Page 142 - AGC Journal 2018
P. 142

AGC JOURNAL 2018



             Learning The Ropes                                                                                                                                         On top of the crag                           On the rock face


                                                                                                                                                                        in Sella, Alicante
             On Spanish Slab





             By Private Md Hasan
              Rock climbing often involves overcoming the fear of heights.  Good
              communication skill and trusting your climbing partner also play a vital role
              as you often have to work as a pair.



              On our Way to Spain                            Day Two

              We arrived at Alicante Airport and travelled to The Orange   We have done our second day of climbing in Polop Valencià,
              House, a beautiful villa in Finestrat, which is around 60   in some fantastic grade 4-6 rocks in a crag called Vall de

              kilometres away from the airport.  We had our first brief   Guadar (Echo Valley).  We have used all the skills and drills we

              about the Rock Climbing and went for evening meal at a local   have been taught on our first day of climbing.  We have been
              restaurant.                                    taught about different types of rock holding techniques, uses of

                                                             quickdraw and other tools to setting up the ropes. There was
              Day One                                        a lesson on various rock climbing hazards and how you can
                                                             take the precautions to protect yourself and other teammates.
              After having breakfast, we were given instruction about the use   The following rock climbing we have done on the second day
              of rock climbing kit and safety of uses, and then we departed   of climbing:                                                                               The team at The
              for our first day of actual rock climbing.  I was really thrilled                                                                                           Orange House


              and nervous at the same time as it was my first ever rock   Name and Grade
              climbing and I always had heights phobia.  Six climbing spots
              were set by the costal side of Alicante at Sierra de Toix. There   Flake Drum        4c

              was different grades of rocks; the higher the grade is more
              difficult to climb.  Here is the some climbing we have done on   Bicton itc 08        4a


              the day:
                                                             Regalo por Ali     5a**
              Name and Grade
                                                             Zac-e-than           5a*
              La  Roja Una     3a
                                                             Phantom              5c*
              Asombroso,       3c
              Bella ruta           4
                                                             Day Three
              La roja dos        4a
                                                             We went to an amazing location call Sella, around 30
              La roja tres        5                          kilometres from our accommodation. We spend quite a bit
                                                             of time doing Lead Climbing.  Those who don’t know much
                                                             about rock climbing terminology, Lead Climbing involves
                                                             clipping into ‘protection’ as you climb. Sport routes, like the
                                                             ones we found in Sella, have existing bolts and loops set up

                                                             by the person who first found and set them and when used
                                                             them correctly, these protect you in the event that you fall.  We
                                                             were bunch of people with the various level of experience in
                                                             rock climbing. Six of us who was doing foundation course on
                                                             rock climbing went to the crag and spent some time on Lead                                                                   Day Four

                                                             Climbing.  We also learnt how to navigate on map and find
                                                             out various types of rocks. Other group went for hill walking                                                                After end of the third day, we were bit of expert in

                                                             and they walked 15 kilometres through the mountain.  The                                                                     climbing.  We finish the last day just practicing the skills
                                                             following rocks have climbed on our third day of climbing:                                                                   and drills we have learned during the last few days.

                                                                                                                                                                                          We have been given our final lesson on emergency
                                                             Name and Grade                                                                                                               procedure.  We all have successfully passed the
                                                                                                                                                                                          foundation course.
                                                             Ulls de tona                     4a*
                                                                                                                                                                                          Benidorm
                                                             Samantha Ann              5a*
                                                                                                                                                                                          After a really eventful week we all needed a recovery
                                                             Via del indio                   5c*                                                                                          day and we went to a beautiful city called Benidorm
                                                                                                                                                                                          on the Mediterranean coast. We have got our much
                                                  On the     Los refugiados              5c*                                                                                              deserved rest day. We had a little walk around the town
                                                  rock face                                                                                                                               and enjoyed some fantastic hill view.
                                                             A diestro y siniestro     6a* (Highest we have climbed)
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