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Top Tips From Plas y Brenin Instructors and Coaches
All Top Tips
Slick Changeovers on Chances
by Keith Ball
Efficient stance management is useful on long multi pitch routes as it saves time, giving you more time for climbing rather than faffing with ropes! I.......
Climbing As a Three (Part One)
by Carlo Forte
Climbing as three can be fantastically sociable. There is some one there to share conversation with whilst on a stance and having another opinion when.......
Climbing As a Three (Part Two)
by Carlo Forte
Following on from my initial tips on climbing as a three, here I will focus on the stance. If you are going to get in a tangle it is likely to happen .......
Clipping Bolts
by Wesley Hunter
When redpointing routes that are at or very near your limit, it can make a big difference to spend a little time thinking about where you are going to.......
Deep Water Soloing
by Ruth Taylor
Here are some top tips to keep you safe and having fun when the deep water soloing season arrives........
Removing Jammed Equipment
by Ian Hey
If nuts or cams get jammed on single pitch crags the easiest solution is often to finish the climb then arrange a suitable belay and abseil down to th.......
Taking a Friend Climbing
by Baggy Richards
Every climber finds him or herself in a position where they want, or are expected to take a friend climbing. Often this means taking a complete beginn.......
Get Fit for the Alps
by Martin Chester
On a typical Alpine day you will make something in the order of 1000m of ascent. You may get up in the small hours of the morning, and work hard until.......
Using Your Skis as a Belay Anchor
by Martin Chester
Your skis can be so much more than just some fancy footwear for getting to routes - they are handy bits of mountaineering kit as well! Should you need.......
Getting to Routes on Skis (for mountaineers and climbers)
by Martin Chester
Ten years ago, Tim and I set off from Courmayeur to go ice climbing. We drove as far up the Val Veny as our beat up old van could get, and started to .......
Managing Your Map
by Jen Parker
A map is your primary aid to navigation, yet half the time it gets left folded up in the sac - until you really need it! Taking time to prepare it so .......
Winter Mountaineering Tips
by Carlo Forte
Here are a few varied and simple tips to make your winter mountaineering go smoothly........
Communication for Winter Climbers
by Keith Ball
Effective communication with your climbing partner is essential, not only to ensure your day goes smoothly but also to keep yourselves safe. I am sure.......
Ice Screw Management
by Dave Evans
The winter is approaching, the nights are drawing in, it's nearly time to dust off the tools and get ready for action. For anyone planning an early hi.......
Glove Management
by Martin Chester
It's like an obsession, and we all do it. It starts off as a casual glance, then a nagging pull once you realise that there's something new on the rac.......
Protecting Winter Climbs
by Martin Chester
Here are a few ideas on protecting winter climbs:.......
Using a Hand Held VHF Radio for Sea Kayaking
by Dave Brown
The hand-held VHF radio is a helpful peace of mind piece of kit for Sea kayaking around the UK. Often seen by many a paddler as a daunting item or the.......
Essential Canoe Expedition Tips
by Rosemary Powell
When embarking on a big open canoe expedition like our recent one to Temagami in Canada, there are many new and exciting challenges to overcome. Here .......
Alpine Top Tips - Climbing Slicker (and more efficiently)
by Martin Chester
Huffing and puffing and hauling and thrutching my way up another Chamonix crack, I realised I had never tried to climb cracks in my big boots before, .......
Lowering Off A Bolted Route
by Ben Lawes
Lowering off at the top of a bolted route and retrieving your rope without leaving any kit behind can be a potentially fatal manoeuvre. The following .......
Using Chalk
by Mike Raine
These days too many people splash chalk around without a care in the world. Here are a few of my tips on how to be a little more conservative and cons.......
Winter Mountaineering
by Martin Chester
Whether you are a committed winter walker, going winter mountaineering or even a winter climber, this could be for you. So much of a winter day out in.......
Wear A Helmet
by Mike Raine
To some people wearing a helmet may seem like an 'uncool' thing to do but there are more very good reasons to wear one than you think. Here are a few .......
Photography For Climbers
by Mark Reeves
With the advent of small digital cameras the amount of photos you take is no longer dictated by the price of film and development. Instead you can now.......
Safety Tips For The Novice Climber
by Louise Thomas
These essential safety tips should help novice climbers get into good habits early on........
Retrieving Stuck Nuts
by Tim Neill
Have you seen the price of nuts these days? Leaving a jammed wire not only leaves a hole in your pocket but robs the next leader of a truly true onsig.......
Medical Tips For Mountaineers
by Dr. David Hillebrandt. FIMC (Edin). DMM (UIAA).
Here are some great first aid top tips........
How To Stay Safe In The Sun
by Rob Spencer
The high mountains, wild rivers and the ocean can be dangerous places, a fall, a swim or something landing on your head is always a possibility and is.......
Sea Cliff Climbing (Part One)
by Martin Chester
Climbing over the sea has its own unique atmosphere. It is committing, exciting and beautiful in equal measure. Every climber should experience the ma.......
Sea Cliff Climbing (Part Two)
by Martin Chester
I vividly remember, as an enthusiastic teenager, my first visit to Swanage. Jonny and I abseiled in to Boulder ruckle (down marmolata buttress) not t.......
Retreating off a crag
by Baggy Richards
If you are a Multi Pitch climber, then at some stage you will probably have to retreat off a crag. This maybe due to bad weather, lack of daylight or .......
Climbing Sea Stacks
by Baggy Richards
For me climbing near the sea is a magical and exciting experience. The blend of sea, wind, wildlife and remote situations make it a special place to c.......
Perform a Pre-Season Kit Check
by Dave Brown
It may sound obvious but it's important to check your kit before you go climbing. At the beginning of the season I recommend a thorough kit check, par.......
Egressing Sea Cliffs
by Mark Reeves
Somewhere above is the rock, below me snapping at my ankles are line after line of charging white horses. I am in space twixt the devil and the deep b.......
Coiling a Rope
by Ian Boorman
There are many ways of coiling a rope and it does not have to be a complicated affair. So, to stop your rope getting into a tangled mess, I have found.......
Cleaning & Reproofing Waterproof Clothing
by Nikwax
Modern waterproof clothing is both waterproof and breathable. It will either have a membrane (like Gore-Tex) or a coating (e.g. PU) on the inside of t.......
Racking Your Gear
by Ian Boorman
How you carry your gear on your harness is a very personal thing. Below are just a few tips that I feel help when multi pitch climbing........
Retreating Off a Route
by Louise Thomas
Here are some simple but effective tips to help you when you're retreating off a route........
Off-Widthing
by Tim Neill
To some, the inexplicable strenuousness of the wider fissure is strangely compulsive, lacking the predictability of more conventional features. It's a.......
Keeping Multi-Pitch Belays Tangle Free
by Simon Colley
Avoiding tangled ropes takes concentration and self discipline. But it's well worth the effort. Here are a few of my favourite tips to help avoid prob.......
Rigging a Fixed Abseil Rope for Sea Cliff Climbing
by Simon Colley
Most climbers take a separate rope when they need to abseil into sea cliffs. This means that they don't have to abseil on their climbing ropes, and th.......
Footwear Care Part One
by Nikwax
Once a year or so give all your boots & outdoor footwear an overhaul to keep them in tip top condition, so they last for years. In part two, we'll.......
Footwear Care Part Two
by Nikwax
Leather, suede or nubuck are all natural materials and need a bit of TLC. Regular cleaning, re-proofing & conditioning helps extend the life of your f.......
Tent Care
by Nikwax
If you've not had the tent out since the end of last summer, here are a few tips to get it ready for a summer of trouble-free camping, plus a few idea.......
Winter Navigation
by Carlo Forte
Even if you have good summer navigation skills, harsh winter conditions can bring unforeseen complications and complexities that make navigation trick.......
Packing a Daysack
by Baggy Richards
A few simple, small and lightweight additions to your day pack could make your time in the mountains more pleasant, enjoyable and safe Here are some .......
Top Tips for International Trekkers
by Simon Hale
Senior Instructor Simon Hale offers a pile of invaluable tips for those planning on trekking in the high mountains of Europe........
Using a GPS as a Navigational Aid
by Carlo Forte
A GPS should never be thought of as an alternative to a map and compass but they are an extremely useful additional tool. Here are a few points that a.......
Using a compass in wet, windy or snowy weather
by Simon Colley
Navigating in very windy, snowy or wet conditions can make things more tricky. Here are a few tips I use to help our students improve their technique........
Winter Protection
by Dave Evans
For most of us in winter climbing runners and good belays shouldn't just be a luxury! A lot gets said about Ice screws and Abalakovs but what about m.......
Preparing Your Winter Hardware
by Rocio Siemens
It's that time of year again, and in a kind of counter-nature migration, many of us will be flying up North of the Border, with the prospect of enjoyi.......
Kayak Safety
by Jon 'Spike' Green
"Prevention is better than a good beating" This set of tips is intended to look at easy, practical ways of reducing risk on the river........
Kayak Rescue Kit
by Jon 'Spike' Green
You don't have to carry much gear to get each other out of trouble on the water but it is important to think carefully about what you take (and of cou.......
Choosing and Preparing a Throwbag
by Jon 'Spike' Green
'What is the sound of one hand tied behind your back?' (ancient pessimists proverb). 'The choice and preparation of your throwbag is crucial to suc.......
Using a Throwbag
by Jon 'Spike' Green
'If a throwbag falls and no-one catches it, who do you hear scream?' (ancient mid-Wales proverb.).......
Getting Your Open Boat Moving
by Neil Dickinson
Getting an open boat up and running to speed is a basic yet essential skill at all levels of boating. Whether this is the start of a tranquil cruise o.......
Lifting Your Kayak
by Dino Heald
Lets face it we all carry our own kayaks. Here is a method I recommend that can help minimise the amount of strain we put on our bodies........
Set Up Your Kayak
by Dino Heald
Senior Instructor Dino Heald provides some great pointers on how to set up your kayak for maximum performance "How should your kayak feel? This reall.......
Essential Canoe Tips
by Loel Collins
In no particular order, here are a few fundamental top-tips for canoeists........
Ski Touring - How to Get Better
by Martin Chester & Rob Spencer
In a nutshell, here a the four most important tips you need to know for ski touring:.......
Identifying Wild Flowers
by Mike Raine
Identifying wild flowers can be very frustrating and is certainly not as easy as just taking a book with you and lying down in the grass for a while. .......
Scouting Rapids
by Helen Teasdale
Scouting rapids is an important skill for a kayaker to have, effectively scouting rapids can mean the difference between having an enjoyable paddle wi.......
Kayak Leadership
by Adam Harmer
Are you a paddler that often finds yourself leading groups or taking responsibility for weaker paddlers amongst friends or club trips. Here are Adam's.......
Top Tips When Learning to Roll
by Adam Harmer
Here are a few tips to help you get rolling sucessfully........
Top Tips For Strapping Your Boat On The Car
by Chris Evans
I'm going to talk about the tricky issue of tying boats down to a roof rack; my reason for this is because it's a bit of a bugbear of mine. The only t.......
Ski Tips for Mountaineers
by Martin Chester
It's that time of year again! The North faces are dripping with ice, the gullies are choked full of neve, and the harsh cold of winter has gone. Unfor.......
Alpine Top Tips, Climbing Quicker (safely)
by Martin Chester
Climbing long Alpine routes is a stamina fest, not a sprint, so remember the Tortoise and the Hare. "Not stopping" is much more important than moving .......
River Running Strategy
by Jon 'Spike' Green
Level 5 Coach Jon 'Spike' Green has put together some great tips on river running........
Comfortable Boating
by Chris Evnas
I'm going to talk (more like rant) about the dark art of dressing to be comfortable on the water. By that, I mean choosing the right layering system t.......
Early Season Cragging
by Paul Warnock
So you have been training all winter on a campus board or down at your local climbing wall. If you are feeling strong why not start the season on a hi.......
Coastal Navigation
by Adam Harmer
Sea kayaking is all about being prepared, so here's a quick list of top tips on preparing water-proof laminated maps that you might consider trying du.......
'Rack' to Winter - Tips on Winter Climbing Hardware Maintenance
by Martin Chester
The seasons are changing... the nights are drawing in, and thoughts are drifting back to snowy peaks and Scottish adventures. Having your hardware pre.......
Flares for Use at Sea
by Dave Simpson
After VHF, flares are probably your next choice for calling for help when out at sea. They allow you to give a clear signal of distress and simultaneo.......
Being a Considerate Boater
by Chris Evans
This is my list of top tips on how to be a considerate paddler, keeping the fun in our sport and making sure we all have a good day out on the water........
How to Become a Useful Group Member
by Chris Evans
I'm going to go through my top 10 ways to become a useful member of a group and hopefully remove the feeling of being a burden on everyone else or for.......
Top Tips on Taking An Active Leadership Role
by Louise Tully
Most white water paddlers spend a while getting out on easier grades with a group of people who can look after them to start off with. This is excelle.......
Climbing Slate
by Baggy Richards
Clad in my rainbow lycra tights (well this is what my hero Andy Pollit wore back in the 80's) I set off up my first slate route, 'Seamstress' (HVS 5a).......
Top Ten Things to Carry in Your Repair Kit
by Chris Evans
These helpful top tips look at what to carry in your repair kit should the worst happen, destruction of your favorite toy........
Top Tip For Ice Axes Boots and Crampons
by Keith Ball
With an unprecedented amount of snow on the mountains of North Wales and a cold weather period that shows no sign of ending, the winter season is now .......
