New routes and equipment

Last night was a good session at Reading Climbing Centre, since my last visit they have changed a lot of the routes in the main hall.

As a novice climber it is still good to go on the auto-belay, as well as honing in on climbing skills in the bouldering area. Now they have changed the route, it has refreshed the challenge.

The routes tried out yesterday were the black and yellow, both will need a bit more practice on my part.

Taking the opportunity to also hone the technique of attaching the rope to quick draws is always a good thing, which will help when I next get the chance to do some lead rope climbing.

Meeting up with a guy called "Danny" we spent a while doing some top-rope climbing. Danny is a little bit more experience than myself, but still a novice. So using the skills taught by others we shared some climbing time, good experience for us both.

Although I have purchased a GriGri2 Belay, as we are both novices I chose to use the standard ATC.

The GriGri will be a bit more of a challenge as I am naturally left handed, so before putting anyone's life at risk, practice will be required in it's use.

Already looking forward to my next session.

Lead climb for the first time today

Today is my first ever attempt at lead climbing, considering I have only had a little experience with rope climbing, today was a big step up.

The venue is the Reading Climbing Centre, the person  who is teaching me, is a seasoned climber and work colleague, Larry Woodley.

We met up at 10:30 am and entered into the busy main hall, where we got geared up and warmed up.

So to arrive at this point, I have had one session at Cheddar on an official course for two hours, a three week training session at Reading Climbing Centre. (One course is three sessions once a week, lasting about 2 hours each, learning to tie-on with a figure of eight, belaying and bouldering:

With about 10 hours or so "bouldering" mainly on the white routes and numerous attempts to scale the route on the auto-belay. To date successfully ascending the purple route three times, listed as a grade 5.

Climbing comes at a risk, which often is reminded that serious errors can cause serious injuries and even death, so it is not to be messed with, but the feeling of achievement makes for a great feeling of accomplishment.

I have climbed with Larry once before, and know that he has a wealth of knowledge and experience;

So we are warmed up and begin our session;

Firstly we begin with a climb on a "top rope" which is where the rope is in place, looped through two top caribina's; Larry climbs twice, both routes and I belay, using the "V to the knee" technique acquired from my training. I follow with a grade 4 climb, the heart is pumping already.

We then move to the far end of the hall, where we do another top rope climb, but on a grade 5, with a slight incline. Once again taking it in turns.

Now following a brief explanation of how lead rope clubbing is done, Larry explains the technique as we watch two separate climbing pairs. A whole different principle.

Larry has brought along his own rope, bagged and tagged. So this is how it is to be done;

Standing behind my climbing partner he begins to ascend with his rope secured to his harness, and me attached to the rope, once he reaches the first fixed anchor point called a "quick draw"he secures himself.

This is now the difference from top rope climbing, you need to ensure the climber has sufficient rope to ascend and attach to the next quick draw in succession, while being ready to arrest a fall at any time.

Glad to say my partner ascended to the top safely, meaning that he had sufficient rope when needed and confidence that I had followed his instructions well.

Descending was a little different, my positioning meant that as he reached the last couple of metres the rope was straight between his legs, whoops, luckily some warm parts only but no serious damage.

Now it was my turn, funny how when you watch others it looks easier. To be fair after struggling with the first few quick draws, the middle section went well, but the top third was a bit of a struggle getting my feet placed right and hooking the rope through the quick draw. My effort to reach the top meant that  i needed to use more than one colour hold, and getting the rope through the secondary top caribina did take a lot of effort.

There, I had made, it to the top of my first ever lead climb, and after savouring that victory I signalled to my partner to begin my descent. That was brilliant, and thoroughly enjoyable.

We celebrated with a well earned cup of tea, my treat, after which we spent a further hour top roping until we both concluded "that was it, for today"

Just before we left I grabbed my iPod for moment photo, 

and a hearty thank you to Larry

Lead climb, straight up through the centre (Green route)

From the begining

Following a drive through Cheddar a few weeks before hand, an old passion never fulfilled was rekindled, rock climbing.

The story of my exploits will begin here and progress, along with reflection will be recorded.

The session which was booked at Cheddar was a taster which really whetted the appetite. As you can see in the picture above, an instructive course began going over health and safety with equipment and ropes.

Within 20 minutes I enjoyed a one to one session and was climbing in no time, as can be seen below.

The good thing also is once you get to the top, you get a free ride down.

Lots to learn and enjoy, and have since joined the Reading Climbing Centre.