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