SPA Training - Plas Y Brenin

12 months of climbing, 15 lead climbs and a lot of sweat later and I find myself sitting in the beautiful setting of Plas Y Brenin, about to embark on my Single Pitch Award (SPA) training. 

This has been the aim all along, for me to be able to provide opportunities to people who wouldn't usually be able to get out, and help them experience the great outdoors from a different perspective. There is no greater 'closer to nature' feeling than using nothing than your own skill to climb a crag that was originally formed hundreds of millions of years ago, that thousands of people have climbed up and felt that same pleasure. Through doing my SPA training (and hopefully passing my assessment) I will be able to share that feeling and that personal experience with many others. 

Plas Y Brenin is the perfect location for SPA training. Not only was the center set within the stunning north wales mountains, it is within a good distance of many crags suitable for group climbing. The facilities at the centre are outstanding. There was a climbing wall with varied types of climbs and ascent types. There is an indoor roll pool for watersports, a big lake, a dry ski slope and much more.  

During the SPA training I learnt many new skills that I can apply to my own personal climbing as well as leading groups. The first session we had was a discussion about our previous experience and coming to an agreement on what the SPA 'remit' was, the conclusion our group came to was that we are allowed to take a group of people to any single pitch crag within the United Kingdom, to lead a top rope, bottom rope, abseiling or indoor climbing session. 

The following sessions included:

Personal Climbing After making sure we were all on the same page as to what 'lead climbing' entails we worked on the different types of systems of setting up anchors to bring up the second. We also learnt how to set an abseil up from a single rope whilst using a prussik to lower ourselves safely and how to lock the prussik off in case we needed to work hands free (e.g. if you were retrieving stuck gear). Finally we learnt about the use of cowstails and keeping yourself safe whilst setting up the system at the top of the crag, and how to 'get out of the system' that you have built in the case of emergency but whilst keeping your second safe.

Indoor Climbing I didn't really learn much in this session as it was all common sense. However, it was more a case of making sure that we were all comfortable with the process of how to run an enjoyable but safe session. The framework of which being - warm up, gear fitting, coaching points or activity specific introduction, belaying instruction and then the main part of climbing but making sure it's still constructive through using coaching points. The two main points I took from this session were that I didn't like the matting in the indoor climbing wall as it was slanted down towards the wall and could prove to be an ankle twisting hazard. Also I took away some coaching points that I can apply to my own climbing, as I have never  been 'taught' to climb I just kind of did it myself. Minor things such as looking at your feet a lot more and how to move your centre of gravity are things that I have never considered before. 

Group Work

The final day consisted of how to set up top rope and bottom rope systems and how to set up belays in both of these systems so that everyone is safe but the instructor isn't part of the system. This links in with the next learning point which is how to get a person down when they are scared, tired, physically stuck or injured, therefore you as the instructor need to be free so you can attend to the situation in the best possible manner. Finally we learnt how to set up releasable abseils (which I already knew how to do through work). 

I really enjoyed my time at Plas Y Brenin and will hopefully go back there for my assessment. The food was great, I attended a brilliant evening guest lecture about an expedition to the arctic circle, and I'll also be bringing their tradition of tea and cakes at 4pm home with me. 

Before my assessment I need to get a lot more personal climbing done, I need to go out to a wider variety of crags and be more than confident leading at S 4a. In turn this will help me to become more confident at the top of crags, allowing me to move more confidently therefore meaning I can set up quicker. However, I did have the least amount of experience in my group by a few years but the fact I didn't hold anyone back so that was a major positive. I also need to brush up on my history around the whole area of climbing as it is my job as an instructor to be a good role model so I want an in depth knowledge of how the sport has developed to become what it is today. On the plus side the instructor said that I was "clearly very clever" and picked everything up quick and easy and it was clear to see that I have a good level of experience leading groups.

Overall I had a brilliant time and would recommend SPA training at Plas Y Brenin to anyone that has an interest in leading rock climbing groups, although it is not the right course to improve your own personal climbing. 

Tignes (January 2015)

So as far as skiing goes, I learnt how to ski on my local dry ski slope prior to going on a school trip to Zell am see in 2007. Since then I had done nothing until early 2014, when I realised skiing is like riding a bike, you may be a bit rusty but you never forget how to do it. My second time back on skis I decided to try going over a box, first time over went fine, second time over resulted in a broken hand. A few months later and I jumped at the opportunity of getting back on skis and this time in the form of a trip to Tignes.

The culmination of months of excitement, worry and preparation had finally arrived and it was the quickest week that has ever passed me by. It was a week of experiences that will stick with me for the rest of my life to say the least. Upon arrival we had the usual slog of carrying our cases to the hotel from the coach, and before we knew it we were up for the first lift the next morning.

(The view down into Le Lac)

I have to say now, that first day of skiing was nothing like I’d ever experienced before. From the offset we were skiing in a complete whiteout, which is challenging enough on its own, on top of that we experienced blizzard like conditions all day. I’d never seen a whiteout before, so I guess this is what being thrown in the deep end feels like. I’m not going to lie, for the first hour or two I was questioning why I was there, thinking to myself I wish I was at home. Until my first fall.

I got caught going too fast and was struggling to slow down due to the icy conditions, and within seconds I felt myself flying through the air, I must have been falling for a good 10 meters if not more. There was a few times where I caught a glimpse of my skis with the sky as the background; I knew it must have looked as horrific as it felt. When I finally ground to a halt I suddenly had a group of French people around me asking me questions in a language I didn't understand. First thing I did though was a check from toes to head that nothing was hurt, it was to my complete surprise that I came across no injuries at all other than a sore knee, which later developed into the biggest sorest bruise I've ever had. Luckily I was wearing my osprey day sack to carry water in, this has got a back support in, but it is no means back protection at all, however I still swear that if I wasn't wearing this on that day I would have come a lot worse off. I then proceeded to get up, collect my skis laugh it off and carry on, as I didn't know how else to take it.

(One of us wasn't so lucky and got taken down the mountain by mountain rescue)

That fall made me a stronger person, it was my healthy dose of ‘man up’ and after this I enjoyed the rest of my week. After this I wanted to try everything, and have my fingers in all the pies so to speak. I spent most of my week on blue and red runs; I couldn't bring myself to try a black run on rental skis with blunt edges. My three favourite experiences were moguls, my first ever kickers and then completing 3 boxes consecutively (as you can see in my video, I'll get around to uploading the full video as soon as I've finished editing it). These may only seem like small achievements to some but it took a lot of effort on my part as breaking my hand had really knocked my confidence.

We’d all downloaded an app to our phones on the way there called ‘Ski Tracks’. I’ll discuss this greater at a later date, but in short it lets you track your runs, high speed, distance etc. I aren't much for speed, but I was quite pleased with my personal best of 39.9 mph. However, what started out as a bit of light hearted competition, was raised to a whole new level by the boys on the last day, with the winner (if you can call him that) clocked a terrifying 78mph!

The final thing I’d like to mention, a bit of advice if you’re planning a trip to Tignes – upgrade to the Espace Killy lift pass. It’s completely worth the money with the new options it opens. Pop over to Folie Deux, for a mental Apres ski experience, It’s basically an open air night club at the top of a mountain, with live dancers and saxophone players! Be careful you don’t have a few too many and miss the last chairlift back though, otherwise you’ll be walking back for a few hours in the dark and with a severe drop in temperature; a few of the others in our group found out the hard way. Also I’d take a trip to the swimming pool in Le Lac, and lie on your belly in the baby pool. You may look like an idiot and the water may only come half way up your sides, but the view you will see through the window is awe inspiring, mixed with the warmth of the sun dancing on your skin, it is pure bliss (I’d do anything to be back there as we speak). Every evening we went to the hotel pool and sauna, which did help with muscle aches the next day but nothing compared to that feeling at all. The fact there was husky sledges on the frozen lake on the way to the pool sold it to me but this was the cherry on top of the cake for me. 

 "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail"

Let her sleep for when she wakes she will move mountains.

Your first question will probably be ‘who is this person’. The real answer is there is no right or wrong answer. It could be you, your mum, a colleague, anyone really, anyone that puts their mind to achieving their dreams. This is the quote I’ve lived by since I’ve dared to adventure.

A bit about me:

I’m 21 and I’m a keen adventurer. I’ve always loved the outdoors, but unfortunately due to academic commitments and a few other things, this passion got forgotten. A few months ago I unearthed this passion again and swore to myself that I needed to embrace it this time around and not to let anything stop me. Since this realisation, I have rekindled my love for skiing, climbing and mountain walking. This year is going to be stupidly busy, hopefully making it my best yet (Cliché I know). I’ve signed up to do BEL, SPA and ML. I’m going to Tignes, America and Morocco. Whilst also trying to fit in my last year of Law at university, a part time job on a beauty counter, volunteering as an instructor in the Air Training Corps and beginning a career in Outdoor Education.  

So I guess what I’m trying to say is this blog is a way to document my adventures. Whether it is just writing about somewhere I’ve been, an activity I’ve done or just discussing a new piece of gear. I hope you take away from this some inspiration or information, or at the least it provides you with a bit of light entertainment. As you may guess I’m pretty new to this so any feedback is appreciated.

Glad I’ve finally written this post now, I’ve been putting it off for too long haha.

Emma