My experience on Roxcool's five day Rock Course
“What’s been the highlight of your week Annie?’ A question
that is impossible to answer & brings a huge smile to my face……I’ll
explain! I have just spent a week with amazing people & fallen in ‘love’
with crags and rock!
Firstly some much deserved thanks & acknowledgements;
Cliff you are ‘excelente el profesor/instructor’ J
Thank you for sharing your expertise & for the ‘chalk bags full’ of
encouragement & endless patience (yes I know 15 minutes is far too long to
make one move especially when it’s raining lol). Gareth (Jugs J) & Sam you are fab. I enjoyed every moment in
your company & can’t wait to get together really soon for climbing (I’ll
provide lunch Gareth as you still haven’t convinced me that North East
gastronomic traditions are the best!!).
Jane & Adam it was great that you could join us for part
of the week. Thanks for pointing out some great hand & foot holds when I
was stuck, I learnt loads from the way you approached the climbs.
There is so much more I could thank you all for but as this
is not an Oscar speech (although Sam your acting during the abseil deserves an
Oscar lol) I had better stop here.
For anyone out there considering doing this course DO NOT
HESITATE – GO FOR IT! Cliff & the ‘Roxcool Family 11-15 June 2012’ have
taught me so much. I came to the crags with extremely limited experience of
climbing. I now have a growing vocabulary (used word ‘bomber’ a few times in
the pub last night & now know that ‘jam’ is not just something you do with
a guitar or spread on toast J) & repertoire of skills. In five days I have
climbed on different types of rock, interpreted guidebooks (ok Cliff we need
more practice but am sure Gareth & Sam will agree the towel over our heads
hindered us finding the ‘obvious chimney’!!), placed protection, constructed
anchors, practiced rope management & emergency procedures (no Gareth I
don’t mean coping with the midges I mean abseiling) & much, much more. I
will never forget reaching the top of Birds Nest Crack, Almscliffe(HS 4b) after
successfully jamming. Other top moments include leading a climb & sitting
on a rock from a lofty & beautiful position above Derwent Water knowing how
lucky I am to have such amazing experiences. A whole new world has opened up to
me……..THANK YOU ‘Roxcool Family’. Annie X
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