Climbing Wall Award

 Climbing Leader

I have spent the last 3 days in Plymouth doing my climbing wall award training. This training means I will be able to lead climbing sessions ranging from first time climbers to regulars looking to improve.

We covered a whole range off things on this course. Not only learning new techniques and developing our own climbing but also learning new ways to teach other people and encourage them to do better.

Monday
After looking on Google and finding where I was going to stay I left home around 2pm, to arrive at my hotel for 6. This was a long drive, I would need a big playlist of music.
I arrived at the hotel and after finding some parking, got my bags and heading in side. Checked in and was shown my room, very basic but had an on suit and the bed was comfy. Time to settle in and good a night sleep.

Tuesday
After a good nights sleep and a filling breakfast I head of to the first climbing wall of the course. We started late due to traffic, we started with some bouldering and warm up ideas and games followed by some personal climbing and different belaying techniques and knots. Time for a short lunch.
After lunch we started to look at setting up a system for abseiling and the many different ways and knots for it.

We finished around 5 giving me time to go out and get dinner before heading back to my hotel and relaxing before bed.

Wednesday
Over night we had a small flurry of snow, leaving a good dusting of snow on the paths and cars. I pack up my bags, grab a small breakfast of cereal and toast and head out to de-ice my car.
Today we went to a climbing centre called DartRock, we started with a coffee and a recap about yesterday. Today we covered bouldering again, running abseil sessions, lead climbing and rescues. All of this lead to a very full day with added excitement from the heavy snow fall during the day.

With everything wrapped up by 5pm we de-iced our cars once again ready to head home. For me this meant another 3 hour drive this time made worse by the weather. Starting with just on off flurry's to heavy consistent snow fall that was settling on the roads.
The last hour was the worst as I live in the country side where the roads aren't salted and have lots of turns and corners. I made it home without incident, once inside in the warm and able to stretch my legs I was ready for sleep in my own comfy bed.

Now all I have to do is keep a record of all my climbing and look for an assessment soon.