Posted: Thu 26 Feb, 2004 5:31 pm
I did the JSMEL series up around Fort William and Tulloch. JSMEL Summer was mostly around the Ben (No. 4 Gully, Ledge Route, etc.) and Glen Coe (D Gully Buttress springs to mind). My instructor on that one was an ML named Spot Watson (1987).
JSMEL Winter Basic was run out of Tulloch, with trips to Balachulish (sp?). Chris Crystal (ex_MAW Cadre) taught that one. Continuation training was run by an APTC W02 in the same area, and our winter assessment was lead by another ex-RM named Roger (can't recall his last name).
Did a fair bit of ice climbing, including the Joint Services Ice Climbing course up there too. Lead Goat Track Gully in the hidden valley at Glen Coe for my assessment.
Harry is spot on with the Northern Welsh attitude, there. The same thing happened to me, but in a bank. The creature behind the counter was talking English to everyone until she spotted me, then started yabbering in her local gibberish. Not the friendliest place I've ever been to.
Aah, Capel Curig. The pimple on the bum of the universe. Actually, the camp, I thought was a decent facility. I used it quite a few times when taking the troops up that way. It was Betws-y-Coed that was nasty. The women (and I use the term very loosely) there were nothing short of predatory. I think they took turns with the dentures, too. Gwen got them on Friday night and Gwineth got them Saturday. That way they both had a fighting chance to snag some poor, unwary traveler. Given the standard of blokes there though (and the large sheep population) it was hardly surprising.
Towyn in the south was just as bad though, I thought. I did the rock series there (top rope supervisor, rock leader, and JSRCI), climbing at Tremadoch, Craig Yr Owen, north at Pen Y Pass, and at a couple of the slate quarries. Problem was there was nowhere to have a decent pint. The beer was crap and the people just went out of their way to piss you off. The first time we walked into the pub at Towyn (Red Lion, I think), the place went quiet. You could hear a pin drop. Again, not altogether friendly.
To be fair, though, I always found the people in Brecon to be friendly enough (especially in Sarah Siddon's, although I could happily live the rest of my life without ever seeing a Ghurka trying to dance to Boney M again - it is an awful thing to behold!).
Apart from that, I've done a few routes around Snowdonia and some coastal cliffs on the Isle of Man. The rest has been in Canada. Nice to have ice climbing that doesn't require a two-hour approach march to get to it. The rock here is very young and friable, though. Not like that old sturdy granite and quartz stuff in Wales. You think you have a jug hold here and the damned thing comes away in your hand. The word, "below" get a bit over used. Good ice, though!
JSMEL Winter Basic was run out of Tulloch, with trips to Balachulish (sp?). Chris Crystal (ex_MAW Cadre) taught that one. Continuation training was run by an APTC W02 in the same area, and our winter assessment was lead by another ex-RM named Roger (can't recall his last name).
Did a fair bit of ice climbing, including the Joint Services Ice Climbing course up there too. Lead Goat Track Gully in the hidden valley at Glen Coe for my assessment.
Harry is spot on with the Northern Welsh attitude, there. The same thing happened to me, but in a bank. The creature behind the counter was talking English to everyone until she spotted me, then started yabbering in her local gibberish. Not the friendliest place I've ever been to.
Aah, Capel Curig. The pimple on the bum of the universe. Actually, the camp, I thought was a decent facility. I used it quite a few times when taking the troops up that way. It was Betws-y-Coed that was nasty. The women (and I use the term very loosely) there were nothing short of predatory. I think they took turns with the dentures, too. Gwen got them on Friday night and Gwineth got them Saturday. That way they both had a fighting chance to snag some poor, unwary traveler. Given the standard of blokes there though (and the large sheep population) it was hardly surprising.
Towyn in the south was just as bad though, I thought. I did the rock series there (top rope supervisor, rock leader, and JSRCI), climbing at Tremadoch, Craig Yr Owen, north at Pen Y Pass, and at a couple of the slate quarries. Problem was there was nowhere to have a decent pint. The beer was crap and the people just went out of their way to piss you off. The first time we walked into the pub at Towyn (Red Lion, I think), the place went quiet. You could hear a pin drop. Again, not altogether friendly.
To be fair, though, I always found the people in Brecon to be friendly enough (especially in Sarah Siddon's, although I could happily live the rest of my life without ever seeing a Ghurka trying to dance to Boney M again - it is an awful thing to behold!).
Apart from that, I've done a few routes around Snowdonia and some coastal cliffs on the Isle of Man. The rest has been in Canada. Nice to have ice climbing that doesn't require a two-hour approach march to get to it. The rock here is very young and friable, though. Not like that old sturdy granite and quartz stuff in Wales. You think you have a jug hold here and the damned thing comes away in your hand. The word, "below" get a bit over used. Good ice, though!
