Round up: Best of 2021
I last wrote an annual round up in 2019, ending a annual tradition to do this in December. Despite the fact the pandemic rumbles on I feel more positive that we are slowly heading to better times.
With that in mind I thought I’d try to look back at 2021 with a positive light…
High on the Glyderau
JANUARY - RATHER UNUSUALLY THE EARLY WINTER SEASON IN NORTH WALES WAS SPECTACULARLY SNOWY. I’M USUALLY AWAY and with FLEETING GOOD CONDITIONS its hard to get much done. As we were staying all winter I thought we had a better chance but even SO WAS AMAZED AT THE FACT WE MANAGED A GOOD TEN DAYS OF SKIING! ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE WALKED UP A COLD, ICY (BUT BARELY SNOWY) SNOWDON, A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS DUMPING VAST QUANTITIES and skis or snowshoes were mandatory. (more photos on previous blog post: a welsh ski season)
To the top of Yr Wyddfa (again!)
FEBRUARY - LESS WINTRY BUT A GOOD COLD SNAP SAW US CLIMBING ON THE TRINITY FACE ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY. IT WAS A BUSY MONTH GETTING GOING WITH TREE WORK.
A bit cold for shorts!
MARCH - as restrictions eased we managed to go rock climbing locally and then as Wales only travel was allowed had a fantastic week in North Pembrokeshire. This so impressed us we went back (see October) and will be running a few weeks down there next summer.
Alpine conditions on Crib Lem; dry rock and snowy summits
APRIL - my first days back of outdoor work were all with returning customers (and friends) and were high level climbing or mountaineering work. This was great as an increasing amount of my work is with trainees preparing for the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification it was important that I was doing the job to that standard too!
Standard sort of job; tight space to work in, lots not to hit!
MAY - in the last year I've discovered tree surgery work, which has helped me through the pandemic, taught me loads of new skills and been a surprising cross over to my other work and is hopefully something I'll continue to do in years to come. This is thanks to Sam and Mike (Underhill and Sharp tree surgery Ltd) who I've been an apprentice to and Welsh government for funding a project for training. I’ve completed some great courses and now qualified to climb (and cut) trees as well as mountains!
Moody Cuillins on a hot, hot day
JUNE - June was a time where outdoor education with young people was slowly possible again. I loved taking students out again and will hopefully be doing more in 2022. I also had a few days on Skye where I had an impromptu go at a solo one day traverse; not quite all the way (75%) as it was too hot but close and now an idea for next year.
Hot evening at the coast
JULY - in the last year I've been doing a lot of local exploring, mainly random bolted crags but I'd been sussing out a few places for Deep Water Soloing. This is not a discipline I've previously had much to do with but discovered I actually quite like! Also combined with SUP and a diving mask meant some happy days of finding and climbing at some great spots.
Coasteering
AUGUST - this was extremely busy month for providing family (multi activity) adventure days as lots of people holidayed in the UK. I had some fantastic days out and will be increasing our offering in 2022…. watch this space….
It was also a busy month for Llanberis Mountain Rescue and I spent a few consecutive evenings out as we had nearly 20 jobs in just a few days at the end of the month.
Finish line at Cardiff Castle
SEPTEMBER - a couple of years ago a chance meeting with Shane Ohly of Ourea Events meant an invitation to join the race support team for some big mountain running races. I worked on both the Dragons back (down the length of Wales) and the Skyline series in Glencoe which was a really inspirational time and featured some fine new friends. Thanks to the team for making me feel so welcome.
Pembrokeshire sandstone: the classic E1 at Carreg y Barcud, Sinecure
OCTOBER - after over a year mainly in North Wales, it was great to get work in our other areas again (the Peak and the Scottish highlands), October was spent mainly on the grit although we squeezed in another trip to pembrokeshire too. Lots of Rock Climbing Instructor training and assessments and a few fun weekends teaching climbing.
Typical limestone tufas
NOVEMBER - early November was spent working pretty hard with week days of tree work and weekends of outdoor work. This was in preparation for a 3 week holiday to Greece at the end of the month. We loved our roadtrip taking the van through France into Italy and then a 24 hour ferry across the adriatic. We climbed some great routes, went swimming and snorkelling and ate loads of tasty food! Bliss
Inversion from Elidir Fawr