Many years ago now I was resident in Upper Bangor studying for my undergraduate degree, so it surprised me more than passing my degree that Maes Glas Climbing Wall has had so moderate renovations made, and some form of structured route setting activity. It has probably been like that for years, however it just didn’t seem like it back in the 90’s, yes I really am that old! Back then nobody made an effort to clean any holds or reset a route in the three years that I was at big school.
In fact I can’t blame them, as I recall that we used to sneak in without anyone seeing, and climb until we were busted, bored or tired. If we were bored we used to have even more fun trying to throw the best somersaut into the foam pit, in adjacent Gym. Basically I think more people went for clandestine climbing than paying the pitifully cheap £1.50 entrance fee.
Anyway over a decade later, I was there working for the Beacon Climbing Centre checking the equipment, removing the dirty holds for cleaning, and setting with a brand new set of holds. This wall has great potential now as the whole floor in matted for bouldering, I am sure some of the students get involved in some illicit ‘highballing’, so I set a great slabby yellow arete to keep them entertain!