11 Different Rock Climbing Techniques, Just Focusing On Hand Work

Small Side Pull

Large Side Pull

Open Crimp

Closed Crimp

Reinforced Crimp

Pinch

Jug

Push Up

Palming

Single Under Pull

Double Under Pull

Spare Boot Lace Always Handy

Good to always carry two spare boot laces in your backpack (long + heavy duty). Last weekend the sole of a student's boot came away; high in the hills, two hours from our cars. A boot lace wrapped it back up and got him back comfortably.

Learn To Lead Rock Climb Course - Places Available

Two spaces left, if anyone is interested, in a Learn To Lead Climb Course, running over six days; 27th - 29th Jul plus 3rd - 5th Aug.

Beginner friendly, but intensive course, with all the gear provided.

At the end of this course you will be safe, competent and self-sufficient at bottom roping, top roping, abseiling and lead climbing. This includes the rope work needed for each type of climbing; the set ups needed, anchor placement and climbing techniques.

Block one runs in the Gap of Dunloe/Killarney. Block two runs on Dingle Sea Cliffs/Dingle. Price is €480 per person. For more details please contact Nathan: 086 860 45 63 / info@outdoorsireland.com

Sundew

We see a lot of this amazing little carnivorous plant, sundew, in the Irish hills and bogs; however rarely see it in flower for some reason. Here it is in flower - tiny white flowers at the top of each green stalk.

The reason the flowers are held high above the sticky meat-eating leaves is to allow pollinating insects like bees do their flower pollinating without being accidentally eaten by the plant!

Forest & Jungle & Bushcraft Navigation Skills - DDECKSSS Card

For Mountain Skills we teach Route Card; for Forest/Jungle Skills we teach DDECKSSS. This is a simple page to be carried plus memorized.

D / Direction = What Is North/South/East/West Of Your Terrain
D / Danger = What/Where Is Your Main Terrain Danger
E / Escape = Simple Escape Route – Handrail Ideal
C / Conditions = Prevailing Wind Direction/Weather Forecast
K / Known = Known Point In Your Terrain To Re-Focus/Re-Group
S / Size = Max Length/Max Width
S / Shape = Square/Circle/Triangle/Mess
S / Slope = Approx Slope Aspect

You may need to do our training course for this to make full sense! It ties into Forest Skills 1. Next date is Glengarriff on 21st & 22nd Nov.

Portwest Malin Jacket

Loving the new Portwest Malin Jacket. Using it as a kayaking jacket at moment.

Super impressed with it's toughness and breathability.

Nice to have a hood to pull up when the heavy summer showers come!

The velcro cuffs fasten in well, the zips are pretty sturdy, a useful chest pocket for compass/phone.

The Portwest breathable system, which they call Ventron, is superb and as good a breathable system as I have found anywhere over the years.

I have not spent much time in the mountains in the past weeks, but I am looking forward to putting it to the test in the Cork, Wicklow and Burren Mountains all in the next month!

Top Things To Do In Killarney!

With this stunning hot weather we have spaces available for our Killarney Lakes Kayak Trip and Killarney Lakes Sunset Kayaking for the coming days.

To book please text 086 860 45 63. Thanks, Nathan

Sea Kayaking In Glengarriff Bay, West Cork

Sea Kayaking In Glengarriff Bay, West Cork. Some beautiful photos sent in by a client this morning.

Sublime Kayaking On The Lakes Of Killarney

Kayaking Tour on the Lakes of Killarney yesterday, Saturday, in stunning sublime conditions! Saw so much wildlife, including dragon flies, damsel flies, jumping trout, red deer, a young stag and drying out cormorants... Had a superb day with a morning kayak trip, an afternoon kayak trip and a sunset kayak trip out across the Killarney Lakes and deep into Killarney National Park.

 

Looking After Your Rock Climbing Gear

On climbing courses we get asked about equipment care - it is pretty simple.

Firstly look after it while climbing. Don't stand on anything and don't drop anything, including the metal gear. Keep out of mud and definitely keep out of salt water.

Rinse harness, helmet and metal gear in fresh water and hang to air dry. Rinse climbing shoes in fresh water and perhaps add some disinfectant (only for shoes); then hang to air dry.

For ropes and slings (especially if you have been sea cliff climbing) soak overnight in at least two clean sets of fresh water; then hang to air dry.