30-second video: cheeky preview of Plas y Brenin’s *new* mountain bike skills course

14Dec11

iPad/iPhone users should be able to view this by visiting the Vimeo video page directly

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Tags: mountain biking, plas y brenin

Week 22 at Plas y Brenin

07Dec11

17th-23rd Oct

Highlights: Directing a PYB course + HSE First Aid at Work in the Mountain Environment qualification

Summary: Short week to review; attending a Plas y Brenin course, and directing one!

Snowdon from the Llynau Mymbyr

Monday-Thursday

I’ve never been 100% confident in dealing with 1st aid incidents with mere 3-yearly attendances on the whistle-stop 2-day REC emergency courses. Thus I’d asked if I could attend a more thorough 4-day course which also doubles as an HSE approved Mountain First Aid at Work Qualification. Helen & Cath led the show and I was able to learn at a good pace, revisiting stuff that I’d admittedly done before yet was able to absorb more effectively. An assessment of CPR protocols and scenarios on the final day wasn’t too scary!

Friday-Sunday

Friday was the 2nd prep day for the coming weekend, on which I’d be let loose on some clients to direct the course “Discover Orienteering”. To be given this responsibility is generally outside the remit of my CA-ship, however, I was delighted to accept the challenge, and ensure I was well prepared for my two students. At 5pm, Friday afternoon, one of the students rang in to say he wouldn’t be able to make the weekend, thus leaving me to rethink my plans for some private tuition!

Saturday morning kick-off. Tony, my student, had booked onto the course in light of the upcoming OMM (Mountain Marathon) the following weekend. This was most convenient; although I was somewhat sad to stray off the ‘curriculum’, it was quite convenient that I’d done an OMM and could tailor the course to do some 1 on 1 navigation coaching. We quickly moved through the fundamentals of plan, scale, and relief to explore their more advanced counterparts – especially relief.

Having covered much about tactics and strategy on Saturday, by Sunday, I had Tony successfully leading me round a ‘green’ difficulty open fell course with minimal input from myself – implementing a decent amount of tactical navigation techniques along the way. We really pushed things that afternoon when we ran round some of a mock ‘mini OMM’ course on Moel Siabod, during which I could mainly shadow Tony’s progress and allow him to make decisions, confident in the knowledge that there was a safety net to fall back on.

Great experience!

That evening, I made a quick exit and drove back home to Nottingham…

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Tags: Llynnau Mymbyr, Moel Siabod, Mountain Marathon, Nottingham, OMM, Orienteering, plas y brenin

Week 21 at Plas y Brenin

27Nov11

10th-16th Oct

Highlights: BILBERRY TERRACE! directing an orienteering session, bought a CO2 bike pump, cheese & wine rave, long Carneddau run

Summary: A right mix – with grade 3 scrambling stealing the limelight, and healthily long runs and road biking trips…

Approaching the top

Monday

This morning I was let loose with 30 kids doing some centre-based and forest orienteering. Very challenging to entertain, enthuse, capture attention, set-off, mark answers, and count in the kids, but nevertheless great fun (and they were well behaved)!

In the afternoon I joined in with some staff training on the abseil tower and in the climbing wall, and in the evening had a personal training session on the ski slope.

Tuesday

I’d promised Glyn that I’d go out with him so he could revise SPA stuff for his assessment later in the week (which he passed, woot!). After a short while at Lion Rocks, where we also met Lou with her group, we dived into Llanberis for a mug of hot chocolate in Pete’s!

In the evening, a climbing wall session – routes mainly

Pete's Eats large hot chocolate with cream & marshmallows!

Wednesday

This morning I drove over to Chevron Driver Training to be assessed for ability in the run up to some training for acquiring my D1. This went well, and I must now do the 8 hours and test over 3 days at the end of the month!

On the way back, a cheeky stop at Tesco for some wine/chocolate.

Thursday

Not wishing to neglect the shiny road bike, I introduced it to another area of the park today down via Beddgelert and back round on the A5. On the way past Craflwyn I bumped into Rob Samuel and we had a good chat and promised to meet up on the weekend for a mountain run! The ride ended up as 2hrs 25mins, 41miles at an average of 17mph with 1000m ascent!

That evening, a cheese & wine party rave in the CA house!

Yours Truly, near Pinnacle Corner

Friday

A work day, preparing for directing a weekend’s orienteering course in a fortnight. Oh, and I bought a CO2 pump for the bike, it’s tiny!

Saturday

Bilberry Terrace has been on the cards for a while now. Ever since reading Scrambles in Snowdonia (Steve Ashton) for the first time C.4 years ago, I’ve regarded Bilberry to be ‘the ultimate’ in grade 3 scrambling.

It didn’t disappoint.

A glorious day presented itself in Snowdonia, very much the last (but brilliant) opportunity to make a decent summer outing for a scramble. After a slightly delayed start (Tom slept through his alarm!), we parked at Lockwood’s Lake, and made our way up the new Pen y Gwyrd – Pen y Pass path (oddly muddy in parts yet a nicer alternative to the road). A short walk in up the Miner’s Track and on to the foot of Lliwedd – already pausing to take in the immense scale of the North Face.

We had caught up with a team from Warrington who were also just about to set off up the 60ft wall – a sudden reminder of the serious terrain to cover ahead. We decided to solo on past to gain the terrace proper. Arriving at the 15ft corner, a safe solo ascent seemed unlikely, so we roped up. Tom led on and hereafter we moved together to Pinnacle Corner (where most of the photos were taken!)

Pinnacle Corner, Bilberry Terrace

The route finding is somewhat more demanding on the next section, yet not difficult – just a little awkward. We found our way past – excitingly – a handful of bilberries (surviving later in the season up here than their counterparts elsewhere) to the next spike. Heading on over stunningly exposed rock ribs, using running belays and moving together, made for a quick traverse back for 80ft or so. Nearer the top, some funky 3D climbing and a final mini-arête led us out beautifully onto the very summit of the West Peak, Lliwedd.

Only 2.5 hours on, this made perfect time for a spot of lunch, before Tom suggested a quick dash up the south screes, over Snowdon summit and back round over Crib y Ddysgl and Crib Goch. On the way down we came across the team from Warrington again who had taken a little longer on the face. Our circuit meant a lovely end to the day, gaining maximum time on the rock, all in good time for me to get back for a 6pm Bar shift at Plas y Brenin!

Solo next year? T.B.C.

P.S. it’s definitely Grade 3, no matter what UKC says

N.B. the route – Outdoors Magic Guide

Sunday

Busy weekend – today Rob Samuel and I set our sights on a scramble-run from Gerlan up Cwm Llafar, up Crib Lem, over Dafydd and Llewellyn, and down via Pen yr Helgi Du to Capel Curig - 1180m ascent, 2hrs 40 mins at a leisurely pace. Most pleasant and great to be out running the mountains with Rob again, although I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to keep up with a GB Mountain Running Team member uphill :s! Tried out the new Salomon Fellcross on this run, it’s a really good running shoe off the beaten track, but don’t rely on it over anything too rocky!

"Proud to be here", West Peak of Lliwedd

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Tags: Capel Curig, carneddau, Crib Goch, Llanberis, plas y brenin, snowdonia, Steve Ashton

Week 20 at Plas y Brenin

12Nov11

3rd-9th Oct

Highlights: BMC Student Safety Seminar, road biking goodness

Summary: Chilled days off, some orienteering, climbing, and nice to be back on BMC Student Safety Seminar duties

Plas y Brenin by night

Monday-Tuesday

Unexpectedly I was granted the beginning of the week off owing to cars breaking down abroad (parents!). The plan had been to visit Nottingham for 2 days, alas, this became two rest days for sorting out the house; surround sound speakers were installed on the wall, UP (Pixar) was watched, room sorted etc. I also fixed a new cadence computer to my road bike; living life right on the edge

Computer installed, the Glyder circuit was done in just 1hr 30m, not bad although I’m not brilliantly bike fit at present…

Wednesday

Today was another orienteering maintenance day, re-setting the courses, printing etc. Prep for SPA Thursday & Friday…

Thursday-Friday

SPA take 2, still it would seem that maybe 3rd time lucky applies quite aptly here, as some disagreements were somewhat incapacitating. Ask me the rest in private…

Ok, so I lined the minibuses up...

Saturday

Today most notably… “The World Conker Championships in Northamptonshire are cancelled for the first time in 46 years due to high winds.” [BBC].

Alas, a busy day finishing some orienteering work and meeting my students for the following day’s scrambling workshop. A bar shift saw the evening through.

Sunday

After some shuttling of buses to Ogwen Cottage, the scrambling groups made tracks. The forecast was for strong gusts and these didn’t disappoint, forcing us to hide on the west flanks of Y Gribin: The False Gribin. This lends itself well to talking points involving how to manage groups up an introductory scramble; hazards, line choice, spotting etc.

The group thoroughly enjoyed their day out – another cracking year helping out with the BMC Student Safety Seminar. It’s great to help out with these as my own experiences and background in student mountaineering clubs is very useful to relate back to – the discussions seemed to go very positively again this year and hopefully there’ll be some even more safely operating scrambling groups getting out into the mountains.

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Tags: Nottingham, Ogwen Cottage, Orienteering, Pixar, plas y brenin

Week 19 at Plas y Brenin

30Oct11

26th Sept – 2nd Oct

Highlights: OMM Mini Marathon, Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport completed!

Summary: A welcome dash of glorious weather arrived in North Wales this week. Timely for a 5-day paddling course, and some Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) Training Camp goodness

Autumn has arrived at Plas y Brenin

Monday-Friday

A 5-day course to fill much of this week – UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport. A small group of 4 of us made for a delightful week exploring all aspects of the paddle sport syllabus; Foundation Safety & Rescue Training, and all the coaching aspects expected in a UKCC course. I particularly enjoyed testing out the sea kayaks (although I do seem to have a knack of breaking the footrests) on the lake for forward paddling technique coaching.

For the teaching assessments, of which I rather more enjoyed the canoeing (vs the kayaking) I introduced the group to the ‘C’ stroke as a extension to a gentle introduction of the ‘J’ stroke family.

Woot! Level 1 acquired. Thanks Sid & Chris (Brenin instructors).

Sunset over the Llynnau Mymbyr

Throughout the week I also managed to grab a free evening for a run up Siabod to witness perfect evening skies as the sun slid down behind the Snowdon group. Apart from this departure from wettish sport, I also spent some time planning ahead for the weekend’s Original Mountain Marathon Training Camp to be hosted on Saturday & Sunday…

Saturday-Sunday

Saturday morning came round quickly. Prepared as possible for an afternoon’s 2.5 hour ‘Navigation Workshop’, I helped run out the control kites with Adam & Sally for the mini marathon event the following day. Success, they’re all placed correctly! (I hope)

That evening, I knew I’d be working on the bar – thus Pete had added an ‘Ask the Barman’ feature to the event’s evening programme. This was unsettling to poor Glyn who was working the bar with me, trying his hardest to avoid being asked anything about running (he climbs mainly!)

Sunday was a repeat 2.5 hour nav workshop followed by the mini marathon! At 3pm I set out to collect the top and eastern section controls… the weather turned on me as I was running round, and it took over 2 hours to battle through the pea-soup conditions to collect all the kites. Running wet, I managed to keep warm and get them all in before dark!

Challenging weekend, hard work, good fun!

A usual tesco run nowadays

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Tags: Llanberis, Llynnau Mymbyr, Moel Siabod, Navigation, North Wales, plas y brenin, UKCC Level 1 Certificate

Week 18 at Plas y Brenin

19Oct11

19th – 25th September

Highlights: Bangor visits for freshers’ week, Carneddau mountain biking, staff training

Summary: 2 days mountain biking, Bangor errands, moving house cottage, er,… more wet weather?

Sun beams grace the Dyffryn Mymbyr

Monday

A trip to Pen-(puddle)-machno for some mountain biking with Dino. We completed both Loop 1 and Loop 2 on an exceptionally wet day! I’ve been falling off the bike more than usual of late and today was no different with a bizarrely mis-judged turn around a up-rooted tree which had me cursing (and nursing) a rather sore hand. Alas, no damage done, and we whisked back to the Brenin. P.S. wooden spoon award of the day was awarded to me for turning up without a helmet! (borrowed a spare paddling helmet off Dino)

In the evening, part 1 of the British Mountain Guide talks…

Tuesday

Mountain biking again, this time with Will and Dino – we attempted a journey of the Carneddau, negotiating a secret descent down via Conwy Mountain – a big day out

In the evening, part 2 of the British Mountain Guide talks…

Staff training on the Plas y Brenin low-ropes course

Wednesday – Thursday

These two days were reserved for Bangor Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair and generally catching up with old friends/colleagues from Bangor. Great to see many old faces around Bangor University!

Friday

Staff training today – we were introduced to taking groups up (down?) the Abseil Tower, and around the Low Ropes course. It’s easy to forget these excellent facilities exist at the Brenin, hidden in the woods just over the road! In the afternoon I managed to get ‘sea-sick’ hanging around on the end of a rope I was prussiking up and down… *sigh*.

Another trip to Bangor that evening to catch up with Gemma & Gordon, Tom L, Gemma, and Domino’s Pizza! (free student special of course!)

A rainbow over the Llynau Mymbyr

Saturday

Reception/Outdoor Partnership helping! Generally helping around the centre today, and got to see two awesome talks/lectures off Zac Pierce (GB Jnr Ski Team), and Ioan Doyle (local sponsored climber). Helena and Oli, local orienteering gurus, also helped me with the ongoing orienteering course project by training me up on OCAD and Purple Pen (computer software).

In other news, the British Mountain Guide trainees (who have been referred to a few times in this blog already) completed their summer training!

Sunday

We’ve moved into the new cottage – it’s great! Nice to have a lounge, kitchen, and a longer-term pad!

Spooks…

Mountain biking sheep...

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Tags: Bangor University, carneddau, Dyffryn Mymbyr, Llynnau Mymbyr, Moel Siabod, mountain biking, plas y brenin

Week 17 at Plas y Brenin

12Oct11

12th – 18th September

Highlights: 100mph gusts, Bivi-ing out on Moel Siabod, Phantom Rib (VS 4c**) in mountain boots, local orienteering event

Summary: Centre based for much of the week; orienteering, a spot of climbing, bivvying and plenty of films!

The reward for bivvying out

Monday - Thursday

‘Staying local’ – admin, orienteering, and a visitor: Anthony from Nottingham. Admin complete, (‘UKCC Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport’ reg, rota, and calendar stuff), Lotte, Anthony, and I had a quick attempt at ascending Moel Siabod Monday afternoon – it was a no-go zone as we hit a mere 300m high with such powerful winds. Crazy! The back-end of Hurricane Katia’s existence apparently. A kitchen shift on Tuesday helped assist my finances, and a relax to some good old Ocean’s 12 and Van Helsing!

A bivi breakfast

Wednesday and Thursday saw me embark on the first stages of orienteering course maintenance here around the Brenin’s fixed courses. There’s plenty to do and the orienteering ‘department’ is very much my project right now – I’m working hard to ensure the courses are brought up to scratch, and a few longer term strategies may be announced later in the year too :p Thanks to Lotte for her help on Thursday! Anthony and I also managed a wall session on Wednesday looking at top-roping and leading.

I had already packed a bivi-out rucksack for Thursday evening, but last minute the aspirant British Moutain Guides I was going to go out with pulled out So, I didn’t hang around too long before heading up the northern flanks of Moel Siabod on which I spent the night testing out a sleeping system of down jacket and some warm layers underneath inside a bivi-bag. Bit cold at 4am, but sleep for sure!

Bivvying Moel Siabod

Friday

This morning I was out with the aspirant guides Matt and Tanja for some big boot climbing on Clogwyn y Grochan. We did Phantom Rib (VS 4c**) which in the sudden rain showers at around pitch 3 made for a slippy ascent! The rain was set in so climbing was closed for the afternoon Night shift that evening…

Saturday

A day on reception proved very productive conjuring up some new ideas for things from guest arrival information to laminating. Honestly, it’s as exciting as it sounds I escaped in the evening to The Heights in Llanberis to see old work colleagues from Cotswold Outdoor Royal Oak, which made for a pleasant evening out.

Evidence of the 100mph winds (and Autumn!)

Sunday

Braich Bryn Engan – orienteering with the Eryri Orienteers. Today I helped with the start before running the course myself. I came 3rd! Outrageously I would have easily won had I not spent 5 minutes looking for control 1… stupid. Alas, in the afternoon I attended a 3 hour British Orienteering Safety Workshop which was valuable, before settling in for an evening of Spooks! It’s back!

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Tags: bivi, climbing, cotswold outdoor, Llanberis, Moel Siabod, mountain guide, Orienteering, Spooks

Normal service to be resumed… photo interlude:

10Oct11

Snowdon Group from Plas y Brenin, originally uploaded by Tom Hecht.

Snowdon Group from Plas y Brenin

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Week 16 at Plas y Brenin

25Sep11

• Cake of the week - Millionaire’s Sponge
• Interesting Fact - Chomolungma (Mount Everest) is apparently 8850.1728m tall
• Best Thing - CA Team playing on open top kayaks in the jetty
• Worst Thing – Injury from falling off the mountain bike!
• Work Highlight - IML Speed Nav course setting – great fun!
• Best Outdoor - Passed my 2* ahead of BCU UKCC Level 1

Summary: Lots of variety this week, oh, and wet…

Brenin Bridge (usually 6ft clearance!)

Monday - LOCAL

Lie-in, blog, and planning day! Visited Cotswold Rock Bottom to purchase some new climbing shoes! In the evening a talk by Adam on the Yukon Challenge (kayaking) was of good interest.

Tuesday - LOCAL

Water day! Eager to see how the promised overnight flooding had left the Brenin bridge, Will & I snuck out early to see if ultimate excitement had been achieved – that the Llugwy may have broken over the bridge entirely. Alas, it was only teasingly lapping against the very top edge! We drove down to see the usually Grade 5-6 rapids under Pont Cyfyng – absolutely torrential as this video proves!

In the afternoon I made some purchases for the bike off Wiggle and worked the bar in the evening (cashing up went much better and balanced perfectly – whoop!)

Jim's bridge flooded

Wednesday - STAFF TRAINING

Morning session: Mountain Biking photoshoot on the new £40K skills/pump track around at Bryn Engan – brilliant time until I fell off + it was rainy! Stupid fall = grazed arm

Afternoon session: training on the new centre database system!

In the evening, I snuck over to see the new cottage coming into shape, we watched The Social Network – great film! – and I managed to finish the Wedding photography for Geth & Kirsty!

Thursday - STAFF TRAINING

3 lots of paddling today!

1. 2* Kayak skills training
2. Rafting canoes on the lake (very wet activity with 8 CAs and 2 instructors!) and taking the open tops down for a spin in the jetty!
3. Rolling Pool – technique session two, getting there – very close now!

Photoshoot on Plas y Brenin's new mountain bike skills course

Friday - STAFF TRAINING

The morning was spent over at the coral learning about the boat sheds, different boat types and general hands-on tips. Fixed lots of canoe seats! Thereafter, I was assessed for my BCU 2* award which I passed!

In the afternoon I knuckled down to go over the IML speed nav preparation with Carlo – that evening I spent quite a number of hours getting 10 reasonably standardised courses out of my 12 master controls for the weekend event…

Saturday - BAIML (British Association of International Mountain Leaders)/MLTA/PYB weekend

This ‘taster’ weekend to find out if the IML (International Mountain Leader) award ‘is for you’ was being hosted at Plas y Brenin. I’d been drafted in to help run the speed nav element of the 2 days – a 1hr 45min (approx) course to find 5 control points on a 1:25000 map.

I left the Brenin just before 7am to set out the course on the Crimpiau – with a light jog between points this was done in two and a half hours back in time for the morning sessions which I was able to join in with. The rest of the day went well.

A PYB control kite battles in the gusty morning weather on the Crimpiau

Sunday - BAIML (British Association of International Mountain Leaders)/MLTA/PYB weekend

Day 2, and a morning run only took 1 hour to get round and check all the controls were still there and had not taken off in the high winds! Setting off the speed nav in the morning session, I was then able to join in with the rope-work workshop which was certainly very useful.

A bit tired but I enjoyed the challenge, with it being similar to my passion for orienteering, and thankfully it was well received with good feedback on the courses.

A great weekend! Plus, I was able to decide for myself whether or not to embark on the IML scheme – we’ll see!

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Tags: canoeing, Crimpiau, Kayaking, Llynnau Mymbyr, Moel Siabod, mountain biking, Navigation, plas y brenin, Weather, Wet

Week 15 at Plas y Brenin

12Sep11

 

The view along from Castell Helen, Gogarth (near South Stack)

• Cake of the week - Danish pastry
• Interesting Fact - Mountains are home to approximately 1/10 of the world’s population
• Best Thing - Full ascent of Amphitheatre Buttress including pinnacles!
• Work Highlight - My Mountain Navigation quiz went live on the PYB website
• Best Outdoor - Blue skies, sun and top climbing at Gogarth

Summary: Plenty of climbing this week…

'Walking with Nature' course

Monday - COURSE

Had a free day so asked to go out with Lou on a course entitled ‘Walking with Nature’. I joined with 3 others who were booked on the course: Dave, Dave, and er, Dave! Two of them also shared surnames with two of the full-time Brenin instructors. Bizarre. Alas, it was a day out at Cwm Idwal and the Devil’s Kitchen. Fascinating what geological features and flora/fauna I’ve been ignorantly walking past all these years!

Tuesday - CLIMBING

Matt, an aspirant British Mountain Guide had rung me last weekend to see if I could join him in some days out ahead of his assessment in a couple of week’s time. Today, was a wet day so an ascent of Amphitheatre Buttress was on the cards. I hitched a lift on a Brenin minibus heading out to the coast along the A5 and met up with the guys at the Llugwy reservoir access road.

This classic VDiff had been on my to do list for a while, (albeit in the dry!), and it didn’t disappoint with some excellent pitches of top-end scrambling and some harder sections (especially in mountain boots in the wet). All in all, a great day for the Scarpa Charmoz.

Gogarth - Castell Helen, from North West Passage (E1 5b **)

Wednesday - CLIMBING

Another training day – this time not so much guiding as coaching lead climbing. I’ve done barely any trad leads, and so after building up tips throughout the day I led a nice VS 4c with a slack top rope, great! We were at Holyhead Mountain all day and got 4 routes under our belt; Andover (VS 5a), Tension (VS 4b **), Black and Tan (VS 4c *), and Bruvers (HVS 5a **).

Thursday - CLIMBING

3rd day climbing, this time very different situation and scenery again – Castell Helen, Gogarth was the destination after an easier (later) start in the morning. It was the first truly sunny day for a long time in North Wales which made the sun-facing cliffs of Gogarth very amicable to be on! We did 2 quality routes – Blanco (HVS 5a **) and North West Passage (E1 5b **), the latter was certainly one of the best climbs I’ve had in North Wales yet!

In the evening, we watched a DVD – whilst I revised a tad for my PCV theory test tomorrow!

The mysterious 'Tunnel' key at Plas Y Brenin

Friday - BANGOR

With me having to go to Bangor in the morning for my PCV theory tests (multiple choice & hazard perception), I thought I’d combine it with as many visits to old friends/colleagues as possible in and around the University/local area. Thankfully I passed (98/100 for multiple choice – woop!) and so embarked on various errands and visits in the afternoon.

That evening, the night shift involved a drive to Llandudno Junction train station to drop off some students, thereafter an improvised circuits session at reception!

Gogarth - Castell Helen, Blanco (HVS 5a **)

Saturday - CENTRE DAY

Knackered this morning so we watched Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest. After sitting in the bar for lunch, watching the local kids ski team practice on the slope I was inspired to have a ski myself and spent an hour making the most of  the Brenin slope!

Sunday - CENTRE DAY

Stores shift today! An hour lunch break gave plenty of time for another half hour’s training on the ski slope refining slalom technique with cones. After the stores shift finished I settled down to some Doctor Who and had a nosy round the new cottage we’re moving into soon (the old team have finished moving out!)

Gogarth - the view West towards Ireland, beautiful evening skies

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Tags: Cwm Idwal, Holyhead Mountain, Llandudno Junction, Llynnau Mymbyr, Moel Siabod, mountain biking, North Wales, plas y brenin