Paul James, MIC - Mountain-Expertise.co.uk - Winter and Rock Climbing Conditions

Thursday 27 November 2014

November 2014, Sicily - Rock Climbing

San Vito sea cliffs.
We have recently been on a sports climbing holiday to Sicily. The weather was blue skies and warm, mid 20s, for the most. Lots a quality climbing on the North of the Island, we mainly climbed at San Vito sea cliffs and Monte Pellegrino in Palermo. Routes were well bolted and on a good featured limestone, loads to go at 5th and 7th grade, way more in the 6th with fewer in 8th grade. It was also very quiet, only 2 days out of the 6 that we shared the crag with another team. All in all I would recommend Sicily for a climbing trip in November or December and will most probably return in the near future.


San Vito.
San Vito.

San Vito.
Monte Pellegrino.
Mondello, Palermo.
Mount Etna, steaming.

Monday 24 November 2014

September 2014, Alps, Italy and Switzerland - Alpine and Rock Climbing

Photos from a successful 3 weeks climbing in the alps. Mainly Italy and Switzerland, some alpine climbing and some rock climbing.

Aosta Valley Fort.
Dent du Geant.
More Dent du Geant.
Englehorner Rockaneering.
Mont Blanc from Dent du Geant,
Jorasse from Dent du Geant.
Gran Paradiso Summit Mandonna.
North Face of Gran Paradiso.
Grimsel Pass granite rock climbing.
Gervasutti Couloir, Tour Ronde.
Grande Jorasse.
Mont Blanc and Chamonix Aguilles.
Peuterey Ridge, Mont Blanc.
Swiss rocky ridge action.

Friday 24 October 2014

Summer 2014, North Wales - Rock Climbing and Coasteering.

What a glorious summer! I have spent plenty of time in the sea and on the rock. Lots of work in North Wales with a big mix of groups and ages having it in the outdoors. Here are some pictures when I could take the camera out and a short gorge movie.

Lleyn Peninsula, Charlies Point, Wylfa Corner - quality line and climb.
Parliament House Cave, get in!
Steve, climbing steep Bird Rock, Daisy Belle.
Matt, he doesn't think its steep!
Alternative Castel Ellin view!
Cristina loves abseiling off massive overhanging cliffs!
Coasteering North Stack, Gogarth.
Big Jumps on the South Stack traverse.
Aaron getting involved in some esoteric Ester Island Gully, Gogarth action.
Easter Island Gully, Gogarth.
Fallen Block Crack, high up on Crib y Ddysgol.
Mad for it MOD guys, take on the Gogarth North Stack coasteering experience!
Glyders, Llanberis Pass, Crib Goch.
Lleyn Peninsula, we found some less crumbly rock to abseil off, instead of linking gorse stumps and rabbits holes together!
Main Wall, Classic Rock.

Matt still loves jumping!
South Stack Lighthouse.
Sssshhh, evening stealth climb at Craig y Forwyn!

The Corner, Cloggy, very dry for a change.
Deep in the innards of Wen Zawn.
Wen Zawn shinanigans.

A little look into a Gorge (Canyon) flowing from Snowdon.
Sliding Down Snowdon Movie

Sunday 1 June 2014

May 2014, North Wales, South Wales, Devon and Cornwall - Rock Climbing

Niche Wall, Carn Barra, West Penwith, Cornwall.
 May has been a great month, a mix of work and play, with some fine weather. I have worked on some multi activity outdoor courses with some ace young people from Brighton and Shropshire, and some Rock Climbing courses with adults, wishing to learn and gain skills in Rock Climbing. I have managed some cragging in the evenings in Snowdonia and some 2/3 day trips away to Wye Valley and the South-West - definitely the highlight. The Culm Coast of Devon wasn't super classic but the Cornish Granite sea cliffs of West Penwith were ace.  Thanks Garry for the photos.
Bosigran Sunset, West Penwith.
Pel, Castell Helen, Gogarth, North Wales.
Light House Arete, Castell Helen, Gogarth, North Wales.
Stormy sea at Castel Helen, Gogarth, North Wales.
Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon.
Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon.
Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon.
Vicarage Cliff, Culm Coast, Devon
Little Brown Jug, Bosigran, West Penwith.
Cornish Coastline.

Carn Barra, West Penwith
Jumping across the Fox's Promontory, Carn Barra, West Penwith.