Single Pitch Award (SPA) Training - Day 3

As  Blackford Quarry is my local crag I simply walked in through Blackford Glen to meet Euan, David and Steven just after 9am. I was another glorious day and we were all keen to get started. Euan gave each of us a task and told us to treat it like a mock-assessmemt. My task was to set up a top-rope on the main quarry wall, while David rigged a bottom-rope and Steven got cracking with a releasable abseil. It wasn't long before I had my rig set up and attached to the shiny bolts at the top of the main wall.

A releasable abseil rig, Blackford Quarry

Euan then inspected our setups and gave us some pointers about how to improve our rigs - all very useful tips. We then took it in turns to run our setups with the others acting as our clients, then we rigged something else; we repeated this until we had all had a go at rigging everything that we had practiced yesterday.

Euan Whittaker demonstrating a releasable abseil, Blackford Quarry

Euan then asked us to look at the quarry from a group perspective and how it weighed up as a group venue. We all agreed that it was a pretty ideal venue to bring a group for a day's climbing and abseiling. Euan then asked each of us to run a different group warm-up activity and then run a group bottom-rope session and we each practiced the bottom-rope rescue using a self-belay with a prusik.

Steven running a releasable abseil, Blackford Quarry

Rather unexpectedly, the rain came... so we made a dash for the nearby cafe for coffees and a debrief from Euan. He asked me how I thought the course had gone. I had learnt a great deal and I was extremely glad that I had found the time to fit in the training course. He said that he had been impressed with my skills and that I should forget about doing the CWA and concentrate on getting my SPA instead. Apparently I was not far off the standard that he expects for assessment but I was told to climb as much as possible, practice my rescues and get my rigging really smooth. I was told that there was no reason why I shouldn't expect to do the assessment as soon as September 2012 - he said that it was easily possible, as long I was committed and followed his sound advice.

A brilliant few days. Many thanks to the EICA and to Euan for all his advice and support. I'm now super keen to climb as much as possible a finish my SPA.

Braid Hills

It had been my first attempt at the winter season and I had managed to pack in a bit of winter walking  (with some group leading) and my first winter climb. There had been a great deal of snow and quite a harsh winter, but the temperature is quickly rising and there is now the sense of spring in the air. The crocuses were out across the road and it was a lovely mild night - too good to waste.

Crocuses in Morningside, Edinburgh

Crocuses in Morningside, Edinburgh

Crocuses in Morningside, Edinburgh

Emily and I headed out straight after work in the hope of making the most of the fading light. We decided to do the usual circuit: first heading up Blackford Hill, down through Blackford Glen, then up to the top of The Braids before coming back down to Morningside.

Looking North over Edinburgh from Braid Hills

It was a very mild night and the air was extremely clear. We had a great view over Edinburgh in all directions from Blackford Hill. We were perfectly comfortable in our short sleeves as we huddled with the crowds of got-walkers through Blackford Glen.

Looking Northeast over Edinburgh from Braid Hills

By the time we got to the top of The Braids, the light was fading and views over Edinburgh were even more dramatic. We were reminded that winter was still in the air as the temperature quickly dropped and the last of the light disappeared. A lovely evening.

At the top of Braid Hills, Edinburgh

Blackford Bouldering

After an amazing week in The Lakes, I was super keen to climb as much as possible this summer. During the trip, Adam had suggested that I try a bit of bouldering at Blackford Glen on Agassiz Rock. Keen to make this my local crag, Emily and I set off after work with a couple of school bouldering mats into Blackford Glen. I had purchased a copy of the excellent guide book: Bouldering in Scotland and a bit of our local knowledge helped us find the crag in no time at all. The guide book and the ScottishClimbs page show diagrams of some of the illuminate (harder!) problems but I found them quite hard to pick out, to be honest. I stuck to the traverse problem: High Traverse F6b**

Agassiz Rock, Blackford

Agassiz Rock, Blackford

It was quite hard, I thought! Obviously not having climbed outside much wasn't doing me any favours, and the rock was quite harsh on the skin... to say the least! I had a few goes on it but couldn't quite get through the middle part, so I decided to split it up into two. The first section was easy and was mostly good jugs with polished footholds. The second half, from left to right, is on smaller holds and some slopers. I found the crux was moving from the high first section to the lower second part. I just couldn't make the link. Ah well... I would be back... hopefully frequently!

Climbing Hands, Blackford

Braid Hills

Pentlands with a light dusting of snow, from Braid Hills

It had been a glorious day but unfortunately I had been stuck inside at my desk all day. However, this gave me great motivation to get my daily tasks finished that would allow me to leave early and make the most of the bright spring evening. I already had a small bag packed with some essentials so all that was need was a super quick change into more suitable attire.

Blackford Hill with Salisbury Crags and Arthur's Seat behind

 

I was soon entering Blackford Glen after the short dander up the road from the flat. I had taken a stroll up to the top of Blackford Hill quite a few times in the past but I had never been up to the top of the Braids - my goal for this evenings stroll. Instead of tacking the main road through the middle of the glen, I took the path that went straight up the steep bank and hugged the south boundary fence of the glen. After a short distance I went through the gate on the right that led out of the glen to the lower Hermitage Golf Course. I crossed Braid Hills Drive just opposite the little cafe and entered The Braids at the small patch of waste ground that is the only access through the thick gorse. I headed straight across the the upper course and made a direct line for the masts at the top of the hill, looking out for golf balls as I went!

At the top I had fantastic views of the Pentlands and all across Edinburgh. I even had to take my Windstopper off as I was too warm; a sign that summer is approaching? Perhaps...

Looking towards North Berwick Law in the distance

I zipped back down via Buckstone Snab just in time for tea. A very easy walk but great to make the most of the final light of the magnificent day.

Looking towards the Pentlands across Hermitage Golf Course