Little Big Walls
Back in North Wales for the autumn and it’s all about the rock climbing….work and freetime. After a bit of time spent on Mountain Guide rock courses I had a great weekend at PYB with 3 guys wanting some training for upcoming Big Wall climbing. With a starting point of needing to be an experienced rock climber it’s a matter of learning a few new skills and a lot about logistics. Basic aiding, jumaring/cleaning and anchor/belay management was our first day….we started at the climbing wall then out to a little crag above the RAC boulders (lots of steep cracks). Then day 2 we visited Clogwyn Y Wenallt in Nant Gwynant. The guys climbed Bovine and Ferdinand in what I would call an American style…single rope, tag and haul lines. 2 seconds jumared, then hauled the bag and portaledge. We set up the portaledge halfway up the top pitch of Ferdinand and enjoyed some thuggy Joe Brown hand jamming in training for the real thing.
