CLIMBING REPORT

Climbing has proved to be as popular as ever this year. The climbing wall is going well, with the new routes introduced this year. Even in the great Scottish weather, the crate climbs have also been well used. We have a lot of repeat climbers so letting some of the groups belay for themselves, under our supervision, and also keeping an eye out for future trainee climbing instructors in the units. We have had girls climbing at the County Camp, the BP challenge weekend, and the team even made an appearance at PAGGS 2009 at Bonally.

This year, during the worst weather possible we ran a Level 1 Training and Assessment course, and as a result, we are now up to 14 qualified instructors with the addition of Lyndsey Allan, Wilma Carroll, Emma Richardson and Gillian Dick to the team. We also ran a Level 2 Training and Assessment Course resulting in 6 Level 2 Instructors in the form of Patricia Brown, Amy Camelford, Joyce Reid, Louise Lindsay, Victoria Blair and Suzy Bain. Well done to all of them.

We are all qualified to take groups out on the Tower at Auchengillan, for both Climbing and Abseiling. Using our own instructors and equipment can save your unit a lot of money, so keep this in mind if you are visiting Auchengillan. We can now also offer Climbing and Abseiling at Neilston, Kilsyth and Auchengillan crags so something new to challenge some of our older climbers.

The Climbing instructors have been keeping their skills honed by visiting Quad Rocks in Largs, Glasgow Climbing Centre, Xscape and Ratho to keep up to date with current climbing practices, and visits to Lapwing Lodge’s new High Ropes course and Go Ape in Aberfoyle are planned for the future.


Patricia Brown
Climbing Adviser