Tim Dobson
Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
Did I take up a new hobby during lockdown
12 June 2020
Someone asked me the other week if I'd taken up a new hobby during lockdown. "Zoom" was my reply. It didn't take us long to move the Climbing Clan to Zoom and those first few weeks were memorable for the excitement and the novelty. "Should I try and table boulder my table?" "Yeeeeeeeees" everyone shouted. […]
Returning to Eagle Crag – a childhood scramble revisited with Alex
10 June 2020
I was very young when I first did my first scramble up Eagle Crag. I loved it. So when we needed a fun little Scramble off we went up Eagle Crag. Stomp stomp. We walked along the valley. Stomp stomp stomp. We walked up the hill. "Are we nearly at the scrambling yet?" asked Alex […]
What was your last adventure before lockdown
9 June 2020
What was your last adventure before lockdown? Even as restrictions start to ease, things aren't going back to before straight away and some of the memories and stories of before will be important for some time to come. Technically, this wasn't my last adventure before lockdown – that happened the next day… Originally posted on […]
When everywhere was a bad idea
8 June 2020
Everywhere was a bad idea. The weather was damp, the clouds were low, there was wet snow high up and I was not psyched. Occasionally people confuse me with someone who has a never-ending desire to get outdoors, but it's not true. On Climbing Clan Weekend trips, my favourite places are in the hut and […]
What I miss most about Climbing Clan weekends
29 May 2020
The thing I miss most about the Climbing Clan weekends isn't climbing, it's community. On this trip just before lockdown, Antonio got everyone helping make dinner – and what a dinner it was! Lots to chop? No problem, everyone wants to help. Inadequate hobs? No problem, we can make it work. Inadvisable batman toe hangs? […]
The Caving Crew helps out before lockdown
28 May 2020
Shortly before lockdown, The Caving Crew headed out to help show Matt, Max and Alan the ropes. Caving ropework is quite different to climbing ropework. Rather than using ropes to catch you if you fall, ropes are used to help you go up/down/along ropes that are the main route along there. The rope is part […]
The most scared I have ever been underground
26 May 2020
Later Ashleigh would describe this trip as "the most scared I've probably ever been!!" but as we abseiled down to Garlands Pot to the long crabwalk, there was a bounce in our step. We'd been due to meet at 10am, but since Ashleigh was still incredibly hungover, by the time me and (Ashleigh kitted up […]
The best thing about lockdown living arrangements
25 May 2020
One of the best things about my lockdown living arrangements is getting to see this ball of tail wags and licks. No matter how frequently she sees me, the first time every day is a whirlwind of affection. And if I had a tail, I'd probably wag it if I saw her too. Is anyone […]
Will you take a photo, Mum asked
23 May 2020
"Will you take a photo?" Mum had stopped me. "I want a photo of me that's not in a nice beginner cave" I took the photo. We were exploring a well known mine newr Stoney Middleton and taking Mum on a "real" evening caving trip. When mum started Caving, we kept to large, gentle, horizontal […]
I turned the key and nothing happened
22 May 2020
I turned the key. Nothing happened. I took the key out and put it back in. Nothing happened. An hour earlier, the farmer had left, telling us not to go back over the road, that I'd driven over shortly before. It was too snowy he said. My friend with their their own MWB Sprinter looked […]
Bleary eyed and ready for adventure
19 May 2020
Bleary eyed, I rolled over in bed and looked at my phone. 47 new group chat messages. "We're stuck. Snow. County Durham. Can anyone help?" It seemed my friends from Scotland had had an eventful night. Not wanting to miss out on the excitement, I put the van in warp mode, told them I'd be […]
The Climbing Clan is about community
18 May 2020
The Climbing Clan is about Climbing, but it's community is formed of people with many similar skills and interests. Before lockdown, we ran a Climbing Clan Snowsports Evening – bringing the Clan together on the snow at Chillfactore. We had people newish to the snow, carefully doing low speed s-turns, we had people doing front […]