a UK registered limited company so although much of our operations are abroad we follow the strictest UK guidelines for liability insurance and protection. We follow all the Trade & Standards regulations and are associated to AMI the Mountaineering governing body. We also follow all guidelines of recognised bodies within the countries we are operating in and in many cases have direct associations with them.
- Rock & Sun have an exemplary accident record, however R&S is covered by a £5,000,000 liability insurance policy in the case of an accident.
- R&S instructors are of the highest quality. All our instructors are insured and qualified each having regular update training and annual reassessment so as to ensure the highest levels of instruction and the very best holidays.
What this means, to you, is that as always with Rock & Sun you will have professional, safe, fantastic holidays with the very best highly qualified instructors all with peace of mind that you are fully protected and knowing you have picked the market leaders.
September 9, 2008
Rock & Sun are off to Morocco for the Autumn Pilgrimage.
CHEAP FLIGHTS!
We were shocked at the scary prices with Easy Jet and some of the other usual suspects and have managed to find some much cheaper flights! Its a great airline we have used before called Atlas Blue
Your instructor will meet you at Marrakech airport take you to your sumptuous hotel and you’ll have the rest of the day and night to discover the enticing awe inspiring Marakech Medina. Then off to the amazing climbing zone Todra, returning again to Marrakech for one last explore on the Friday night.
FREE NIGHTS!
For the really cheap flights you have to arrive on the Friday and depart on the Sunday dates……. So we are giving an amazing two nights bed & breakfast for free!! Saving you money and giving you a precious two extra nights to explore this amazingly unique city.
Friday 10th – Sunday 19th October
Friday 17th – Sunday 26th October
Book now and secure the last few remaining places.
September 3, 2008
The CB Workshop 20th – 27th September
Well last May and June the workshop weeks were incredibly popular, designed for anyone who wants to get out and climb! You get a fantastic 1 week climbing trip in the sun with two of our most popular instructors Chris & David, staying in the stunning Casa Almar Hotel, Costa Blanca where you will stay in exquist rooms with breakfast served every morning!
This year we are already very booked up but we have decided to launch a very special discount pre season friendly week
Holiday includes:
7 nights B&B accommodation in Casa Almar
6 days instruction with either Chris & David
Airport transfers
Transport to each climbing day
All climbing equipment
You need:
Flights to Alicante Airport and travel insurance to include rock climbign activities.
The cost is just £350 based on 4 people attending.
Flights are still cheap for this week too!!!
Come and join us for some sun, blue skies and great climbing!
Contact Us Now to book a place.
Sport climbing course 6th 7th September 2 places left
Are you preparing for a winter climbing trip abroad? This course will put you in a state of readiness to make the most of your winter climbing in the sun.
Location:
Clwyd limestone in the Eglwyseg Valley, a tranquil and secluded spot situated to the north of Llangollen. The cliffs in the valley offer superb technical climbing ranging from traditionally protected low-grade lines, to hard classics with plenty of sport climbing opportunities. All in all a great venue that is out of the ordinary with good places to learn whilst not being too far to get to.
Course content:
- Demystifying sport grades and jargon
- Top tips for transferring from indoor to outdoor climbing
- Checking your fundamentals - use of PPE, tying in, warming up and movement skills for outdoor climbing
- Equipment – Ropes – types and application; draws, biners and belay devices.
- Boltonomy -bolt dissection
- Confirm correct belaying with standard belay plates, auto locking (Gri Gris) and auto blocking devices (Reverso)
- Clipping the first bolt
- Clipping draws correctly
- At the lower off – threading the lower off and descending
- Stripping the route
- Hazards, accident block spots, injuries – how to avoid all of these plus dealing with incidents (not just yourself but if you witness a n incident)
- Preparation, training, hydration and nutrition.
We will also work on coaching movement and will be aiming to get plenty of climbing milage done.
Cost £190.00
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June 20, 2008
5th – 12th July 2008
This is a very special week being hosted by R&S instructor Jan.
You will stay in the stunning Sella Valley, surrounded by untouched beauty and some of the most famous climbing routes of the Costa Blanca.
During the day you will climb, the week will focus on all areas of your climbing, including increasing your grade, red pointing skills and over all confidence and competence. The climber to instructor ratio is kept small and the instruction tailored to suit your personal experience and aspirations, ensuring you get the very most out of your week.
At night you will stay in the Sella Refugio, enjoy the warm summer evenings,have a drink, exchange a few stories and simply have a great time.
This will be a special week, taking advantage of the climate and the climbing area. Truly one not to be missed.
The week includes 7 nights Self catering accommodation, 6 days instruction, airport transfers, transport to each climbing day, all climbing equipment.
All this for just £339 per person.
Click here to reserve your place.
 
May 27, 2008
 
For months the Peñon d’Ifach has been closed to climbers due to critical repairs and maintenance to the walkway beneath the Peñon and the cleaning and stabilising of loose Rock from the main South Face. After much speculation and much work by Calpe council, the Club Alpí de Gandia y Club de Muntanya de Calp and local event organisers Roy and Miguel the Penyon was open to all, just hours before the 7th Penyon 12 hour challenge was due to start!
Every year teams from wide and far compete in a 12 hour race to climb as many routes as possible. All the routes are given points according to difficultly, length and protection.
This year – 17th May 2008 – 25 teams entered along with our very own team, Chris & Nacho!
After an impressive start where we saw Chris & Nacho storm up the face with uncanny speed – Puta Paseo 7a+ in just 2.5 hrs. Spirits were damped not only by the approaching storms but by an awkward & unlucky fall by Nacho on the notoriously slippery descent. Nacho injured his ankle, the storm closed in and lightening crackled….. Nacho & Chris would not be deterred and fought on. Their second route (El Navagente 7a) went equally speedy and just as us spectators were thinking that all was well and the storms seemed to be keeping to the inner mountains, we realised their descent was very slow. A phone call confirmed Nacho’s ankle was suffering on the difficult descent…….Lisa & Steve armed with a team of supporters and pain killers, freezing spray, bandages and tape raced up to meet them, dressed the ankle, gave them some cheers and incredibly they were off again.
 
Their third route (Costa Blanca 6c+) saw them climbing even faster than before (we were told later that fart power and humour kept them going ever faster!) Unfortunately a slower group on this route held them up but they still got to the top with half an hour to spare. They achieved their target of three routes in 12 hours and were rewarded with 7th place. A fantastic and well deserved achievement for their first race. Nacho is recovering well with three weeks off work and a cracked foot bone!
April 22, 2008
For two weeks only
10th – 17th May
14th – 21st June
Climbing Workshop Costa Blanca
An amazing opportunity to experince the best of the best.
This unique workshop gives you three highly experienced instructors to cover all aspects of your climbing.
Our three instructors are all very different, with unique and valuable instructional skills.
Chris Newton-Goverd- is our Performance Coaching instructor and will work with you to dramatically improve your climbing technique, giving you valuable advice and instruction on how to move and approach each climb.
David Baggaley – Rock & Sun’s favourite! will build your confidence and overall ability, climbing lots of routes getting valuable experience on the rock.
Jan Novotny – new Rock & Sun instructor and an accomplished climber will concentrate on your red pointing skills, teaching you the skills to achieve that sought after route.
There will also be a couple of sessions on warm up and down exercises and a slide show by David.
As always climber to instructor ratios are kept small so plenty of time for personal attention. We will take you to some of the most stunning locations and quality rock climbing in the area.
The weather in May and June is perfect sunny blue skies but not too hot so you can enjoy feeling the warmth on your back and get a bit of a tan!
You will stay in the beautiful Casa Almar, a village hotel offering luxurious rustic Spanish charm, all en-suite rooms.
The holiday includes: 7 nights accommodation, Breakfast, 6 days instruction, airport transfers, transport, climbing equipment.
You need: Flights to Alicante, shoes, harness and helmet (although we do have a full supply if you don’t have these) holiday insurance to include rock climbing activities.
Cost £499 per person.
There are some cheap flights for these weeks so contact us now to reserve your place.
email: info@rockandsun.com Call: 0845 686 4586
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