What have a been doing? Well, turns out to be an awful lot.
After successfully getting the job I posted about last time, I moved back to Liverpool. I was keen for a settled winter with some training, lots of climbing and socialising with friends in the climbing scene again. After two outdoor sessions the second being in the cave I had managed to pick up a finger injury which would stay with me all winter! I tried resting, icing, climbing, taping but nothing would get rid of this shitty injury. Seems that i didn't actually miss too much with it being a mild and wet winter peoples psyche at the wall was low, i still managed to spend some time in the outdoors in the form of white water kayaking again. Successfully passing another coaching award in the form of Moderate Water Endorsement.
After the winter and getting to this level i knew that the focus would have to shift this year and more time spent in the hills on big mountain crags and sea cliffs getting some finalising routes in before i went for MIA training which i finally completed in July. So what goes into a nine day training course of a Mountaineering instructor? ALOT!! I couldn't believe how much information and skills there was to take on board, at the end my brain was frazzled and full of new stuff to take away and put into practice. I got good feedback and told the obvious of "you need to pull your finger out and climb some harder trad", i was also quite pleased when Dave said he would climb with me on a personal level and that one day i will make a great mountaineering instructor.
So whats next in the life of young? Well i've just been accepted into the Climbers Club so i'm looking forward to meeting some like minded people and regaining my psyche on trad for next season, I aim to do more winter stuff and more scrambling. I've also just been accepted to study for my Cert Ed (post 16) teaching qualification which means i am guaranteed a job for the next two years.
Right folks too much rambling, i will leave you with some photos of my adventures from the last 12 months.
