Tim Dobson
Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
Long Churn and Great Douk caves
24 June 2021
Long Churn and Great Douk are two classic trips that are used to introduce people to caving in Yorkshire. I'd done Long Churn once before but never tried Great Douk. It was exactly as promised – never challenging, always pretty, pleasantly easy – though perhaps not as varied as it could have been. Long Churn […]
Lou on Pedestal Route at the Roaches
23 June 2021
Lou on Pedestal Route HVD at the Roaches a few weeks ago. It was memorable for her as it was her first time climbing at the Roaches, her first multipitch, and the highest route she'd done yet. I'm told the crimpy traverse on pitch 2 was really fun to second and definitely a highlight of […]
Only those who climb the highest hills
23 June 2021
Only those who climb the highest hill, descend the deepest cave or travel the furthest land will be able to see the greatest wonders and feel the achievement. For everyone else, there's Instagram. — Alum Pot is one of the most magical places of the underground. A huge open air shaft, filled with greenery and […]
In usual times the Caving Crew would meet
16 June 2021
In usual times, The Caving Crew would have regular weekend caving trips to Caving Huts around the UK – weekends away where we stay together, eat together, drink together and cave together. Covid has made that more challenging, so when Alex – The Crew's Trip sec – managed to make a camping trip happen, I […]
Every Thursday evening the Climbing Clan gathers
15 June 2021
Every Thursday evening the Climbing Clan goes outdoor climbing at crags around Manchester. Recently I was sent to Windgather rocks – here were some of the highlights:ª Heather lead her first trad route in a long time and set up the anchor© Katie lead Middle and Leg and set up the anchor Peter lead Portfolio […]
The challenge was to find somewhere new
15 June 2021
The challenge was to find somewhere fairly easily accessible, in the lakes, on a bank holiday, where parking wouldn't be an issue and we could test Nadia's new paddleboard. Elterwater was the perfect place. With a nice flat river section to practice handling, and then a big lake to explore with barely any people around, […]
Throwback to a fantastic Climbing Clan day
15 June 2021
Throwback to a fantastic Climbing Clan weekend away in the Lake District a few weekends ago. Thanks to Aaron, Luca, Pete, Ryan, Hattie, Bernard, Hazel, Kimberley, Miguel, Ashleigh, Matt, Periklis, Lorena, Agus and Rebecca for making it such a warm weekend to remember! Bernard should take a great deal of credit for organising it all, […]
Successful day on the Climbing Clan trip
15 June 2021
Successful day on the Climbing Clan weekend trip at Long Scar above Langdale a few weeks ago. Hazel and Hattie practiced anchors and Hattie lead her first Lake District Trad routes Pete and Luca got some nice routes done to ease Pete to the rock. Miguel and Ryan picked off some nice VDiffs and productively […]
Memorable trip to Bagshawe Cavern
11 June 2021
Memorable trip to Bagshawe Cavern with Tom, Liberty and Jimmy and supported by Jon A few weeks ago! Here's how Tom described it: "Thanks to an invite from that nice man, Tim Dobson I finally managed to do something I have always wanted to do; go caving. I'd warned him in advance that I was […]
Every Thursday the Climbing Clan meets
10 June 2021
Every Thursday, "The Climbing Clan" has been heading outside in small groups to crags around Manchester and in the Peak for outdoor climbing. Recently, with a record number of people signing up from Chesterfield, Sheffield, Bakewell, we decided to run something further east than ever before and climbed the grit at Stanage. Laura lead one […]
I was in the Lake District this week
10 June 2021
I was in the Lake District this weekend with the Climbing Clan having a lovely climbing weekend and then it started raining. 🙁 The climbers understandably wanted to head to a cafe on Sunday morning – definitely understandable – but me and my 72yro mum had our caving stuff with us, and it doesn't rain […]
Throwback to the first Langdale Climbing trip
10 June 2021
Throwback to the first Langdale Climbing Clan camping weekend trip, most of the group visited Long Scar above Wrynose pass. Some achievements: My first cragside napª Adam's first trad lead Adam's first HVS Agus's impressive whipper Katie and Albina building belays and tying clove hitches Me going bum first into a pile of sheep shit […]