The day started at Plas y Brenin where everyone met for a briefing in a nice warm room provided by the centre. It was just as well that they did as the weather was ominously cold and blustery. It looked like rain would intervene at some point during the day so Mark Dicken, the North Wales BMC Area Youth Cooridnator, who organised the day, decided that it would be a good idea to start off in the slate quarries. The slate quarries contain a great variety of rock climbs, much of the climbing is in bays so is out of the wind, and the rock tends to dry very quickly.
We arranged to meet up at Bus Stop Quarry car park at 11am. While driving over there it started to rain - which was not that unexpected really. However, on arriving at the meeting point the weather cleared. Everyone was positive and busy packing their rucksacs for the walk in.
Mark Dicken has been very active in the work that has taken place in the quarries recently and suggested that the area known as Australia would be a good venue to go to initially. There were 32 of us altogether of all ages, experiences and abilities - including 6 volunteers: Mark, Samantha, Helen, David, Nick and Mike.
The walk to Australia took about 20 minutes through an old industrial landscape that looked like something out of a Doctor Who episode. Eventually, we walked through a short tunnel and we were there. Mark pointed out the climbs and their grades. There was quite a range. Some of the climbs were sport routes - with the protection bolts already in place. Some of them were traditional climbs that needed the protection placing.
Some of the parents and children had not climbed outside before whereas others had. Some of the parents were happy for their children to lead climbs whereas others prefered that their children seconded routes. Slate is a very smooth rock with little friction so precise footwork is required. This takes experience but it was surprising how quickly the young people learned these skills.
There was a really busy feel to the day with routes being ascended all over the area and of all different grades. Eventually, everyone slowed down and it was clear that the climbing bug had been satisfied for a while. So we packed up and Mark led a trek through the tunnels of the quarries to the impressive area known as California with its massive smooth walls. Everyone stared about them in amazement and tried to pick out lines up the blank looking walls.
Then it was a slow snake-like meander back through the tunnels and a tired walk back to the cars as the sun weakened and then a drive back to Plas y Brenin for a well deserved BBQ. Everyone said that it had been a great day and they would like to do another one. Let's hope the weather is as kind!
The BMC would like to thank Mark Dicken for organising such a great day and all the volunteers who contributed to its success as well as MTT and Plas y Brenin for providing the room and BBQ facilities.