Friday 25 February 2011

Upcoming film work

After a morning swimming with the kids I got together all of my caving equipment needed for a film shoot next week. Icon Films are producing a piece about bats in Easegill with Professor John Altringham of Leeds University. We will be going into Link Pot on Wednesday after some training the day before. I'll report on that next week.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

ML refresher

Just had two excellent days out with Chris who is soon to take his ML assessment. Conditions were definitely wintery in the Lakes with snow from 400m. However windless and low cloud meant we therefore had white-out conditions for two days solid. Good practise for a SUMMER ML!

Sunday 20 February 2011

Few days in the office

Had a few busy days in the office last week. Meetings with accountant, a colleague to arrange caving NGB courses and taking bookings and checking emails. Plus some work as AMI Chair Looks set to be a busy year. We are delivering a few ML refresher courses this coming week.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Warning about counterfeit Petzl gear

This I picked up from the AMI forum today.

http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/201...ing-gear-found

A climbing gear manufacturer has warned of fake versions of its products which have potentially dangerous defects.

Petzl issued the warning after finding Chinese counterfeit copies of their products on the market which do not perform properly and do not conform to standards.

The fakes, which include carabiners and ascenders, are virtually impossible for the public to distinguish from genuine products, the French company warned.

A statement said: “They have been reproduced in a way that makes them very difficult to identify. The following features have been reproduced nearly identically: design, colour, product markings, batch number, instructions for use, down to the most minor details, and packaging.

“Only an in-depth analysis allows us to identify these counterfeit products, due to minor differences in the tools used to produce them.”

Counterfeit versions of the equipment all failed when forces lower than the rated ones were applied. Models that have been counterfeited include the Croll B16 and Ascencion B17 ascenders, Rescue P50 pulley and Attache M35SL carabiner.

Petzl said only a few examples had been found on the market, but climbers and cavers buying the products should only use authorised retailers.

The company added: “Petzl is working hard to stop these counterfeits, which put users’ lives at risk, from reaching the market.”

Petzl products are distributed in the UK by Lyon Equipment, of Dent, Cumbria.

Monday 14 February 2011

AMI AGM

Over the last year I have been working, with the help of a a small team, on a Mandatory CPD proposal for the AMI. This was to be voted on at the AMI AGM on the weekend of 29th/30th January.
Prior to the AGM I took part in a workshop by Chris Ensoll titled Turbo Short Roping. This was an excellent day and challenged the way I have previously managed two people on a rope in the terrain that short roping is suitable. Thanks Chris a good day as agreed by all that took part.

Well the AGM kicked off at 5pm and soon I was puting my case forward. There are a few folk unhappy with the idea and voiced this but the vote was very positive. 93 Yes, 5 No and 6 Abstained. So that was fantastic news and I was then to stand as Chair of the association.

So there are now 3 challenging years ahead as Chair but exciting ones to. For more information on the AMI please click the logo below.

Climbing in the Northern Corries

Prior to the AMI AGM Steve Stout and I had two days climbing, and good days they were to be. On the first day, after a late start, we did the Genie V,7 (in powder conditions) and on day two The Seam and Invernookie both in excellent conditions.
While we were doing these two routes Andy Turner was cranking away to lead The Hurting X1,11 a phenomenal lead.
Impressive ascent of The Hurting
Mat Heffer leading the Seam
Steve Stout P2 - The Genie



Sunday 6 February 2011

A challenging week

This week has been challenging but not because of the weather. I moved into my new office on Monday (still at the same address) and openreach moved the line and BT took it away. So one week later I'm still without my home and office phone and broadband. So my sincere apologies for delay in sending paperwork though hopefully emails from my BlackBerry have been picked up? I'm promised all will be sorted Monday.  So I'm now Chair of the AMI after last weeks AGM, mandatory cpd was also voted in.