Page 18 - 2017 AMA Winter

The Army Festival of Climbing 2017
by Pete Skinsley
As part of the AMA 60 anniversary celebrations the Army Festival of Climbing took place in North Wales in September. Last held in 2015 it was designed to coincide with the AMA AGM and the first round of the Armed Forces Bouldering League. Based out of Capel Curing Training Camp the Festival catered for both climbing and walking and for the 47 who attended (including one member of the Irish Defence Force) it was a test in endurance of the delights of Welsh weather! The aim of the Festival was to improve personal climbing techniques, skills and awareness; introduce novice climbers to indoor competition and outdoor climbing; network with other Army and Services climbers; celebrate the Army Mountaineering Association’s 60th Anniversary; and conduct the AMA AGM.
Seven days of climbing across the full variety of North Wales venues saw AMA members head out to Holyhead, the Orme, Tremadog, the slate quarries and the Conwy sport crags chasing what there was of the sun and the dry spells. The mountain crags were drenched so there was no need to stop in the Llanberis Pass but groups of determined and ultimately drenched walkers savoured the experience of Snowdon, Tryfan, the Glyders and Carnedd Llewelyn in driving rain and low cloud. Despite being battered by storm Eileen, groups managed to climb on dry rock outdoors
every day even if it was for just a couple of hours. The Indy Wall and the Beacon Climbing Centre became our second home and the cafe staff got to know which brews we liked by the middle of the week! Some participants also succumbed to temptation and sampled a spot of mountain biking, the toboggan run at Zip World and even a sauna (Kenny!).
The AMA AGM took place on the Saturday night with a nearly full room and we were joined by Honorary President Tim King. The membership received reports on the Association’s mountaineer- ing and sport climbing activity as well as the general running of the AMA and the budget for 2018, which is easily able to support meets in the UK, competitions and overseas expeditions next year. The new committee were voted in and the AMA publicly thanked Col Paul Edwards, as the outgoing Chairman, for his 27 years of dedication and loyal service to the AMA and presented him with a framed print.
Round 1 of this year’s Armed Forces Bouldering League took place at the Indy Wall and saw additional climbers from the Army and RAF come along for just the day. Centre manager John and resident bouldering ninja Dave delivered a set of problems to test all abilities and styles of climbing. Dynos, crimps, slopers, volumes
Sunshine on Poor Man’s Peuterey on Craig Pant Ifan, Tremadog
Round 1 of the Armed Forces Bouldering Smiling faces on Sticky Mix Wall on the Orme League at The Indy Wall – but who is belaying?
16 ARMY MOUNTAINEER