Outdoor pursuits training diary, Dartmoor, Devon, UK and Spain

Weekly Diary <2008 - 2009>
Online diary recording the trainees' progress through the course.

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15

Week 1 - The Course begins in the sunny Costa Blanca The course got off to a great start in Spain with the climbing phase. Spain is chosen for its climate which allows us to climb solidly for two weeks and for the group to get a solid grounding in the sport. Included in the opening two weeks were a number of lectures underpinning the technical outdoor learning. Part of becoming an instuctor is having the skills to understand others, to help with this process a number of lectures were given on this subject which for some was as challenging as the climbing itself. Allthough the course is intensive it is also fun. We found time to swim in the med after a hard hot day on the rock, some people found the time and the energy to climb the local "hill" some 4800 feet up and some even went water skiing!! Take a look at week two and the bridge jump..... some called that fun too!

Day1 the first time the group have met. A couple of well chosen excercises to help the group relax and learn each others names.

	Two of our instructors taking a break and refuelling. Due to our small group size our ratios for climbing are 1 to 4 this ensures that the group get plenty of coaching. This coupled with the endless amount of climbs available gives the group such a great start to their climbing.	By the end of week 1 the group were starting to "clip bolts" which takes the climbing into another more challenging phase. As with most ways of doing things there is a right and a wrong way and in climbing there is only 1 way if you want to stay safe. Here one of the instructors demonstrates how to clip safely.



Day1 the first time the group have met. A couple of well chosen excercises to help the group relax and learn each others names.