Elemental Mountaineering

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Elemental Mountaineering

Elemental Mountaineering offers training instruction and coaching in all aspects of Rock Climbing an
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I have been walking, climbing and scrambling in the British mountains for over 20 years. I currently hold the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors and Winter Mountain Leader qualifications and am finishing off Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor. I offer tailer made courses to develop your skills in all aspects of mountaineering in the UK mountains and in rock climbing (both sport and

with leader placed protection). I also offer guiding in the mountains and crags of the Peak District, North Wales, Lake District and Scotland.

10/11/2024

Some of last winter’s shenanigans. Climbing, coaching and instructing in the West Coast. Who else is looking forwards to this winter season?

24/10/2024

Trewavas. A new crag for me on the South Coast of Penwith. Some excellent climbing on compact granite. Preceded by an interesting coastal walk past some Poldark-ian architecture and an adder.
Route of the day a harder than it looked technical South Groove (E1 5c).

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

21/10/2024

Cornish granite sea cliff action. Yum! What could be better than a day on Bosigran followed by cream tea at Rosemergys?

12/10/2024

Some lovely comments by guests from one of the summers private Cuillin guiding. I’m often asked if I get bored working on the same mountains day after day. The answer is no! Because I get to share the mountains with different people each time.

Thank you to all my guests from this last season, it’s you guys that make my work so rewarding! Hopefully see some of you again this coming year.

27/09/2024

Yorkshire Dales sport climbing day |

24/09/2024

Photos from this weeks Skye Cuillin Munros course for the Highland Mountaineering Company. James and Stuart wanted to complete
the Cuillin Munro’s and the Tops. 3 blue bird days at the start of the week followed by one cloudy day at the end. We were able to achieve their aims and experience some of the best sections of the Cuillin ridge.
🗻Sgurr Nan Gillean, Am Bhastier, The Bastier Tooth, Sgurr a’Fionn Choire and Bruach Na Frithe. ✔️
🗻 The Inn Pin, Banachdich Central top, Banachdich, Sgurr Thormaid, Greadhaid South Top, Greadaidh North Top and Sgurr A Mhadaidh. ✔️
🗻 Sgurr Sgmain, Sgurr Alasdair, Shurr Thierlich, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich. ✔️
🗻Sgurr Nan Eag, Sgurr Dubh Na Da Bheinn and Sgurr Dubh Mor. ✔️

A strong performance by the guys and a great week! Thanks for being super clients!

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

18/09/2024

4 Scotts Cuillin Traverse |
North to South Cuillin traverse with 6 lads from the Royal Regiment of Scotland. A long challenging day; now with sore legs and enjoying a beer. Great to be out working alongside Don King and Robin Thomas.
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Great to be out Association of Mountaineering Instructors

08/09/2024

Saturday was an amazing day in the Cuillin range. The southern end in glorious sunshine; the northern end blanketed in an inversion.
Guests Fiona, Tracy and I climbed the Pin and then followed ridge across to An Dorus.
A lovely day and a big introduction to the Cuillin ridge for Fiona and Tracy.
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Association of Mountaineering Instructors

06/09/2024

Great couple of days guiding probably my traverse of the season. Josh and Martyn did really well over two glorious days on the Ridge. A pleasure to spend 2 days with them on behalf of Elite Guides.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

01/09/2024

Lovely day chatting and cragging at Neist with Jeannie Sherwood. Weather not quite as advertised, and we had to abandon financial sector after a swarm of midgies.

Association of Mountaineering Instructors

01/09/2024

3 very contrasting days in the Cuillin this week.
Wet and windy day on the Pinn. Libby and Lauren did amazing given the wind and rain.
A day with returning client Jamie to finish off his last Cuilin Munro, and start Andy’s tally with his first Skye Munro.
Finally a beautiful day with Ken on the Southern End.

16/08/2024

Controversial?
Belaying a leader directly off unquestionable bolt anchors.
What are your thoughts?

13/08/2024

The Quad Anchor.
Here’s a way of linking anchors with a self equalising set up. Used here with unquestionable bolt anchors. Where the anchor configuration is the same for the whole route a pre-tied quad anchor makes it quick and easy to set up a belay. Each member of the team carries one set up.

09/08/2024

Out working on behalf of Scott at Elite Guides. What an interesting weather week! Challenging conditions- strong winds, heavy rain and challenging river crossings. Made it difficult to achieve all the Munros. But we managed 9 of the 11 Cuillin Munro’s. Nic and Lorraine did really well!

28/07/2024

Great two days teaching climbing in North Wales for . Two keen ladies Zsuzsa and Anna who were keen to lap up as much knowledge and do as much climbing as possible. Lots of questions and climbing and much laughter was had!

07/07/2024

Out inside the ping pong ball yesterday with James and Peter on behalf of Rock N Ridge. Gillean and Am Bhastier were the order of the day.
Undeterred and unbowed by wet and greasy conditions the guys enjoyed the classic west ridge of Gillean - Which was ‘at least as hard as the pin’ - and the E ridge of Am Bhastier.
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Association of Mountaineering Instructors

Address

Hellifield
North Yorkshire

Website

http://www.elementalmountaineering.com/

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Videos

Photos from this weeks Skye Cuillin Munros course for the Highland Mountaineering Company. James and Stuart wanted to complete the Cuillin Munro’s and the Tops. 3 blue bird days at the start of the week followed by one cloudy day at the end. We were able to achieve their aims and experience some of the best sections of the Cuillin ridge. 🗻Sgurr Nan Gillean, Am Bhastier, The Bastier Tooth, Sgurr a’Fionn Choire and Bruach Na Frithe. ✔️ 🗻 The Inn Pin, Banachdich Central top, Banachdich, Sgurr Thormaid, Greadhaid South Top, Greadaidh North Top and Sgurr A Mhadaidh. ✔️ 🗻 Sgurr Sgmain, Sgurr Alasdair, Shurr Thierlich, Sgurr Mhic Choinnich. ✔️ 🗻Sgurr Nan Eag, Sgurr Dubh Na Da Bheinn and Sgurr Dubh Mor. ✔️ A strong performance by the guys and a great week! Thanks for being super clients! Association of Mountaineering Instructors #skyescrambling #LookForTheLogo #learnfromexperience #cuillinridge #AHigherStandard #cuillinmountains

North East Pillar of Pizzo Del Prevat | Recovering from back injury we headed up to Pizzo Prevat to tackle its North East pillar. A nice 10 or so pitch route from the Val Ticino. Good climbing and a nice stay in a hut that night. Good to be able to get into the mountains again.

Long lowers. | When managing long lowers it is much more comfortable to lower directly from the anchors than off the harness. Here I’m lowering clients from a route, using my belay device in two configurations to redirect the dead rope for lowering. I could have used an Italian hitch which would negate the need for an extra step in the process however this will introduce a twist into the rope. Which if you are transitioning to mountaineering afterwards can make things difficult. 1 - Belay plate attached to the anchor with a separate redirect and friction karabiner. -PRO redirects the dead rope to give a controlled direct lower. Can be converted to climb mode easily and quickly. 2 - Sometimes called the alpine lower. The dead rope is threaded back through the main karabiner to add friction. -PRO doesn’t require an extra karabiner. Quick to set up. Gives a smooth lower. -CON can’t be easily converted to climb mode in an emergency. In both cases further security should be added by putting a Prussik on the dead rope. What do you think?

A day at Raven Crag introducing keen indoor climbers Adrian and Matt to the delights of multipitch climbing in the Lakes. Super weather and psyched guests made for a great day. Lots of pitches of climbing done! Yay! Get in touch if you fancy giving it a go this summer holiday!! www.elementalmountaineering.com - - #rockclimbing #rockclimbinguk #tradisrad #lakedistrictclimbing

Birthday Pinnacle! | Today I had the pleasure of taking Liv and Holly over the Inn Pin and Mhic Choinnich on behalf of Elite Guides. On Liv’s 30th birthday no less! The weather didn’t play ball completely, we did the Pin in strong wind and fog and descended to Mhic Choinnich where it started raining. But spirits weren’t dampened in the slightest- despite the wet bassalt (yuck!). Happy Birthday Liv!! And well done both of you! - - - @ami_professionals @elite.guides

Harder than the Inn Pin | That was the comment today as Ann-Marie, Peter and I tackled the Northern Cuillin Munroes - Sgurr Nan Gillean and Am Bastier. When people think of Skye the Inaccessible Pinnacle (the Pinn to its friends!) but the West Ridge of Sgurr Nan Gillean deserves to be up there as well for the exposure, quality of scramble/climb and its spectacular summit. - - - @ami_professionals

Faith in Friction | That became today’s watch phrase as Stevie, Alan and I traversed the famous Cioch on Sron Na Ciche. With thunderstorms forecast at 2pm we met for an early start in the hope of climbing to over and round the Cioch before the weather broke. A scramble up Cioch gully before turning into the ‘window’ beneath the Cioch slab. Then the climb to the terrace. Before climbing up Cioch slab and corner. Photos and ‘sword’ fight on the summit and down the Eastern Gully abseils and walking out to the campsite. Every move on amazing Gabbro and requiring faith in friction! Great fun and lots of laughs. Out again working on behalf of highland mountain company. - - - @ami_professionals @highlandmountain

On a day like today every scramble or Munro on Skye would have been wonderful! But we did what has to be one of the best scrambles on Skye and fact the whole of the UK. Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr Nan Gillean offers everything- - a long technical scrmable - slab climbing, crack climbing, corners and chimneys. - abseil descents -stunning views And one of the best summits on the island. What could be better..? A swim in the burn on the way down! Out today working for the Highland Mountain Company. - - @ami_professionals @highlandmountain