Glasgow Academy Outdoors

September 18, 2015

Paddling off in to the sunset

In contrast to the previous Gold Award expedition the week before, this group were lucky enough to experience wall to wall sunshine, with intermittent midges, throughout. Their greatest challenge was protecting themselves from the sun and midges.

The gang learn how to raft up - a more stable approach in windy conditions

Another raft configuration

All important rescue practice

And again

Rebecca slaying stuff

Yet another meal stop

Everyone in the groups paddled a canoe solo at least once. Some even mastered and enjoyed it.

Ooo, more food

Tristan love, love, loving some quality midge time

And we're back....

The start of the academic term 2015/16 saw one brave group setting off on The Academy's first Gold Award expedition by bike. The team did so well in what can only fairly be called adverse conditions! Nikki led them through thick and thin and they are now most certainly trained in all things cycling DofE. Despite their experience the team were remarkably keen to get on their bikes for the four-day assessment expedition that will take place in June. Well done, lads!

February 15, 2015

Done, dusted and ready for departure / First and last

Countdown to departure and of course it's a beautiful, balmy day. On the cards for the day is a small crag called Marin, a stone's throw from Alicante. Marin has a nice range of technically easy multipitch routes and some great single pitch lines for the team to try. It was another day of firsts: personal bests on routes, multipitch leading etc, but the last day too, sigh. The last supper was at a wonderful french-run restaurant in Finestrat called OhLaLa - we couldn't recommend it more highly!

Melissa opts for leading a couple of multipitch routes with Dom.

Dom seconding the first of the multipitch routes.

The girls at the first belay.

Dom nimbly negotiating the second pitch.

Callum gives the tough 6a+ a go.

Euan nearing the top of the steep 6b.

Dom on her first 6a lead. She took a fair amount of 'air time'. Euan also managed this climb as a lead, and in fine style too - nice one Euan & Dom!

Douglas on the steep 6b.

Topping out on the second multipitch. And we're done.

After a quick dash in to the Orange House to dump & collect kit, we decide that the only right way to polish off our trip is a dash in to the sea in Benidorm. We were shivering before we even started!

Beautiful backdrop.

Beautiful backdrop? I guess so, if you like that sort of things. We got a few strange looks and side steps!

Team reunited at Sella

Our penultimate day threatened rain throughout, according to the forecasts. A fine and fairly local crag called Sella was in our sights. This was the second visit for some of the team, which didn't bother them: Sella is in a beautiful location, a selection of pretty crags and great lines all over.

Dom and Callum opted for a second 'introduction' to multipitch climbing, while the rest of the team cranked out the moves on all sorts of single pitch routes beneath us.

Marion is another 'Top 50' route in the guidebook, which means it's a four star route (the most recommended a route can be). We'd been warned that it was terribly polished and may be tricky to get on at all.

The coaching and mileage must be paying off however, because Dom and Callum were straight off the ground.

This is the second pitch. What was surprising was the exposure on Marion. 'Exposure' in climbing terms refers to how much you feel the distance to the ground. This route wasn't particularly high, but it did feel like it and that's an important difference. Climbing is all about perceptions and your 'mental' approach to the challenge.

Callum looking cool and collected at the top of the second pitch.

At the second belay.

This gives some perspective of the exposure by the top of the second pitch. The vehicle in the car park is looking smaller.

Dom cruising up the third pitch. She seemed completely unbothered by the environment, happily concentrating on working out the climbing moves.

Top of the route with the pretty valley of Sella and some of its other crags in the background.

Time to descend back to the gang.

The requisite daily, self-imposed by Melissa, Dom and Douglas. Poor Dom: what you make yourself do huh!

The leap took a bit of prep.

Post leap. apparently the water hole wasn't half as cold as our pool!

February 11, 2015

Mission accepted: Espolon Cantrale on Puig Campana

The team were feeling the sleepiness by Tuesday evening and generously offered that Melissa should undertake the amazing ridge line on the Puig Campana that dominates the view from the Orange House. It's truly spectacular, and by all accounts, is quite an undertaking. The rest of the team climb with Tony and have a lovely sunny, productive day - photos to follow, technology permitting.

After the 60 minute walk in, and a little botany en route, we're raring to go.

We strung three routes together: Espolon Centrale Directa, Espolon Central and the Edward's Finish; which amounts to 19 pitches of climbing, including two 175m scrambling sections.