More rocky adventures

Since my last post I have managed a couple more days of rock climbing, both on the West Coast. First up was the very accessible but still wonderful crags of Polldudh in Glen Nevis, slap bang beneath the bulk of Ben Nevis. This was followed by a trip to the incomparable landscapes of the NW Highlands, and the wonderful crags at Diabaig. I think the pictures say it all.........

Flying Dutchman Direct, VS 4c, Glen Nevis

The superb 2nd pitch of Flying Dutchman

A great day in prospect, Diabaig

The Grunter, VS 4c, Diabaig

Superb slabs

Fantastic

Difficult to concentrate on the climbing with views like that.......

Final moves......perfection

The art of navigation

Really productive last two days for me, attending a two-day workshop for Providers of the National Navigation Award Scheme. The idea was to learn and share ideas for teaching navigation, moving away from the "traditional" ways of teaching hill navigation, and thinking afresh. Lots of great ideas to maximise time and help clients "visualise" what they should be doing, as well as learning by doing and not in the classroom. Plenty of things for me to think about and incorporate into our
existing courses to make them even better. Thanks to Nigel Williams for delivering the course, and to James Woodhouse from Lathallan School for hosting and organising the conference. Great stuff.

Contours in the classroom

Contours outside

How best to introduce the compass....?

Dry rock

Spring for me is always heralded by getting back out onto the crags, hoping for dry rock and sunny skies. I have managed to squeeze in a few days already, at Cummingston on the Moray Coast, Huntly's Cave near Grantown, Reiff in the NW Highlands, and today a few hours of bolt clipping at Moy Rock near Inverness. More please!

Hy Brasil VS 4c, Reiff

and again from the other end!

Moy Soldiers 5+, Moy Rock