Peak Mountaineering
The climbing blog of Paul Lewis
Archive for July, 2008
July 22, 2008 at 9:51 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
I’ve been back at Stanage today for some guided climbing with Jessica and Noel. They are visiting from sunny Weybridge and they were keen to sample some gritstone for the first time.
The weather was quite overcast this morning but it improved as the day went on and we had a great time cruising a load of classics - and a few lesser known offerings. The team managed everything I threw at them so as the last climb I suggested Noel try the steep and unforgiving ‘Eliminator’ (HVS 5b). He nearly bagged an onsight but ran out of steam near the top - a great effort. Thanks for a great day guys and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.
I have the next couple of days set aside to make final prepartions for my Tanzanian trip as well as trying to clear the mountain of paperwork in the Peak Mountaineering office before I go. A couple of days…..I really need a couple of months for that job!
July 21, 2008 at 10:30 am · Filed under peak mountaineering
If you’ve climbed at Stanage Edge you will know that it’s not widely recognised as a typical scrambling venue…..but luckily its perfect for practicing scrambling ropework skills - and thats what I was doing this Saturday with Martin, Murdo, Tim and Gareth who were brushing up their skills in preparation for an upcoming visit to Scotland (which is widely recognised as a TOP scrambling venue!).
Over the course of the day we covered gear placement and selection, direct and indirect belay building, essential knots, abseiling and belaying techniques. As with all good days the time flew by and the team were planning a return visit on Sunday to consolidate the skills we’d covered.
The team have big plans for their trip north and I hope you all have a productive and fun week guys - it was great to meet up with you.
And yes…….the mystery parcel WAS my Tanzanian visa. Now there is just the small issue of all the other things I need to organise!!
July 18, 2008 at 9:44 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
Several phone calls to the Tanzanian High Commission, nervous plans to head to London to chase up the application (that seemed to have mysteriously disappeared along with my passport) and at last a postcard through the letterbox today saying a special delivery letter was waiting at the local Royal Mail depot. Could that mysterious visa really be here? Watch this space!
July 16, 2008 at 2:50 pm · Filed under peak mountaineering
Must write blog! Must write blog! Must write blog! I woke up last night in a cold sweat with the date July 2nd buzzing around in my head………….the date I had made my last blog entry! Three times this week I’ve got up at 5.00am to get a peaceful hour to get it up to date then three times the time has been taken up with replying to emails and other admin. So here I am, sat in my car in the Goyt Valley - one climbing group has just left and another is due in 40 minutes……….so forty minutes to fill in weeks of back to back activity and prepare the kit for climbing this afternoons round two…..
The main activity over the last fortnight has been running some ‘activity weeks’ for a local school. 96 year six pupils, a bunch of instructors, a very changeable weather pattern and a packed timetable…no wonder the blog hasn’t been touched. Kayaking, orienteering, indoor and outdoor climbing and abseiling, problem solving and swimming - It’s been a rollercoaster! Oh yes. I forgot to mention the day they spent at the Pleasure Beach. That literally was a rollercoaster!
I’ve been helping this school for several years and every year it gets better and better. The children are game for anything and love trying out new things. Even better, they are great at working together and encouraging each other. The quote at the top of the blog was my favourite example from the fortnight. Charlie had struggled to commit to leaning back on the abseil and his mates were trying to help him down. Mike had talked to Charlie about how he would regret not trying it if he gave up and turned to me with a glint in his eye. “Come on Charlie boy,” he said. “Remember that at the end of the day it’s all about making memories. Ain’t it sir!” Classic! Needless to say Charlie did get himself down and by the end of the session had completed 3 more abseils too. After climbing today we have another day of kayaking and orienteering then the final day on Friday is all climbing. A great few weeks and thanks to all the staff that have made it possible.
In between all this we’ve had various other things going on. Last weekend Cal was out and about with Cathy biking the Marin Trail and multi-pitching in the Pass, I’ve fitted in a few evening rides for some upcoming ride guides and managed to get some routes in at Stanage and Burbage. Finally, Dave has been out with Teresa and Ben doing an introductory climbing course.
And last but certainly not least I’ve been rushing around trying to get sorted for my upcoming exped to Tanzania. Still no visa but everything else is looking good. Innoculations done, new kit packages arriving daily and my recent bedtime reading has been restricted to Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide. Yes, the rollercoaster that is Peak Mountaineering makes the Pepsi Max Big One look like a toddlers ride!
Here comes my afternoon group!
Cheers,
Paul
July 2, 2008 at 11:30 am · Filed under peak mountaineering
In a previous post from last week I mentioned recently walking the’Coffin Route’ between Eskdale and Wasdale. This is a lovely gentle stroll that tops out in a beautiful isolated basin. What struck me during our walk was how much sundew there was growing along the route. Although it is a fairly common plant I haven’t seen it thriving in such abundance before. Sundew is one of my favourite plants and children always love to be told about them because they have such a dark side to their characters……
Sundew is an insectivourous plant that loves growing in boggy areas. They have evolved to eat insects because the bogs have very few nutrients in them, so in order to survive they need an additional food source. To passing insects the sundew flowers look attractive and inviting, but they are actually covered in sticky tentacles that trap the prey as soon as it lands. Once trapped, other tentacles close around the creature and the plant then secretes digestive enzymes which dissolve the insect before the nutrients are absorbed to feed the plant.
Once this devilish work is done the tentacles retract and the insect husk falls to the floor - ready for the next victim! Nice!
