Tim Dobson
Thinker, Blogger, Hacker, Hiker.
Lead climbing trad outdoors requires so much more knowledge
19 August 2019
I always feel you need to know about ten times more things to lead climb trad outdoors compared to *start* leading indoors. Even then, you're still learning. In the first 3 photos, Alex is mini-pitching High Buttress Arete so he can practice multipitching (on a hanging belay!) without the exposure and commitment of a big […]
Climbing Barmouth Slabs in atrocious weather
18 August 2019
The weather was atrocious outside. As we left the hut for Barmouth Slabs, liquid doom splattered from the sky, pouring pessimism down the back of our necks. Surely there was no way there could be climbing today, could there? We arrived at the coastal crag with views across the estuary and eyed the rock and […]
Climbing Clan tackles the Cyfrwy Arete on Cadair Idris
16 August 2019
Throwback to the Climbing Clan Cwfry Arete group attempt, on Cadair Idris. Four teams on the route made for entertaining bolognese and sometimes crowded stances. I lead Lucas (fueled by a rumbling stomach) and my mum (fueled by thousands of chocolate almonds). What a fantastic route – each pitch having a different feeling with plentiful […]
Wild swimming in Mounts Bay from a kayak
14 July 2019
"Wild swimming" has a slightly different meaning when you're in a kayak. Mounts Bay doing a good job here looking a bit like a tropical island! Originally posted on this post on Instagram
I promise I was uncool in school
13 July 2019
I promise I was uncool in school. · @ellencetera Originally posted on Instagram
Exploring the Easegill cave system
12 July 2019
Throwback to fantastic caving trip exploring Easegill. One thing that perhaps isn't obvious is that climbing and caving both have quite different ropework. In caving, ropes are used not just to protect against a fall, but also as a route up and and route down. Heading down can be nerve wracking, but heading up can […]
Climbing Clan adventures at Dow Crag in Ambleside
15 June 2019
The Climbing Clan April Ambleside weekend was a trip of many stories: ' Of learning how far Dow Crag is from the road ' Of Peter's highest grade lead on trad yet ' Of Ryan missing the end of his route by about 10m ' Of me standing on a precariously balanced slab of soil […]
Long-distance relationships have their perks – like pretty coastlines
2 June 2019
One advantage of your girlfriend living 350 miles away, is that she can live near objectively pretty bits of coastline. Originally posted on this post on Instagram
The real climbing adventures are outside on rock
1 June 2019
When it comes to climbing, for me, the real adventures are outside. Once you're regularly leading indoors, safely lead belaying and often second other trad leaders, you may start thinking about learning to lead trad. Rebecca and Mat have been relentless supporters of the Climbing Clan, sharing their skills, giving people confidence and bringing the […]
When the rain ruins all your outdoor plans, go caving
31 May 2019
Remember weekend where it mostly just rained? It was: ' too wet for hiking ' too rainy for climbing ' too moist for caving ' too watery for kayaking so I went for a drippy drive round north wales "river spotting". It was a bit like a safari park – the rivers had been let […]
It is ok to talk about mental health
30 May 2019
It's ok to talk. A few years ago, I was happy with life, and then my girlfriend unexpectedly broke up with me. I was devastated. Heartbroken. Destroyed. I was struggling to think about anything else, my work suffered, the rest of my life suffered, I fell and I fell hard. Breakups are tough, but somehow […]
Hosting a dinner party in a van takes some creativity
29 May 2019
When you can't easily have friends over for dinner, you have two options: 1'£ Never cook for anyone else 2'£ Invite yourself round to your friends' house and cook lasagna for them Jen and Zhelyo kindly let me come over and cook vege-lasagna for them and Ness in exchange for being allowed to hug their […]