I have spent the last three days teaching a couple of young lads to climb for Plas Y brenin. The young persons courses are always a lively affair, as the clients seem to have boundless energy and enthusiasm for climbing despite keeping the centre staff awake until the early hours. It must be an amazing experience for the youngsters who basically have the run of the centre and are kept entertain from 8am till 9pm everyday.
During the week I took my pair up Kirkus’ Route and Slick on Clogwyn Y Oen, then they lead Bobo and Obleron of Tremadog, before I lead them up the outstanding One Step in the Clouds to fill and hour before we went for the obligatory Beddgelert Ice Cream. Then today we finished off with them leading themselves up Hope on the Idwal Slabs.
My hope is that I have managed to teach these guys some essential skill and techniques to stay safe when they go climbing, and that the both enjoyed themselves and were inspired by the routes to follow climbing as a past time and a passion. Last year I meet two people I taught to climb in Vivian Quarry climbing steadily up Psychotherapy E2.
There are other centres that offer ‘proper’ climbing for young people courses, however I haven’t come across a set up like Plas y Brenin. They have another week of course in a couple of weeks, so beware on the crags as these guys zip past you laughing and screaming like kids enjoying themselves should. Just know all the instructors have earplugs in and paracetmol for the headache from the constant noise.