Weekend Trad Trips - Semester 1

[thecolm]

All going well, we'll hopefully be having someone on the sprinter/jeep and be heading out to Ailladie most weekends. If we get a few good weekends we should quickly have a pretty large group of strong trad climbers as theres plently of strong wall-heads keen to get out on real rock in the club at the moment, as well as a few stong leaders that can be paired with them.
To get the most of of these trips i thought I'd put this up and see what aspects of trad people wanted covered.
Was thinking if would be great to get the lads taking pratice falls onto gear, as well as things like working a route/placing gear on TR prior to leading it, which you can really learn alot from.
Any other suggestions?

[Paul]

Good Man Colm fair play great work if you need a hand organising anything give me a shout looking good for Trad climbing

[cillian]

Happy days it will be good to get more climbing trips running to train people up... one thing youi need to be aware of is in terms of vehicle availability

I have heard from a lot of clubs planning to use all three vehicles much more this coming year... you would be best off trying to figure out when you will need it before the start of the semester because the bookings are going to be fairly full by week one.

4X4 is not likely to be free most saturdays as the rowers use it for castleconnel and the Kayakers use the sprinter a lot at weekends when the days are longer too..

if you can hand us the dates you want it at the very begining of the semester there is some hope of getting it booked... also the required paper work will be needed for the driver

the same goes for any other events that the club would want either the bus, sprinter or 4X4...including scotland, the alps and yorkshire next year...

Is Mise Le Meas
Cillian

[thecolm]

I guess as many weekends as possible :-) Is there any kind of fair usage policy with regards the vehicles that prevents one club getting it more often than others (you mentioned the 4X4 is not likely to be free most saturdays as the rowers use it )? I'll have the papers ready to get on as a driver soon as college starts, but I sure we'll find a way until hat goes through

[cillian]

it has worked on a first come first served policy and its frowned upon if last minuite cancellations are made by the same group repeateadly... and there are new penaltys coming on board for that..(missing next club booking etc)

the other thing is the vehicles are supposed to be used for groups i.e 4/5 people should not be looking to use one of them if they could use a car instead ... Sprinter 7 ppl, 4X4 8ppl..Minibus 15ppl

the 4X4 justifiably is given to both the rowers and the Sub aqua when they need it 1st as none of the other vehicles are capable of hauling their trailers... (Power and 4X4 ability) its fair because otherwise peoples cars break down from being over pushed..

likewise the Kayakers, windsurfers and sailers use the sprinter for cargo capacity.. because licenses are not readily available for massive trailers and security of their gear on trips is an issue

the Minibus is the option for larger groups hence why we have been using it so much for caving groups...but kayakers also get use and there are a few new licencees on campus this coming year... Mountainbikers are also looking to use it with their trailer to move large numbers...

hence the importancce of having a clear idea of when you wish to book stuff... the mileage on the vehicles is testament to how much use they have got and this is only going to increase...

for international trips its going to be more difficult to get the vehicles because clubs are expanding their trip lists...

Also it has to be remembered that all the societies on campus are intitled to use any of the 3 vehicles if they book them... hence the huge demand

[thecolm]

Hmm ok then. Sure we'll see how many are interested and book what ever weekends are available on what ever vehicle is available when we have numbers :-)
Surely due to the need to book in advance combined with our requirment for dry weather, we could make the argument that penaltys for last minuite cancellations being imposed on us is an issue? The other clubs dont have the same issue (you can bring a boat out in the rain etc).

"the 4X4 justifiably is given to both the rowers and the Sub aqua when they need it 1st as none of the other vehicles are capable of hauling their trailers"
Does this mean that they can override a booking made by another club?

[cillian]

windsurfers have had issues with no wind,Sub aqua have had issues with rough seas,Sailors with storms and high waves etc etc... lots of outdoor activities have had weather related problems but cancellations need at the very least 24hrs notice...its in the vehicle protocol...

what paul lee does not want happening is a goup booking a vehicle for 20 trips and only using it for say 8 and leaving another 12 groups stranded who would have liked it if it wasavailable

in terms of overridding bookings its always been done on the policy of accomodating most people as much as is possible...if the only vehicle capable of running a trip e.g 4X4 is needed by others they get it. so then either cars must be used or if possible take the sprinter or bus ...

the 4X4 was bougth primarily as a towing machine and a people carrier when not towing..the sprinter as a cargo machine with people carrying capacity and the minibus as a group carrying machine..

some of our midweek trips were run with cars and the sprinter as the minibus was needed by the history society etc... this is how its worked since 2007...

Is Mise Le Meas
Cillian

[thecolm]

Sounds like fun... whos got a car?

[cillian]

it does not mean that you should forget about the vehicles available it just means that as a club we need to try and plan what we would like to do in advance and book early.... ;D

if you want to run climbing trips on saturdays try and figure out whats the best way of doing it...start in which week and do it how often... do you need a few weeks of training people at the wall and in a class environment to get the most out of the outdoors etc....

the sprinter has over 70K miles done in the 3 years, the minibus 36K miles in the last three years alone and the 4X4 over 10K miles since it was bougth last winter..

they do get a lot of use.... ;D so thats why the vehicle policy was brougth in along with the responsibility of damages to the vehicles resting with the driver.....if you break it you pay for it ;D

[Darragh K]

Jul 15, 2010 13:43:12 GMT cillian said:

...thats why the vehicle policy was brougth in along with the responsibility of damages to the vehicles resting with the driver.....if you break it you pay for it ;D

Thats something that isnt to be taken lightly. Its not just as simple as handing in your forms and away you go. It is a major responsibility. You are after all taking somebody elses property and are responsible for bringing it back in the same condition you took it out. Failure to do so could be expensive! Both the sprinter and 4x4 are expensive machines.

It has happened already, as far as I know there is an impending courtcase with somebody who damaged the sprinter when they were driving it.

[cillian]

yes there was a lot of damage to be paid for on the sprinter hence the general clamp down...

Apart from that and more back to topic i think that all the skills should be taught and demonstrated to Newbies before they go to the crag...

the placing of gear while top-roping is a very good idea colum but i think a lot of homework os required before that

Before heading outside:

they should learn how to use and put on their harness properly...importance of checking buckles etc before climbing, the difference betwen the seat belt ones and the proper belay loop ones etc..

if they are going to learn about trad climbing they should be very well able to belay understanding all the principles ( for both TR and Leading) this takes a long time to teach properly.half an hour in a rush at the wall would only lead to problems.. the climbing wall is the best place to teach this..

they should understand how to lead climb and be shown how to at the climbing wall and then let practice it

trad gear should be fully explained and the different shapes and placing nuts etc safely this would probably be best done with some U-tube videos and letting people get a feel for gear..

Ankors should also be explained clearly and repeateadly befoe the distraction of a crag is brought into the picture.. and even at that the seting up of ankors should be shown a number of times on different days and supervised by someone proficient...