Wollaston School Climbing Page

July 2000
I went with Wollaston School DoE award scheme rock climbing in Wales

we had two days climbing one on Lion rock and one on Tryfan Bach

before our weekend we arranged
indoor sessions so as to practice
the basic skills, learning
the art of belaying
and some of the climbing moves
at Birmingham climbing wall

this allows maximum time
to actually climb when at the rocks

Tryfan Fach or as most people know it "Little Tryfan"
Nigel leading the climb and securing a belay ready for the first group
four routes were climbed that were around 70 feet high with one long route of 150 feet each one was fairly steep, but the hot dry weather meant climbing was relatively easy
on the shorter routes each climber was belaying each other from the ground on the long route we were belaying from the top, then lowering down the full 150 feet very strenuous for the belayer
Sue one of the instructors climbing to the top of "crack 4" ~ 190 feet ~ "diff"
the climbers on Tryfan Fach were Hayley Hopkins Sam Buchanan Rachel Finlay Leanne Buchanan Joanna Clements Adell Richard Hamilton
looking up "crack 4" 190 feet "diff" before being lowered off
Tryfan Fach is always a popular crag with many other groups and beginners climbing when the weather is good

lowering off
as with all belaying with young people you use a second person to hold the rope by the side of the belay operator
letting go of the rope and trusting the belayer was something that Richard found hard but by the time we reached the end he was quite happy to do