Last day on Level 2

So Wednesday was the last day of are UKCC Level 2 training. Shame it was not as nice today as last week but this is Fort William after all. Had some great session form Andy and Rich. Learning a lot form one and other still. Got a great session on turing form Rich. That really got us all thinking about how to couch and how many out comes can come for one take/skill set. It will be good to put the couching skill to use after the easter brake. 

Rich keen for the day

Andy Wet after rolling up form a failed High Recovery and still happy

Messy day on the Etive

Head out with a big group of us looking to get onto the Etive last Sunday. Getting there it was looking a bit high for Zeemon and Fiona. So they gave it a pass. That left Dave, Graeme, Kevin and me. It was looking like it was going to be a fun if full on run down for me. The top of Triple Fall was a big mess and not looking good in my small boat. So gave it a miss. The lads ran it and all make it look smooth. Getting into the pool of the last drop ran it clean and feet good. So headed back for a second go. This did not go as well. Did not make the line across the top of the drop and came done in the centre. This lead to be going for a swim and having to be rescue. It was a seen of thing to come.

Not wanting to leave the warm

Triple Fall

Graeme of safety

Next big thing to happen was Letterbox. Pretty much know that I was going to walk it at the level it was at. Did safety again for Dave and Kevin. They got thought clean and Dave in his new big boat just powered over the stopper.  Graeme was not as lucky and got a bit of a spanking. This lead to us becoming three and me getting a blood nose for a boat to the face. The banter was going well by now.

Kevin showing off the skills

Now I had Graeme's Dagger Nomad to play in. The rest of the river seem to go well. We walk Crack of Doom as it was looking meaty. Had to do some roll as I was doing some stupid thing. Then it seed to be at Right Angle and it was looking BIG. Dave head down first and seed to get lost in the run in in a stopper but got down ok. If a little side ways. Kevin head down and was good and had a roll at the bottom. Then it was me up. I try a thine line streat down the fall. It did not go so smoothy at the others. It ended up with me accidental free wheel off right angle and deck popping. So another swim it was. Thou this time a self rescue. So not at bad. Still a great day had even if it was a bit messy run at time.

Dave at the bottom of Right Angle

 Not a good idea to go of Right Angle sideways and on your knuckles

Day 3 of Level 2 Coach

Uni is hard when it's days like this that you have to study on outside. Was doing 3 day of coaching. Doing sort sessions to work on giving feedback and different ways of coaching peoples leaving styles. Had some great coaching on sea kayaking. But it's a bit mixed up about it from white water kayaking. Will need to have a bit more of a play. One more day on training next week and then onto coaching sessions after easter. Just hope the weather stays like this for them

3* White Water

Had a great day out on a high Middle Findhorn to do my 3* White Water with Aquaplay Scotland with Jim and some lovely ladies. Nice river to get on for the first time and lots of place to work skill and play about on. Need to get out more with the look of more wet weather about.

Don't know how he does it but the sun even came out for the day

Looking a bit big

Taking about what line to pike

Jim and Ellen chilling

Georgie showing off her throw bag skills

Change in Plans

Head out yesterday with Will to climbing Observatory Ridge (Plan A). Walking up to the CIC Hut there was a lot of new snow about. So not fancying a swim change to Gutless (Plan B). Got up the first pitch with so ok ice in bit and with some crap in others. Trying to get onto the second pitch was looking like it could be ok but some fond to be crap. That meant an abseil off and onto Plan C South-West Ridge with Tower Ridge. There was lots of teams on South-West Ridge so lot of chatting about what people have been getting done. Then onto Tower Ridge that have a nice path up it. There was some lager cornices where people and us had walked over. Had a great day even go the sun out for bits of the day.

First pitch of Gutless 

Lot of steps over some cornices 

The sun come out 

Looking down at the CIC Hut

Will heading off

Mad times

Bit of a mad time to get on the blog. 2 weeks a go was a Fort William Mountain Festival Film. Where I was helping out on some nights and even go to see some of the chats and films. A great 5 day it can only get better. 

Mountain Rescue Fund Raiser

Jam from Mark Chambers on Vimeo.

Had a day out climbing with Conor on the The Curtain and it was not the best. Soft ice in bit and getting better towards the top. Lots of people out climbing with use and at one point 12 people on the top belay. 

Looking good from here

Long run out

Conor on the second

Heading off the to top

The masses

Then last week had 5 day of uni with lecturer and starting me Level 2 UKCC Coaching Qualification. Then 2 days of Winter Work Shops doing Avalanche Awareness with Alan. Had a mix of a indoor day on the theory, outdoor day of digging and probing.

Enjoying a slow walk in

Alan showing how to dig

Feeling it after binging like mad man to find people 

Look what we fond

With all that on there was even had time for a night put on by the UHI Cycling Club at Alpine bikes on how to fix and look after your bike.

Andy learning something know

Jessie show off is skills 

Somethings not right??