I have spent the last couple of days with Taff, a trainee Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor (MCI) on Association of Mountaineering Instructors Trainee Workshops. Having already attended a 10 training course, these workshops are in addition to refresh and develope the skills and areas from the MCI syllabus possibly with a view to preparing for an assessment. We were blessed with amazing weather and able to access good working areas within the Cairngorms.
Day 1 - Mountaineering. This day was spent in and around Coire an t Sneachda ascending and descending Twin Ribs and the Fiacaill ridge. Rope system set ups, taking coils, reading the ground, managing 1 or 2 clients on a variety of terrain in ascent and descent, multi tasking, thinking and planning ahead, walking, short roping, ledging, moving together and pitching and also remembering that you are a Mountain Leader+. Although these workshops are usually on a 1:3 ratio we still managed to run through all scenarios with an imaginary 2nd client on appropriate rope lengths.
Day 2 - Problem Solving & Improvised Rescue. We visited Kingussie crag, a single pitch crag with a variety of routes and grades. A mix of running through practical scenarios on the ground, in a multi pitch situation and also at the top of the crag with a stuck or injured climber below still on route. I was very aware for Taff that on a 1:1 basis that this can be a brain frying day so we mixed things up by chatting through "problems" and the importance of having robust climbing systems to stop things happening in the first place as well as getting some climbing in.
Thanks to Taff for getting stuck in over the 2 days and AMI for their support. #AMI professionals #rockclimbing #problemsolving #rescues #Cairngorms #mountaineering