For the first climbing day trip of the year everyone headed into the day full of misery and dread, it was absolutely pissing it down the day before and we had no confirmation of dryness when setting off in the morning. However
, we took the gamble, and it paid off. The 25 BUMC members headed off into the unknown at 8:30 on a grim Saturday morning, we set up camp by the Narrows, all of us hogging the massive lay-by. To everyone’s shock the rock wasn’t THAT wet. We all got stuck in with the climbing, Luc romped up 5’s to set up some lovely top ropes, I stood around and did nothing, and everyone was climbing.
Throughout the day I ran some climbing lessons. I learnt how to ascend a rope, and the fall on my arse as I was unsure as to how to switch onto belay. A fair few people got an informal introduction to abseiling from a tree that was far too low to be useful for anyone. We also got a bunch of people on their first ever lead/ outdoor lead, everyone seemed to have a lovely time.
Notable Mentions for the day:
- The roads were flooded (this was a very uneventful trip).
- Emma specifically requested I mention that she sent a 6b+.
- Autumn nearly stacks it off a hill, I was there to save the day.
- I had to yell at a lot of people about helmets
- I nearly got hit by a car in front of everyone
All around, not a terrible day,
Raffaele Mercadante
BUMC Climbing Secretary