Page 142 - AGC_Journal 2018(FINAL)_Neat

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 fi rst 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 fi rst day of climbing. We have been
restaurant. taught about diff erent 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 fi rst day of actual rock climbing. I was really thrilled Orange House
and nervous at the same time as it was my fi rst 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 diff erent grades of rocks; the higher the grade is more
diffi cult 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 fi rst 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 fi nd
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 fi nish 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 fi nal 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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