tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45996687814034172872024-02-20T20:16:32.023-08:00The Orange House BlogSam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-73912879277607795602017-10-30T09:00:00.001-07:002017-10-30T09:39:03.326-07:00"oh how brave you are as a guide"<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The life of a Climbing Coach</div>
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A few years ago I was guiding some clients on a multi-pitch route on The Penon, Costa Blanca. I was moving independently so I could observe them whilst allowing them to climb and place gear. What I did not expect to see, was them completely strip "my belay" leaving me solo. At least I was on a large ledge, however, it didnt stop me from holding on with a vice like grip.
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At the time as I was watching, I could have shouted over and stopped them, perhaps I should have, but the teaching point of “think
before you act” would have been lost. There was actually very
minimum risk so I took the hit and stayed silent. </div>
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When I pointed out what they had just
done, their response was brilliant and totally unfounded. They said<i> “It must be
great being you, being totally unafraid of heights”. </i></div>
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I had to think
hard about my response, because their perception of me is totally
inaccurate. Put me on a 10m ladder or up some wobbly scaffolding and
you’ll see me scared, but a 280 metre rock face with an almost zero
risk of a fall is my<b> comfy office chair</b>.
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This is what I said in return...</div>
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<i>Imagine a trainee fire
fighter, the first time he goes into a burning building with a
respirator on. It is going to be an almost overwhelming experience, but once
they are seasoned and been doing it for some time, the experience
becomes less overwhelming and they can operate more efficiently,
safely and slicker. </i></div>
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<i>They would also have a greater understanding of
the risks and more confidence in their procedures and equipment. So
does this mean an experienced fire fighter is unafraid of fire? I
suspect not and I’m just as scared of hitting the ground as
everybody else.</i></div>
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Their response to my explanation after the event changed their thinking enormously, it created a thought process with every
act having a consequence and therefore worth understanding before
being carried out. Their acts, particularly on belays, became slower
than before, but their over all time decreased as they became
“slicker” and more confident in their actions.
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Indoor climbing has exploded over the
last 20 years and the numbers of people using walls like gyms for
fitness has also exploded. A proportion of these new <i>indoorers</i> are
quite naturally moving into “the real world” and touching rock
for the first time. </div>
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A great opportunity for an instructor for sure,
but all is not that easy. With questions like; What colour would this
route be at my local wall? <i>Why are the bolts 2 metres apart surely
that’s dangerous? Which holds can I use on this route? </i>These are
genuine questions I have had. </div>
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Other issues that are really off putting for
these folk; </div>
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Wind. There is no air movement indoors.</div>
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The sudden view
moving above trees or over the top of a feature.</div>
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The route lengths that
break the glass ceiling of their indoor wall height, all really
strange things to try and coach people through.<br />
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This year is my 30th year of
instructing and coaching rock climbing, the situations can
potentially be very serious, I’ve come to expect the random and
irrational acts of people, I’ve been scared, intimidated and
confused, suffered frost nip twice and heat stoke once, caught malaria
and been severely emaciated. </div>
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But when asked do I still enjoy it, or
if I could ,could I change anything? The reply is always, <i>“ No way,
what a rush!”</i> Being an instructor/coach isn’t really a job, it’s
an adventure!
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich on his day off! </td></tr>
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Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-11482725801230549122017-08-08T23:51:00.002-07:002018-01-23T02:22:55.303-08:00Come work for us?<br />
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That was the question I asked about 4 weeks ago and to be honest the response surprised even me! I only used facebook, but I guess the power of social media these days is quite scary, and does have its uses!<br />
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Firstly, can I say a massive THANK YOU, to the people who tagged mates and shared and then another massive THANKS to those that took the time to get in touch and say that they had an interest in the role.<br />
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The managers position for this season has now been filled, however, it has been filled by only one person. An "Orange" who has worked with us for many years has stepped forward and is going to do the whole season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7HSU-NRhjQHICZmnAwqeeyZ6kImHjxAL121uoOsOLxHEcjCpPDVofxyUlr4fx0dDOnx7azNquQS9YJGeBQHK-n4l3-bI8O7SSeG3oC10ria6uPSRKMLzHIpG5zEVClvlwvCK3jdZUJg/s1600/IMG_4954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1600" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7HSU-NRhjQHICZmnAwqeeyZ6kImHjxAL121uoOsOLxHEcjCpPDVofxyUlr4fx0dDOnx7azNquQS9YJGeBQHK-n4l3-bI8O7SSeG3oC10ria6uPSRKMLzHIpG5zEVClvlwvCK3jdZUJg/s320/IMG_4954.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"oranges" having fun giving out an award for daft climbing antics! </td></tr>
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So, as he is alone we do need more normal "oranges" to help him out.<br />
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I will be putting people in touch with him to decide who to take and not etc, however, we took on everyone that asked last year and we had some great people helping us out.<br />
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Below is a little detail about the role of an " orange" and some golden rules.....<br />
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Work is mainly cleaning rooms and communal areas, bathrooms, toilets and much more.<br />
Gardening depending on what the state of the land is at the time of your visit.<br />
Making beds.<br />
Answering guests questions about the area, climbing, shopping you name it they ask it!<br />
Empty the bins and recycle. Keep an eye on the place.<br />
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The time asked for is around 3 hrs each day 7 days a week! You can do all the work in a few days or do it each day. If you are clever and arrange your time properly you can then have plenty of time to go climbing or to rest!<br />
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GOLDEN RULES<br />
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A few years ago we made the mistake of having too many "oranges" all at the same time and it didnt work as they formed a "pack". This meant they didnt socialise with the guests and they all wanted to climb at the same time!<br />
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They also treated the place too much like "home" and I found we needed an "orange" to clean up after the "oranges". As you can imagine that was a pain in the arse and I asked them all to leave at the same time and said no more would be working here!<br />
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I have mellowed a tad since then and the last few seasons with a select few it has worked well. This winter season will be the same and we hope that people that come realise how important they are to the whole feel and vibe.<br />
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Min time period is 2 weeks, this allows us to plan around the roles needed and for you to get a feel for the place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23zTIVDrmrNfLEo4S2vzBm0ib947EP_W7XoyaIdRmdn0s8V4CX29xo2qVxP7rhBmeojnHUT4d1xl8-ksD_DViETk3OxSWQbXtFjzdcjLPNWg_E4rL_ooODR8Fmpz4HZQ6A7PcNTLqbF4/s1600/IMG00181-20110828-1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1072" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23zTIVDrmrNfLEo4S2vzBm0ib947EP_W7XoyaIdRmdn0s8V4CX29xo2qVxP7rhBmeojnHUT4d1xl8-ksD_DViETk3OxSWQbXtFjzdcjLPNWg_E4rL_ooODR8Fmpz4HZQ6A7PcNTLqbF4/s320/IMG00181-20110828-1224.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys playing with trees! Maybe they need to eat more! lol!!!</td></tr>
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Maximum stay is as long as you want really, as long as the manager agrees!<br />
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Accommodation can be an issue depending on how busy the house is. We have a dedicated basic bunkroom, but that can sleep upto 5/6 people. If you would like to be private then bring a tent. If the house is quiet you can take a room aslong as cleaned afterwards.<br />
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Catering, you have the use of the outdoor camping kitchen, now this is where things can not get messy, as you MUST clean up as you go! We do find that lots of people leave food behind, so if you are on a tight budget then you can manage by spending very little money.<br />
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Climbing, the manager has the use of a staff car so you might be lucky and get a lift to the crags, another option is to make friends with the guests and get lifts with them (please offer to help with fuel even if they say no).<br />
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Any further quesions or if you want to apply for the role of Manager in the future I suggest to try to spend some time with us this season and see what the job is all about.<br />
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<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-7642514717921064192016-12-05T01:11:00.004-08:002016-12-05T01:11:58.853-08:00Super whipper averted! Parle re-bolted.<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some of the bolts on Parle were starting to show their age, so last month I decided to do some maintenance and replace them. Walking past the hoards on Toix Ost in the afternoon I was confident I'd have the sea cliffs to myself. But no, three groups of two strung out in various stages of fear induced utopia adorned the crag. About time it got re-bolted then.<br />
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Having just checked my own topo, (I must be getting old) we started work on this section in 2002. Almost fifteen years ago. Three quarters of the bolts are still in good condition and showing little or no warning signs.</div>
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Parle is protected by a series of Fixe stainless steel glue-ins and stainless steel expansion bolts, ten of the expansion bolts were rusting considerably faster than all the other metal work. </div>
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A quick spray of WD40 and the first two nuts are removed easily and spites hammered in to the hole. The next few bolts the nuts' edges shear quickly and the nuts are seized. Plan "B" hammering for 15 minutes removes the bolts. Even though the nuts had substantial rust I would have confidence that these bolts would easily stop a fall. <br />
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This is the scary bit. Three of the bolts near the base of the crag sheared under the weight of the spanner, these failed at something like 10-20kg! They appeared to be in the same condition as the much stronger bolts.</div>
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<b>So what was going on?</b> </div>
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Well I don't know for certain but I think some of the spits had been mixed up with non-stainless spits. I am now very careful to avoid cross material storage, and have been for many years.</div>
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With bolt locations which are closer to the sea you would expect an accelerated rate of decay, but perhaps not with such a wide range of failure strengths. Most were easily capable of holding a fall whilst three barely capable of holding the weight of a carabiner. <br />
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The metal on the spites which were removed by hammer seems dull, evenly coloured and smooth.</div>
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The metal on the spits removed under the spanner seems shiny with pressure ridges running away from the centre.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lau1h92tSPk" target="_blank">WATCH SMALL VIDEO HERE....</a></div>
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<b>Conclusion</b> </div>
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Parle is now safe with all Stainless steel protection. I am seeking further advice and analysis, I will post the findings when I have them.<br />
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Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-55013880069290408722016-09-14T01:32:00.002-07:002016-09-14T01:32:48.967-07:00Rope which rope??????<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Depending on what you are planning will
influence which ropes will be best to bring</div>
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Single Pitch Sport.</div>
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For the vast majority of routes a
“single” 60m will be adequate. Where the pitches are long, a
secondary lower off is usually in place so a 60m rope can still be
used. If you want to climb some of the harder routes at Rincon Bello,
Cabazon or Wildside, you should consider a thinner “single” 80m.
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Multi Pitch sport.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A “single” 60m will do for most
routes. Most route are geared for 30m pitches, so ab’ing off should
be OK. Check the descent description of your chosen routes some areas
have communal descents which may require two ropes for longer ab’s.
Via Gene and the other sport climbs at Cabazon are an example.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sea cliff Toix.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A “single” 60m rope is good for all
pitches. I suggest an old “single” or “static” 60m for the
ab’ in and leave it in place. These routes could be done with half
50m ropes, for ab’ing in and then pulled. But this is not
recommended the ab’ bolts are usually not set up for this and it
leaves you without an escape route.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Multi/pitch traditional mountain
routes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Puig Campana, for two people most
routes are good to climb with a “single” 60m, but escaping may
prove difficult. For three people half 50m are slightly too short to
run easier pitches together so half or twin 60m are better, which
also means escaping is more straight forward.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ridges.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Seria Bernia has nothing more than
20m ab’s so a 40m single is ok.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Realet. Best to climb on 50m or better
60m half ropes, solely for the ab’ at the end.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Realet into Castells. I would always
recommend two ropes of at least 60m</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
All other ridges 60m single.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Canyoneering</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
For all the popular canyons a thin 45m
static is long enough. You could use a dynamic rope, but it will wear
super fast and you’ll spend half the day coiling it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Deep water solo</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Get real! It’s called solo for a
reason and no access via ropes are necessary. </div>
Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-32302624190580285332016-08-26T02:22:00.000-07:002016-08-26T02:42:01.700-07:00Sod climbing I’m going Caving!<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As climbers we often refer to very
steep crags as caves, but usually these features are just the
beginning of a cave forming on a cliff face and not really caves.
We’re all seen the Petzl video of Moon Mountain or the Zhangjiajie
which were the inspiration for the film Avatar. Futuristic almost
alien landscapes and a rock climbers “wet dream!”</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltjuk7k-I2hKURiqZPsPpVLmITL2sq2kNrvo1BSEoEDEJwzM8cBlWYfQqFPPgOKcERUJGwkkBY36mp4EDBxmR-gaIxciZJw5iJsUBPYpGO5sx3o06t40qDWDMLvAqCyl63y91PDMBvWY/s1600/14040028_1064038066964917_3990654057442637782_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltjuk7k-I2hKURiqZPsPpVLmITL2sq2kNrvo1BSEoEDEJwzM8cBlWYfQqFPPgOKcERUJGwkkBY36mp4EDBxmR-gaIxciZJw5iJsUBPYpGO5sx3o06t40qDWDMLvAqCyl63y91PDMBvWY/s400/14040028_1064038066964917_3990654057442637782_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan Bauer photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I never thought there could be
something like this in Europe, short hall just 3 hours flying time
from the UK, in a country that is full of surprises and cheap to
visit. <a href="https://wizzair.com/en-GB/FlightSearch?gclid=CP6M1_7Y3s4CFdRAGwodxNkODw" target="_blank">Wizz Air</a> flights to Sofia start from £30.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Karlukovo village sits about an hour
North of Sofia high above the banks of the Iskar River. Perhaps an
unremarkable village which you could easily drive through and not
give it a second thought, but you’d be missing a trick. Like a lot
of things in Bulgaria local knowledge and knowing where you’re
going is going to help. As the road winds North after the village a
nondescript dirt track leads off to the right, down a short hill to a
large parking area in a field.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Still with little clue as to what is
lurking in the trees, a short path leads into a hidden amphitheater
with a elegant “hour glass” pillar in the centre. Once you’ve
picked your jaw up off the floor, you can proceed into the cave.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The cave is only 300 m long but it feels longer, about 45 m high and to enable us to all climb in the caves’
centre geology has created two large holes in the roof, know locally
as “the eyes of God”.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So, this is climbing in a cave, an
actual cave, not a super steep section of cliff. Therefore the
climbing must be super hard warming up on F7b/c’s for the main
action on routes in the high F8’s or even the odd 9a! Well you
could partake in this activity if you’re name is Steve McClure or have
tendons of steel. For the rest of us the routes start at F5 with a
nice even spread all the way though the grades.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Topos listing 95 routes can be found
here,<br />
<h2 style="background-color: #f6f7eb; color: #505050; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.7em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; margin: 14px 0px 12px;">
<a href="http://www.climbingguidebg.com/cdb.php?f=placeinfo&idPlace=8&lang=en" target="_blank">Karlukovski prolom or Karlukovo - Prohodna</a></h2>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Grades and lines can be a little out
so be prepared to be able to bail out or start aiding should things
get trickier than expected. A standard 60m rope and 14 draws should
see you right for most routes. Some routes have extensions but all
these have lower off’s at the 30m point. <br />
<br />
4 of us went over last week and had a great day! Blake had his first real rock climb and what a day to remember. Anyone wanting guiding over here then <a href="http://www.theorangehouse.co.uk/" target="_blank">get in touch</a>, we can arrange transport and accommodation so all you need is the flight!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kcnljAmFg1n8GtgoNRrR1XKACq6xP2r2MrvQ_R6yqyy2kljiqVRwyIX9jDFQiaIJuvSVVxjDH7EreOK_FjBd8yN3Q4OjTkbj8dWwYDgCOhEBZiZi8OV_zMpXVxndnw85GavPaQIhMts/s1600/14046142_10207191294963804_6005233273802627595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kcnljAmFg1n8GtgoNRrR1XKACq6xP2r2MrvQ_R6yqyy2kljiqVRwyIX9jDFQiaIJuvSVVxjDH7EreOK_FjBd8yN3Q4OjTkbj8dWwYDgCOhEBZiZi8OV_zMpXVxndnw85GavPaQIhMts/s400/14046142_10207191294963804_6005233273802627595_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eyes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshBX9XdUQ17_g-59Tv_rX-_ds6OwRYITPWntePLYhsHspefpHL9Uw6-iUriXzhnORTGtMHMl8mlWuqxDA2-G7Y0_jxnnKPneipVp8j2qYMMtHdUk4yZMPFjOYVXDgr9Dad8JJd1SI-F0/s1600/14054989_10207191296163834_6341249757148303301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshBX9XdUQ17_g-59Tv_rX-_ds6OwRYITPWntePLYhsHspefpHL9Uw6-iUriXzhnORTGtMHMl8mlWuqxDA2-G7Y0_jxnnKPneipVp8j2qYMMtHdUk4yZMPFjOYVXDgr9Dad8JJd1SI-F0/s400/14054989_10207191296163834_6341249757148303301_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich belaying Jan, nice temps even when 40' outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_TXVziD2lE952337EXH3mK3ogrJzw9K2-LZ6VQNglnKewBcbFB_46DxgYrYjg6IwbxdxsaiU85yns-2_ZQHq4rxln0SmsCVeobr44ceBb4hDnIR0aOzXdOCpXM6qj4yKcvms4uSlq20/s1600/13925155_10207191294683797_5003641787427440831_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_TXVziD2lE952337EXH3mK3ogrJzw9K2-LZ6VQNglnKewBcbFB_46DxgYrYjg6IwbxdxsaiU85yns-2_ZQHq4rxln0SmsCVeobr44ceBb4hDnIR0aOzXdOCpXM6qj4yKcvms4uSlq20/s400/13925155_10207191294683797_5003641787427440831_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, Blake you cant stay in there all day! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-56592505389399554462016-08-22T00:19:00.001-07:002016-08-22T00:27:57.410-07:00Ponoch closure update and New VF in Albir<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>El Ponoch up date. CLOSED</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We reported earlier this year that the
popular Via Ferrata on Ponoch had been closed by the police until
further notice, no accident was reported.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>History.</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Ponoch lies in the Nature reserve
of “Puig Campana and El Ponoch” and is therefore regulated by the
Generalitat Valenciana. The Via Ferrata was officially installed and
funded using local government funding in 2008. But notably without
the support of the Generalitat Valenciana.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The rungs are all glu-in resin 14mm
re-bar and are safe and secure, however the Generalitat Valenciana
have attempted to remove some of the rungs at the base. The plastic
coated wire is the main cause of concern. The issue of plasticised
wire first became an issue in “mountaineering” in the mid 80’s
when Wild Country produced wires which were coated. These wires
whilst still relatively new started failing in normal use, the
problem being water ingression and retention under the plastic which
was not visible. The plastic on Ponoch is clear and therefore the
deterioration is very visible.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTiasfcEsNTj4xnC1oa2JHjH7aiZOvW6DPoHHQEKlOUcLy2fOvzpG6fBT58N8UEEwFl3yAgDQGoimJgxpCDtU1cxV0kHYSQ0wsm75QkUjV8QQey4tqWuLtWK1KyZBW4HV8MJKX3Lrnn4/s1600/Ponoch-rusting-wire-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTiasfcEsNTj4xnC1oa2JHjH7aiZOvW6DPoHHQEKlOUcLy2fOvzpG6fBT58N8UEEwFl3yAgDQGoimJgxpCDtU1cxV0kHYSQ0wsm75QkUjV8QQey4tqWuLtWK1KyZBW4HV8MJKX3Lrnn4/s400/Ponoch-rusting-wire-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rust showing in the metal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When the installation was finished a
team of locals ascended the VF in order to remove the plastic at the
bottom of each section of wire to allow water to escape, this has
gone some way to elongate the life of the wire. Unfortunately after
only 8 years the local authorities have now deemed the wire “unsafe”
and closed the VF.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Replacing the cable is going to be a
specialized expensive and time consuming job. The local town halls of
Polop and La Nucia having differing options on the matters and the
Generalitat Valenciana is opposed to it repair, preferring to see it
removal all together.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We spoke to David Mora the local mountain guide and friend about the issue to get the latest information.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: inherit; min-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Yes, the Polop Town Hall (the Major) is going to send the info to Conselleria de Medio Ambiente to have the official</span> <span style="line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;">permission for the via ferrata. I think in October I'm going to change all the wire. They want to promote the VF and have decided to make it all legal.</span></span></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: inherit; min-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0;"><span style="color: #4b4f56; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f1f0f0; color: #4b4f56; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;">David's website which has his contact details is <a href="http://www.aktive-life.com/under/" target="_blank">this link</a></span></span></h2>
<div class="_4tdt _ua1" style="align-items: flex-end; background-color: white; display: flex; justify-content: flex-start; margin: 10px 9px 10px 8px; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2;">
<div class="_ua2" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column;">
<div class="_4tdv">
<div class="_5wd4 _1nc7 direction_ltr" style="direction: ltr; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<div class="_3ry4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.28; margin-left: 8px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
So that sounds like good news, however as we all know things don't move fast in Spain and David is alway super busy so this may not be open again until 2017.<br />
<br />
<b>NEW - Albir Tourist VF</b><br />
<br />
Whilst the Ponoch Vf is out of action we can report a new one in Albir. However this one is aim at a different level but I could still be a fun afternoon out and a break from the climbing/hiking!<br />
<br />
It was a friend that told us about this and we have not visited yet since we moved to BG. This website <a href="http://vfescalerasalacima.blogspot.bg/2016/05/via-ferrata-albir-sierra-helada-alfaz.html" target="_blank">link</a> really shows it in great detail and about to find the location etc. Worth a visit to Altea if you are in this area as its the nicest town along the coast! Head to the Church at the top!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQQ6Z36CaZ-Xf1VFTqliz5sLr5n8ZNfmO593oa2TpxyJgWp7hwsSk9psMyHKroIgHWLwQ7-3leIElHGokp2UFfsc_n-EjC2CLaw1nU_9mb0czOLmugStRqnxbCzFSzKeFCEOGfKp7NGA/s1600/vf+albir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQQ6Z36CaZ-Xf1VFTqliz5sLr5n8ZNfmO593oa2TpxyJgWp7hwsSk9psMyHKroIgHWLwQ7-3leIElHGokp2UFfsc_n-EjC2CLaw1nU_9mb0czOLmugStRqnxbCzFSzKeFCEOGfKp7NGA/s400/vf+albir.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Albir VF</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here you can see a really nice little <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMSwOaIQyFo" target="_blank">you tube video</a><br />
<br />
Keep you eye on the Facebook page called <a href="https://web.facebook.com/Via-Ferrata-Costa-Blanca-125814207449866/" target="_blank">Via-Ferrata-Costa-Blanca</a> for any updates on the new VFs and when Ponoch does reopen.</div>
Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-66440307185182338722015-12-07T04:06:00.001-08:002015-12-07T04:10:13.461-08:00No more "oranges" after so many years! Many years ago we had a couple of young American guys who camped, trying to think back I am sure it was 2003, so right back at the beginning. Odd to think its over 12 years ago, seems like only yesterday!<br />
<br />
Anyway I digress! Well they came to us and said as they had a very tight budget and could we put them to work instead of them paying! We laughed and said" well I suppose so as we have lots of jobs ongoing". In the early days I remember we expected people to just keep working until all the jobs got done and we did have some horrible jobs to get sorted!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7oREXqrG_mAsSTBPVxwxNH0MMvfgrABuSnZLMiyFDpMua1I52ldBb-2pxzd2bDC5yTXWQBYixQPwNiJxQBzw4yc3b26vY3_CPEqh3G3yoqXZIAkFqJxc93aFhtKwgRRSdEtO3PC88Pw/s1600/james+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7oREXqrG_mAsSTBPVxwxNH0MMvfgrABuSnZLMiyFDpMua1I52ldBb-2pxzd2bDC5yTXWQBYixQPwNiJxQBzw4yc3b26vY3_CPEqh3G3yoqXZIAkFqJxc93aFhtKwgRRSdEtO3PC88Pw/s320/james+004.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One quite well known early "orange" who painted alot! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We met some guys camping in Font and they too came and stayed with us, lovely Lewis worked so hard with Rich to build the outdoor showers, Simon built us sleeping platforms, Pepe did just about everything we threw at him, Marijne helped to manage the place and so many many names I just can't list them all. " Two now live in American with 4 kids after meeting here along time ago!<br />
<br />
A few years ago we decided to make it more formal and asked for only 2.5hrs each day stayed with us. Some said that was soft but when we had great workers that more than kept the place ticking over! We then allocated roles so even more formal!<br />
<br />
The idea of "oranges" wasn't just to help to clean and look after the place though. They also created a nice atmosphere when the house was quiet and of course provided climber partners to single clients staying with us. Also in the early days it allowed me time off from the questions like "what is the best crag for 6a routes?" lol<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVe_yZ0zBhEoJIb4ja7hqSJVFQ6beyz-E5r1Soj8ro2lOKnIoE2ZhgXIXXNRdX0MkNOngu5mtMcDoKXvPuUCTUhxphIaS6jrnZKl2Km_ZbXPAYF26_Qoj-PHNvFDFba0d_IPeW1oxFIA/s1600/2013-11-13+10.06.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVe_yZ0zBhEoJIb4ja7hqSJVFQ6beyz-E5r1Soj8ro2lOKnIoE2ZhgXIXXNRdX0MkNOngu5mtMcDoKXvPuUCTUhxphIaS6jrnZKl2Km_ZbXPAYF26_Qoj-PHNvFDFba0d_IPeW1oxFIA/s400/2013-11-13+10.06.54.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many "oranges?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When we then started our house build 3 years ago having more hands to help seemed like a good idea and yes it was! In the early days like when we did the foundations it was amazing and a massive THANKS to everyone that helped on our house. All built with love and laughter....<br />
<br />
Well after all this positive stuff why have we stopped the scheme as we know it!<br />
<br />
I think the main issues was having too many all at the same time. This caused many problems, one been that as they had other "oranges" to climb with they became very insular and stopped interacting with the guests.<br />
<br />
Also, even though we expected an amount of work to be done, many came with the idea that it was a holiday. Which of course it was, however that meant they would stay in bed until lunch time and then squeeze in the work and then want to go climbing!<br />
<br />
Another issue was that they took up sleeping space and used the outdoor kitchen. Now don't get me wrong I am very grateful for the people that have helped us over the years. BUT when it caused me more stress to go around and clean up after "oranges" then we had a problem.<br />
<br />
So now what? To be honest I am not sure what is the best way forward? We have a few "oranges" booked to come for this season but only one at a time which will be great for us and I do hope they don' get too lonely!<br />
<br />
Once again a MASSIVE THANKS to the "oranges" that have gone before, we really could not have done as much as we have without them. More important we have made some amazing friends for life.<br />
<br />
Watch this space and lets see what we come up with next season......<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-5829011843439560582015-08-27T03:41:00.001-07:002015-08-27T03:41:16.663-07:00Bulgaria here we come........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"Why have you
moved to Bulgaria?" we said.</div>
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"Because it's
cheap, and there's endurance horse racing, and it's cheap, and there's
climbing!" she said!</div>
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<br /></div>
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"It's only cheap
because no one wants to live there!" we said!</div>
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"Come visit then!" she said.</div>
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So we did!</div>
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I wasn't quite sure
what to expect from an ex Warsal Pact country, poor roads, poor food
rotten infrastructure maybe a suspicious population, were but a few of the thoughts to cross my mind.
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Lets deal with the
negatives first, the roads are bad. There must have been white lines
at some point but little evidence exists to suggest so. Some of the
pot holes are so big and deep they double up as extra parking spaces.
Once you know the roads, you can drive like a local and avoid the
holes on your side, and slow down when the holes are on the other
side to avoid the oncoming traffic. (This is referred to locally as
"redpoint driving.") The cars seemed to be less dented
than Spanish ones, I never used the horn, didn't even hear a horn
being used. So once you get used to it driving isn't a hardship.
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Infrastructure does
look a little shoddy around the edges, with many derelict government
buildings dating back to the Cold war period. But this isn't really a
bad thing either, in fact it's quite fascinating with some of the
buildings and monuments being super impressive. </div>
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Some may well feel it
is worth a visit just to see these. We used trains and taxi's which
were clean and punctual with friendly and helpful staff.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The language is tricky
and roads signs are no exception, but once you know a few rules and
are familiar with the new letters it's not so confusing, a little
like reading code and perhaps being slightly dyslectic helps.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was
the first time I'd travelled outside of the English or Spanish
speaking world in over ten years so not speaking a single word did
feel weird. "Bunglish" and miming works well, and just
about everyone was prepared to try and teach me new words, perhaps
they were just doing for the comedy value!
</div>
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At one of the
properties we looked at the neighbours appeared suddenly and started
assisting us with the hacking of vegetation to help us gain access,
it did feel a little "Hansel and Gretal", but what a lovely
old couple. The word of that day was "thank you" which
translates to " Благодаря", I know
how are you supposed to say that!
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Ok whats the climbing like I hear you ask?</div>
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<br /></div>
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First crag was Vratza,
this compact area has one of the only paper guide books to climbing
in BG. You can order the book online, however we did order if using a friends address and a paypal account, I think if you email them and ask them to send to a UK address and then give them a credit card you could be ok. We did find on Amazon but was more expensive and I am not sure who much of the cut they take!</div>
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<br /></div>
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http://www.climbingguidebg.com/cdb.php?f=placeinfo&idPlace=1&lang=en</div>
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This is an impressive looking area and close the main airport of Sofia. Wizzair, Ryanair etc....</div>
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<br /></div>
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Roadside routes up to 300 metres and all grades. With just about everything you could image from super
steep sport cliff, and easier sections, to super long almost alpine
length mountain days.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL27gCtvQwba4PjNuI2AJ9pV4XzXHy3JYB0mpdJu49Wy6_0BUq8g_46F78wmNY9t4G56hv1HoVM0GdQBpjj4YhCxDhhjs50JkGtmulNQ6yuoilOSMpmNYSdTsZiDLtcYtkttzAMNO1WQg/s1600/IMG_20150728_142026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL27gCtvQwba4PjNuI2AJ9pV4XzXHy3JYB0mpdJu49Wy6_0BUq8g_46F78wmNY9t4G56hv1HoVM0GdQBpjj4YhCxDhhjs50JkGtmulNQ6yuoilOSMpmNYSdTsZiDLtcYtkttzAMNO1WQg/s400/IMG_20150728_142026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacntbZ1lyR3dDrqRz_x4Hu4XV3rHsiTbR0kLTD2D4iZN21aQKAS2x6REWqpQtN-bmQlnf7Qll0uZH7Z24oRNbkR9ZX6yAuInaM-xZ33EaNuKgVlCEKzdddLjXGoWNhwYqiOX7RhATzbo/s1600/IMG_20150728_142030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgacntbZ1lyR3dDrqRz_x4Hu4XV3rHsiTbR0kLTD2D4iZN21aQKAS2x6REWqpQtN-bmQlnf7Qll0uZH7Z24oRNbkR9ZX6yAuInaM-xZ33EaNuKgVlCEKzdddLjXGoWNhwYqiOX7RhATzbo/s400/IMG_20150728_142030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYseuUtwncPSCsX5a30IzP2niGW-ZVCEJxk0BV2pdm9xVfCbSp1aF_uKI_jW6_pAn-H7zxdMbUapSJMIWOw1VU_Lq-ZAR5Tkpu6uOxWrwlzxI8Ifrkfh_AEhGdoKOO2xn3x1glcfQaFmw/s1600/IMG_20150728_142033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYseuUtwncPSCsX5a30IzP2niGW-ZVCEJxk0BV2pdm9xVfCbSp1aF_uKI_jW6_pAn-H7zxdMbUapSJMIWOw1VU_Lq-ZAR5Tkpu6uOxWrwlzxI8Ifrkfh_AEhGdoKOO2xn3x1glcfQaFmw/s400/IMG_20150728_142033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Second crag, and I use the
word loosely, we visited was Karlukovo which is more of a through
cave than a cliff. Futuristic and as of last week BG's first 9a, but
not by me! The cave has two sky lights which are rather famous and
more tufas than a tufa factory! There are also routes of all grades
which is nice to see at a hard crag.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrikz8hVfD1fX4lVjSrS34hGfF-mhGYMcOdr5ciXPqnfgp7DIi1fQn63OSj_SAeu_oXjOrQZltCpCh1oTh7wNxMsBZelSgXx5ba7ep5gywxbPtSk58_qSGzE4XU8GM44o3YnjSBx6dxv4/s1600/caves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrikz8hVfD1fX4lVjSrS34hGfF-mhGYMcOdr5ciXPqnfgp7DIi1fQn63OSj_SAeu_oXjOrQZltCpCh1oTh7wNxMsBZelSgXx5ba7ep5gywxbPtSk58_qSGzE4XU8GM44o3YnjSBx6dxv4/s400/caves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eyes!</td></tr>
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Here is a link to a Petzl road trip page which shows how cool the thing is!</div>
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<br /></div>
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http://www.petzl-roctrip.com/en/base-camp/prohodna-under-eyes-cyclops</div>
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<br /></div>
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We visited many crags
around Veliko Tarnovo area which is in centre of the country. We
didn't realise that this area is "the Llanberis" of BG,
except much prettier and with better restaurants, we didn't find the
"Pete's eats" equivalent</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy21vjpp-R-Ge6e2F_jK5MroAI4FCNU9EPm3AX5tIG6boa7nPlUOjI1oNFodpGgyyxlf37CWUJwuIKSo7-3spDO41H9_R2DuQJqSe4IsKS3k97GB4ftCf1iUZmh4JB5C3FopCNZm9whAQ/s1600/GOPR0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy21vjpp-R-Ge6e2F_jK5MroAI4FCNU9EPm3AX5tIG6boa7nPlUOjI1oNFodpGgyyxlf37CWUJwuIKSo7-3spDO41H9_R2DuQJqSe4IsKS3k97GB4ftCf1iUZmh4JB5C3FopCNZm9whAQ/s400/GOPR0652.JPG" width="357" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaz and Rich enjoying the shade on a hot day!</td></tr>
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Really looking forward
to exploring a fascinating country, visiting existing climbing areas
and developing some new routes. Watch this space for Orange House BG possibly!!!!</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</div>
Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-8727618250630807472015-02-05T09:16:00.002-08:002015-02-05T09:16:41.426-08:00Not so many new routes. Yet!<div style="text-align: justify;">
The new route at Mundo Perdido didn't go quite as planned. The top of the first pitch has a very hollow sounding rock shield which is 5 metres tall and about 3 metres wide. The line I had in mind goes straight through the middle of it. I really didn't want to place a bolt in such marginal rock so I opted for a large run out instead! What could possible go wrong?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I spent two days cleaning it and was happy that it would go at a high 7. Myself and Agustine Gomez had first go but the sequence through the steep fragile shield eluded us both. I think the fear factor was working us hard.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUh84oL1ugOJZb-o8XWZBpnGVQq2OyqRPT4yEPByQMZEx9ByMhghDCYcpqOc28pcEN0yKXSDJGxus471Y-cTecq8z7JLosqCIgw09XBIKAkPHOQ7DoKEeBlJaEcX-jhWSBU3awideWdM/s1600/Mundo+perdido10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUh84oL1ugOJZb-o8XWZBpnGVQq2OyqRPT4yEPByQMZEx9ByMhghDCYcpqOc28pcEN0yKXSDJGxus471Y-cTecq8z7JLosqCIgw09XBIKAkPHOQ7DoKEeBlJaEcX-jhWSBU3awideWdM/s1600/Mundo+perdido10.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to figure out the crux sequence through the shield.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The second pitch shed a large foot hold that narrowly missed Agust and sent me flying past him, can't remember the last time I took a fall greater than a factor 1.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSsuM-kv-FpWhhBBqUTwteLl1YxCnaUS_KYzUPzkOhaNMY4RwmKo7hZbm_hiRqSIwi1JzM05cwttCAYIcdKhjJ_87kajGMyZTNU0VW-FUyEGxQip0NW047VJn_slB0Iy0Q3MSz45AyEM/s1600/JJJ02_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNSsuM-kv-FpWhhBBqUTwteLl1YxCnaUS_KYzUPzkOhaNMY4RwmKo7hZbm_hiRqSIwi1JzM05cwttCAYIcdKhjJ_87kajGMyZTNU0VW-FUyEGxQip0NW047VJn_slB0Iy0Q3MSz45AyEM/s1600/JJJ02_edited-1.jpg" height="146" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich Mayfield on the crux of the first pitch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I returned with Matt Warner a few days later, with the cunning idea of mostly avoiding the shield by climbing rightwards where the rock is more solid. I placed a high bolt in good rock.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I lead the first pitch at a surprisingly amenable grade of 7a+/b 28m. The second pitch goes at 6c+/7a and a looooong 44 metres of slightly overhanging crack and face climbing. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Je Suis Charlie 72m 7a+/b</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwuMU-_upmDSLXH55Al-2ltt4t7eJT24EsNrJP4it7mySxfKb9awCsKix2AqVBaGYObQvb37_1elCQdQ2LFra9j7inqJEDQH67DgrvutqUNxsQkLj6IzycTV_a6-HSoUCt897QMs4FgI/s1600/Mundo+perdido06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwuMU-_upmDSLXH55Al-2ltt4t7eJT24EsNrJP4it7mySxfKb9awCsKix2AqVBaGYObQvb37_1elCQdQ2LFra9j7inqJEDQH67DgrvutqUNxsQkLj6IzycTV_a6-HSoUCt897QMs4FgI/s1600/Mundo+perdido06.JPG" height="248" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agust on Fiesta de Sella 6c</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also climbed two other routes which we bolted last year but hadn't gotten around to leading. <b>The Crow Eaters</b> 6c+ and <b>Feist</b> 7a.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Topos to follow on the Miniguide page <a href="http://theorangehouse.co.uk/mini-guides">http://theorangehouse.co.uk/mini-guides</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've also been spending some time climbing with Gaz Parry a little further North, new caves seems to be popping up all over the place. <a href="http://www.gazparryclimbing.com/2015/02/supersonico-highs-and-lows.html">http://www.gazparryclimbing.com/2015/02/supersonico-highs-and-lows.html</a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: center;">The new route count for January is a lowly 3.</span></div>
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Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-77543897211530384122015-01-19T08:32:00.000-08:002015-01-23T23:56:51.789-08:00Soooooo many new crags and new routes for a New Year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year everyone! such a long time since the last post but I think <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Orange-House/267418710706">facebook</a> seems to be trying to take over the world and as much I hate to admit it, it is way too easy to put information on there instead of on this blog!<br />
<br />
Our New Years Resolution is that we will update this blog more often and make it the first point for information about the new routing that is going on over here, and boy is it going crazy at the moment.<br />
<br />
I have decided to set myself a personal goal (Rich) which will be to average one new route a week this year. That is a tall order, 52 new routes. That will about 650 bolt placements and 50 bolt gun charges.<br />
<br />
Below is more information about, would you believe it, 4 brand new crags that I visited in under a two week period, for those climbers that have said "I have done everything I can on The Blanca" really need to come back and start again! I do not think Rockfax will reprint the current guide again for a few more years, so our <a href="http://www.theorangehouse.co.uk/">website </a>will the main information place for the new topos! Exciting times ahead.......<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Mundo Perdido</b> is a new crag above Sella, you will need to contact us for more details of the access, as its not past the climbing areas as you would imagine! The grade range so far is 6b to 7a, only 6 lines at the moment, but with the usual potential of hundreds more at every grade. The views are out of this world (hence the name, lost world!) and will feel very special as the approach will not be a walk in the park! lol<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNnnqSW_02wGkLTU3wJUC_sqxdP4G7Lb3UGG-KYWLKCkYVVa0HsaVH4Or9w3mkUPV2qHb7aT8fqqHEH_pDsTImoHFkLiB1bsTH80WY5K0o1gVrtMc05UfD_fCXOR8DBg9v2tXqu5cj6w/s1600/SellaRich01cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNnnqSW_02wGkLTU3wJUC_sqxdP4G7Lb3UGG-KYWLKCkYVVa0HsaVH4Or9w3mkUPV2qHb7aT8fqqHEH_pDsTImoHFkLiB1bsTH80WY5K0o1gVrtMc05UfD_fCXOR8DBg9v2tXqu5cj6w/s1600/SellaRich01cropped.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich Mayfield on the FA of Feist 6c+/7a a route Mike Robertson bolted last year<br />
but we ran out of time before we could climb it together.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy15SW36JqO-OCOvqyJAxlGev_cdTsKVoV7Pc9YsUr0WoFKdPlhWWc7JcGxWAxkgDwyu0ynvopUxnQes4j9FJkrhwA3GIfsql_YZFekgovqr1UTSq7_U_yQ2XZUL_KnGLfRTOYbh6MSW8/s1600/lost+world.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy15SW36JqO-OCOvqyJAxlGev_cdTsKVoV7Pc9YsUr0WoFKdPlhWWc7JcGxWAxkgDwyu0ynvopUxnQes4j9FJkrhwA3GIfsql_YZFekgovqr1UTSq7_U_yQ2XZUL_KnGLfRTOYbh6MSW8/s1600/lost+world.jpg" height="400" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marijne having fun in the sun!</td></tr>
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Below is a shot of us playing around on a highline, now that was a first and very scary....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdScBEhcunpjcWEsFlhXccWKHexuD_au506k3JUTcE7Z9Bu41Nnp_AhR6OTaJuWb_3K_iUva4TbmKAO_Fi_1mDDCvNbSYSoFlA2xzkXn19EFsl0jaIy43mM635xZmWDiMDwHa9uqyYKI/s1600/HighlineSella26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdScBEhcunpjcWEsFlhXccWKHexuD_au506k3JUTcE7Z9Bu41Nnp_AhR6OTaJuWb_3K_iUva4TbmKAO_Fi_1mDDCvNbSYSoFlA2xzkXn19EFsl0jaIy43mM635xZmWDiMDwHa9uqyYKI/s1600/HighlineSella26.jpg" height="327" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regaining the line after a fall not so easy and neither is standing up again.</td></tr>
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<b>Sector 45 Degree</b>s is Gaz Parry's new crag and the scene for his first 8c+. This crag is further North, in the aea of Pego but still a great day out from staying with us in Finestrat. It has a few dozen routes at the moment which are mostly in the grade 7 and 8. You can read more about this here <a href="http://www.gazparryclimbing.com/">Gaz Parry</a> . As soon as Gaz has sorted a topo we will sort out a link so you can see what the routes are.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMIpYB2wqJ_cLC2pt8l-4qFNm0l5BLAw1tQLCtwVzrOzXxJOUZADQVSoGUCeTI0PeTvhcKb0H90mHt7FO4linQNLcfQ179qOfJ8uMa_8lbTDvuP8zyBLDHPt4aBB826SSfmlrxQ8QyS0/s1600/Sector+45+Degrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMIpYB2wqJ_cLC2pt8l-4qFNm0l5BLAw1tQLCtwVzrOzXxJOUZADQVSoGUCeTI0PeTvhcKb0H90mHt7FO4linQNLcfQ179qOfJ8uMa_8lbTDvuP8zyBLDHPt4aBB826SSfmlrxQ8QyS0/s1600/Sector+45+Degrees.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a great looking wall! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uTmK2edujGkmd5EvB_g-PFvQqinIPnYRyfbyzQwDp8jXj52o4t9twx8T6I2EZkfMcOlVFMpDe23eWrEmRxrKkNb65nNFoHIRZ8kBMoOqqj92CugiOtiacNyCdWEtNarlwHyogaqPvPU/s1600/IMG_2501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uTmK2edujGkmd5EvB_g-PFvQqinIPnYRyfbyzQwDp8jXj52o4t9twx8T6I2EZkfMcOlVFMpDe23eWrEmRxrKkNb65nNFoHIRZ8kBMoOqqj92CugiOtiacNyCdWEtNarlwHyogaqPvPU/s1600/IMG_2501.jpg" height="216" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Bulger's first ascent of an 8a+ at sector 45.<br />
Visit Tom's <a href="http://you%20can%20read%20more%20about%20this%20here/">Blog</a></td></tr>
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<b>Pared Cereza.</b> Good friends of ours Agustine and Ivan have been busy too with a new crag also near Sella. It has a dozen routes so far with a couple of projects in the low 8's, grade range from 4 to 8b ish. Again contact is for information if you want to visit.<br />
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<b>Bover Dos</b>, This new crag is not far from Boverdon near Gandia. Super steep climbing on truly massive holds. I am not sure who will be doing the topo for this new area, but I can certainly take people with me if they want to check it out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cjoeZ8GGiAe1AFp-a53Se4gZYzqUti44HuNScyHmw4CmpGrEqnWDTOq8kjU8_UZYKb70WtXRD2NDzOPTBN8jU4nemIaMwpU1TG7G235k46uyqSeMDX6Q1iNE-osVbkH_DOpHZAWu19Q/s1600/Boverdos13_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cjoeZ8GGiAe1AFp-a53Se4gZYzqUti44HuNScyHmw4CmpGrEqnWDTOq8kjU8_UZYKb70WtXRD2NDzOPTBN8jU4nemIaMwpU1TG7G235k46uyqSeMDX6Q1iNE-osVbkH_DOpHZAWu19Q/s1600/Boverdos13_edited-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet Ridley pulling hard on perhaps the steepest 7b+ on the Costa Blanca at Bover Dos.</td></tr>
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<b>Brand New North facing Crag</b>! No name at the moment!<br />
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I suppose for the majority of climbers these hard walls look great, but what I can hear alot of you saying is "what is there for me to climb?"<br />
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Well, for many years now we have been looking around for a crag that we can bolt with more easy lines, like Echo 1.5 I suppose! Echo is great for beginners, however the main problem is that when the sun shines even in the Winter it can get a tad warm, and when the summer comes its impossible really to climb there.<br />
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So the perfect crag would be North Facing and I suppose to please most people it would have a short walk in, and what about making it close to get to from The Orange House!<br />
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I am so happy to report that yes, it looks like we have found the perfect place and it was right under our nose all along, all we had to do was take a walk with the doggies and get closer to the rock to take a look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L2Y4RPyADKNhK7iGhIjkDjBcxpnpxRbL3enkVqYFHQkqYxXAGdUYHvw3Wawz8ZDEYxqyh4-oG4HXy4hBmmdvn3nvNHMc0Nde60v7x-k7VA7rurzx1j7izuPxY0RS1VIsKTNpFxPML6E/s1600/DSCF0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6L2Y4RPyADKNhK7iGhIjkDjBcxpnpxRbL3enkVqYFHQkqYxXAGdUYHvw3Wawz8ZDEYxqyh4-oG4HXy4hBmmdvn3nvNHMc0Nde60v7x-k7VA7rurzx1j7izuPxY0RS1VIsKTNpFxPML6E/s1600/DSCF0518.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is the yellow stuff going to make for good climbing? We will soon see!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXHQyUnPMDaLdDTlpXTjHEVi7DsORWhyphenhyphenv6Cpj_Ax3ubVelIdeEsEL5BKi09GbOmY2kGtlpRv0ZNxZbYsePlcN_5T8aN1iWm_ReqkftAGsRKtLgr8F30ed_65Nca2sYrlP2j_6NV6XBuM/s1600/DSCF0516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXHQyUnPMDaLdDTlpXTjHEVi7DsORWhyphenhyphenv6Cpj_Ax3ubVelIdeEsEL5BKi09GbOmY2kGtlpRv0ZNxZbYsePlcN_5T8aN1iWm_ReqkftAGsRKtLgr8F30ed_65Nca2sYrlP2j_6NV6XBuM/s1600/DSCF0516.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam climbing in fluffy gloves on weird features in the rock!</td></tr>
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We think that these walls could have routes starting at 4s and right up to 7s. We are also talking about maybe more than 60 routes. Now that is alot of work to be done and we will need help. Anyone that would like to come and get involved please get in touch, we can provide bolts etc as the bolt fund still has funds. </div>
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Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-358853012528173392013-02-11T08:59:00.000-08:002013-02-11T09:00:21.062-08:00To bolt or not to bolt <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9-Syzwikablc9PT4-_bldRmXexIliEFv08qSbsdXtOsN87jbYbCjIj1n2dZPj8slQO3jHwxwJooLDA07I_yf3WqYaXGVGK5lqFvGVj5UDEAnqS04l5ALrPJtOXg6A2b42g-C-VmT43I/s1600/bolting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9-Syzwikablc9PT4-_bldRmXexIliEFv08qSbsdXtOsN87jbYbCjIj1n2dZPj8slQO3jHwxwJooLDA07I_yf3WqYaXGVGK5lqFvGVj5UDEAnqS04l5ALrPJtOXg6A2b42g-C-VmT43I/s400/bolting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolting "Wots a matterbooboo 6c"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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OK so the ethic of the Costa Blanca is bolted sport climbs. The drill is red hot with 8 new sport lines from 4 to 6c+ grades to be confirmed! More lines have been bolted today by the Oranges!!!! A small traditionally protected section is also being cleaned with two 70m grade 4/5 routes so far.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceHGW1DVv6ilM83O3vZwY-iKvfFn49LQjZR8Je23nmwLZuVlixtz4AuQXNhdSCaRkFPGP9sw4vBR6z2qCqfh3-gzXOrjqkwY5r7cyAOjUr6AEjulbaW9YZWF_36p22XSKbmJnLy8h924/s1600/Don't-bear-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceHGW1DVv6ilM83O3vZwY-iKvfFn49LQjZR8Je23nmwLZuVlixtz4AuQXNhdSCaRkFPGP9sw4vBR6z2qCqfh3-gzXOrjqkwY5r7cyAOjUr6AEjulbaW9YZWF_36p22XSKbmJnLy8h924/s400/Don't-bear-left.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't bear left 6a</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Bear Sector, lines from the left are, Basically a bear 6c, Don't bear left 6a, project, Wots a Matterbooboo 6c and Bumptastic </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpNn335YnLdL06Cbm5cJBtRUHyfDvecIIeCL8AlSZRHhRSCW_U05IjlJFGJmWAtrYUW-YL5tXCeehUoNXqWkzGngh2GYaCmizpA0tUPJOBd2WteiO33WRzDW800EuKLI0Un6EItOqL_M/s320/New-years-day.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New years day 5+</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hZT3y3ek2EvsyhVoCj0z62GWmbNNNQdp2fGtAPyDLLVdgpatnta28Bl4TBJVpZyhyphenhyphenX4cRxgoTu_gv33agSIsYAIUBt8aeJfF_JO17QLKSHpfhSeHlW8i45crl4ZC72xVcv2ORYF4Qd8/s1600/Basically-a-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hZT3y3ek2EvsyhVoCj0z62GWmbNNNQdp2fGtAPyDLLVdgpatnta28Bl4TBJVpZyhyphenhyphenX4cRxgoTu_gv33agSIsYAIUBt8aeJfF_JO17QLKSHpfhSeHlW8i45crl4ZC72xVcv2ORYF4Qd8/s320/Basically-a-bear.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basically a bear 6c</td></tr>
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The grand clean up has finally finished with the help of a very large trailer. Three this full and eight smaller trailers full and one flat trye from running over some rubbish later and you can now see the trees. The place is starting to look like it should.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnAg4THzC5S92qPKdn1d32HkzbrlAm17-6C7DU5LjtYufST6bVZCvuBXWSw1yLvfFWpOF5Pc-aeKSvsyMH_O6NwR1iy8dBMzfmvOTG5INBwG5SqyZ5yPCgcknG6STgS11Ser5OayG-z0/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnAg4THzC5S92qPKdn1d32HkzbrlAm17-6C7DU5LjtYufST6bVZCvuBXWSw1yLvfFWpOF5Pc-aeKSvsyMH_O6NwR1iy8dBMzfmvOTG5INBwG5SqyZ5yPCgcknG6STgS11Ser5OayG-z0/s320/IMG_1008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The clean up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmUsLokm6NSvaH6c3Zn9jGwOkcywyYOEMqw6eAgapcv9df6ZF_m8oQMhGt33M-lM3DJGniVyDK61OGya5156C_U0TbgVdxWIFIT9KUJQe51u4EFh2nVhtv2RSSxYS9TxI6Nr2Uoh7XIg/s1600/IMG_1007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmUsLokm6NSvaH6c3Zn9jGwOkcywyYOEMqw6eAgapcv9df6ZF_m8oQMhGt33M-lM3DJGniVyDK61OGya5156C_U0TbgVdxWIFIT9KUJQe51u4EFh2nVhtv2RSSxYS9TxI6Nr2Uoh7XIg/s320/IMG_1007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The clean up fights back</td></tr>
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<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-25987509071193963832013-01-30T07:17:00.000-08:002013-01-30T07:17:13.669-08:00More Work and LOADS of Wind and not from Rich!We have now lived onsite for over 2 weeks. I can honestly say that it has not been easy, and that is mainly down to some fierce winds and not of the bottom type!<br />
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We spent a few nights in the van but after been kept awake been rocked quite violently we thought we would move into the small room downstairs for some piece and quiet.<br />
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That room is right next to the massive water tank in the corner of the house so that didnt last long either! We moved upstairs once we had a new window to let in some light and air!<br />
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Jonathan our long term "Orange"and Ben my youngest son spent some time with me painting the lounge and kitchen so we have a cozy place to sit at night and watch TV. Here are some before and afters shots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJprY07E3qiHhtLx8Q8aOlIv4JfXxl5J-UuYWySJOQo_7AzQwZS2ovFpF4Ti4eQZgOcqLUxqgy7jKJO4UnLYrpebMcJuXAQPq0VtYn6uf8JZ9fMkOMemhd1QGkdhAURsOHGxZbWrvzzc/s1600/P1050183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJprY07E3qiHhtLx8Q8aOlIv4JfXxl5J-UuYWySJOQo_7AzQwZS2ovFpF4Ti4eQZgOcqLUxqgy7jKJO4UnLYrpebMcJuXAQPq0VtYn6uf8JZ9fMkOMemhd1QGkdhAURsOHGxZbWrvzzc/s320/P1050183.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPYfqXS8Cuxa3FoGlM2AkD129v0ijSw98pznkoGTZfFTxg_hIFYpsVLcHk5WKCdEfGjt7CbGXueDswfn65nEZfNhQYJpvSnnvcvejSPuCbN7Pfnr52U5kPN5Ef7aAw50KrEjP5AWZjaA/s1600/P1050217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPYfqXS8Cuxa3FoGlM2AkD129v0ijSw98pznkoGTZfFTxg_hIFYpsVLcHk5WKCdEfGjt7CbGXueDswfn65nEZfNhQYJpvSnnvcvejSPuCbN7Pfnr52U5kPN5Ef7aAw50KrEjP5AWZjaA/s320/P1050217.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After, with wood burner and all my crap!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudBK1YUVTqgtoUw32maJ-NxQm9ucvNXOCbLWittlxdlwCyw_8WJjUGeQqYR4SWARIItI9BL63W2mN3c36K-0yYiHh9lyaUS43txASZmtLdikELTY3ljPEuj2ObNtTg4bzTB-Lx3slOAo/s1600/P1050186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudBK1YUVTqgtoUw32maJ-NxQm9ucvNXOCbLWittlxdlwCyw_8WJjUGeQqYR4SWARIItI9BL63W2mN3c36K-0yYiHh9lyaUS43txASZmtLdikELTY3ljPEuj2ObNtTg4bzTB-Lx3slOAo/s320/P1050186.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite a bit of clutter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-klUz_H0G7kMQD0lZ28_KalSsxuPF0z6qmayU-qYa9OkaXbuAiUaEFkzDl19vtAz_aQUlc-9Vi5shMV6OOq3-f_2QSITxUP0w48k5UB25VBaOTDS7MkxLDYGkxuVlH_8HjekcByBX_M/s1600/P1050222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-klUz_H0G7kMQD0lZ28_KalSsxuPF0z6qmayU-qYa9OkaXbuAiUaEFkzDl19vtAz_aQUlc-9Vi5shMV6OOq3-f_2QSITxUP0w48k5UB25VBaOTDS7MkxLDYGkxuVlH_8HjekcByBX_M/s320/P1050222.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the beams, and dogs sleeping in the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilGycfYcdOtVNKuFpIezViKQAe2GFmqPBvyHjfSsSiCGnD-XLNT3T3Pps1zjttAYSJ1E715P223bMGbo8up5JpqTnPXIXBCxct0BiWYOQ-qootSd8QaCKH4WvGYEmS9bOANt9160QixE/s1600/P1050193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilGycfYcdOtVNKuFpIezViKQAe2GFmqPBvyHjfSsSiCGnD-XLNT3T3Pps1zjttAYSJ1E715P223bMGbo8up5JpqTnPXIXBCxct0BiWYOQ-qootSd8QaCKH4WvGYEmS9bOANt9160QixE/s320/P1050193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old cupboard with doors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jDcifylHBjkUn_NmCLbjuOQCbP93XdPOKCezijUZ8QxqIvflNr06yP9-ejNGJ9VqbcXZKGiaiyC15B93zttpOer8N9BOOv9NiESrGsAD8QrfXB84nushjGtEnSII6T9JZ0f72DTHcbc/s1600/P1050210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jDcifylHBjkUn_NmCLbjuOQCbP93XdPOKCezijUZ8QxqIvflNr06yP9-ejNGJ9VqbcXZKGiaiyC15B93zttpOer8N9BOOv9NiESrGsAD8QrfXB84nushjGtEnSII6T9JZ0f72DTHcbc/s320/P1050210.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No doors and painted red inside. check out the beams again!</td></tr>
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I must admit to enjoying the peace and quiet though, not a noise can be heard from anywhere, no barking dogs, no cars, no neighbours for miles. The drive to and from The Orange House is around half an hour on some horrible roads but I guess it worth it.<br />
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Rich has been busy bolting new routes up there and making good the new window at the front of the house. I will post more photos next week to show the changes as they go along.<br />
<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-52082618681475972172013-01-23T03:13:00.000-08:002013-01-23T03:24:08.700-08:00New Orange FarmhouseIt was a hot August day and nothing much to do apart from chill on the beach and read a book! Rich was very bored but just about hanging in, waiting for September when the climbers returned and he had people to play with.<br />
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Now I have always fancied a small studio apartment down on the beach front at Villa Joyosa and just did a quick google to fill some time, and it does not hurt to dream! The search was in Spanish and I asked to be shown houses for sale in Villa Joyosa, you can imagine my surprise when top of the links was for "milanucios" which is the Spanish "gumtree", and a small photo showed a mountain range that I thought I had seen before.<br />
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Passing the ipad to Rich to take a look he said "that is Sella, in fact I know that house, its up at Sector Final". "Hmmm" said I, "not really a beach front location". The following day I decided to look up the link again and suggested as we had nothing else to do why don't we take a drive up with the dogs and have a look around. Tony Pearson a friend was over from the UK for a short break and said he would come too, just for a nosy around of course.<br />
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Squeezed in the Rav, dogs and all, we set off up the road to Sella that we knew so well. Ignoring the private road sign this time, we continued past Sector Final and after a few new turns we took a left along an almond lined private path and met this view!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvUAAcUYKrE7YFb0535i_mop1cN62pK_ESKBIfDmVBu-Sw1wwGmUBmNlg0xZSLw2ZaKtlJIgRe-cMY9Ia-KcHzTuGjUIO34hzviyvP-hNnYXpt-3Evr7fNgFY_qHzL1niGs4etqsPq4g/s1600/Sella-landscape03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvUAAcUYKrE7YFb0535i_mop1cN62pK_ESKBIfDmVBu-Sw1wwGmUBmNlg0xZSLw2ZaKtlJIgRe-cMY9Ia-KcHzTuGjUIO34hzviyvP-hNnYXpt-3Evr7fNgFY_qHzL1niGs4etqsPq4g/s400/Sella-landscape03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Truely breathtaking, we all said at the same time "we need to buy this house". A quick phone call to the agent and a meeting was arranged for later that day, Tony had a flight booked back to blighty that night so we had to move fast.<br />
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Little did we know that we would have to wait until December until we could finally sign, but it was a great belated Christmas present and we collected the keys on the 28th.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfIVkUCcsYIxq4uRmcrWyLdXMGcsNqHewa0fSKzXOyeHKeIUrQDSSrs7NlDztmbbXRZLutiYel_JVYfg6jZt7jl3HKBi4TB3CoFzf0UApba20nOtZBx4_YM8XzCtKQsunoe4nt-zULA8/s1600/Sella-landscape12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfIVkUCcsYIxq4uRmcrWyLdXMGcsNqHewa0fSKzXOyeHKeIUrQDSSrs7NlDztmbbXRZLutiYel_JVYfg6jZt7jl3HKBi4TB3CoFzf0UApba20nOtZBx4_YM8XzCtKQsunoe4nt-zULA8/s320/Sella-landscape12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The house had been used for years as a weekend hunting lodge, the first thing we wanted to do was pull down the metal structure they had erected at the front, we wanted to let more sun into the house during the winter and will put up some nice shades when the summer gets here.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAgT68uhCC_xR9JfUmYpbFQJ30Aki7B9z4qsb66yZCf2CVBtC1z4oWomUUy_zG6bi6pEoaB5GrailO6YhiG-iVfu3jq4QeKxafIu9JMCK44RPpwq-71OMjt3jaXtWE1DX8WbLCOOeHxQ/s1600/P1050199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAgT68uhCC_xR9JfUmYpbFQJ30Aki7B9z4qsb66yZCf2CVBtC1z4oWomUUy_zG6bi6pEoaB5GrailO6YhiG-iVfu3jq4QeKxafIu9JMCK44RPpwq-71OMjt3jaXtWE1DX8WbLCOOeHxQ/s200/P1050199.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metal in place, but not for long!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XePJb6Piv31-6sy1n0Yg6zlSyVZoSsINXD8Wp2z15HzfV-k5yqFQlb_6XqYC9K1kjxsJwqqdLx8JvWJp9fV9I0ZENbJjQhFJbspKNKQM-p7YPKwhvV4K5h9QZr8iPWVaKby3f4rGfkU/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XePJb6Piv31-6sy1n0Yg6zlSyVZoSsINXD8Wp2z15HzfV-k5yqFQlb_6XqYC9K1kjxsJwqqdLx8JvWJp9fV9I0ZENbJjQhFJbspKNKQM-p7YPKwhvV4K5h9QZr8iPWVaKby3f4rGfkU/s200/IMG_1482.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half way through removal!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-L_LSbeTegIfu0ZXpZl4u2C7g9MCgabJJwa5shwLUwLSxcG_cWFWai3IcLfUiPypFcDG9pVzB4V8HFsONd0oqpLJMNjwmYKr0w7DGs7DEoVzqr47-RFdUGAfLqGMWplTsxiCS8LRr9_8/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-L_LSbeTegIfu0ZXpZl4u2C7g9MCgabJJwa5shwLUwLSxcG_cWFWai3IcLfUiPypFcDG9pVzB4V8HFsONd0oqpLJMNjwmYKr0w7DGs7DEoVzqr47-RFdUGAfLqGMWplTsxiCS8LRr9_8/s400/IMG_1483.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a view?</td></tr>
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More light was needed upstairs so we added 2 new windows, one at the front and one at the side. The original house was built without windows upstairs, just large openings front and back. This was as the upstairs was made to dry out the almonds, they would be laid out all over the floor and the wind would blow over them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoPySVMlhWAT9T-7hvct5Op0fObRarrlcPXc9HMemwNOwYG6_xb8k9OzbSwsBl-ddcRco4qKi2WYs_19d-MpqwMKGi-qCCmFTxgZXqNiEOG7Y05LbLlGXDCMVVEGikJ7X9MgONaBv5XI/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoPySVMlhWAT9T-7hvct5Op0fObRarrlcPXc9HMemwNOwYG6_xb8k9OzbSwsBl-ddcRco4qKi2WYs_19d-MpqwMKGi-qCCmFTxgZXqNiEOG7Y05LbLlGXDCMVVEGikJ7X9MgONaBv5XI/s320/IMG_1500.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Was a door now a window</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-uAByDD58-813UhFR0FT3KsvDkim2i_pNnkHLLCKW2utKQK8bRBvh1cD4pZhlMtz0Vs41geu3ZvjC0BpAhUORAcaysnBurtEm_QBqt-mFY99SUYIzZRCzNLI2gixtLe9uJ-95-KfC-E/s1600/IMG_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-uAByDD58-813UhFR0FT3KsvDkim2i_pNnkHLLCKW2utKQK8bRBvh1cD4pZhlMtz0Vs41geu3ZvjC0BpAhUORAcaysnBurtEm_QBqt-mFY99SUYIzZRCzNLI2gixtLe9uJ-95-KfC-E/s320/IMG_1499.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the old opening for the wind to dry the almonds, now a window</td></tr>
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The large pink building which at the moment is a garage and store room will shortly become an 8 person bunkroom with lounge and small kitchen. Camping will be available once we have sorted a shower block. Have you spotted how close the building is to the crag, you will not have to go far in a morning to go climbing......<br />
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Here are a few more random shots for the views which really need to be seen to be believed!<br />
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<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-34367443240756613302012-09-23T04:48:00.001-07:002012-09-23T04:48:21.904-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Summer has Gone!</b></div>
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Not quite sure where it's gone, but it's definitely gone and so has DWS Fest!<br />
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I've been really busy trying to put together a Costa Blanca DWS Mini Guide. But unfortunately the Mini Guide has grown into a not so "Mini" Guide. So for the Festival I decided to concentrate on one area. Cala Moraig, which now stands at 22 pages. Follow the link below to access it.<br />
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<a href="http://theorangehouse.co.uk/mini-guides"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfNxtlqTfCdLYBn8d_Y53X-VY7gX_M7CZ2uczyHmvH065rjS_-7s5s89f4Gcfl1_Aj3aFE1XepcUiyxST2cpJcFCfzwN5KS04fexGUA4y-jJ394tJtMX50hwHL9OB_M0pSP_iSCzk1DE/s200/Moraig-cover.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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Many new routes have been added at Moraig, Toix and Ambolo over the summer. Mini Guides to follow, if you are coming out and need some info before they're published, drop me an email and I'll send you a proof!<br />
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Don't dispair if you missed the DWS Fest, the weather and sea state should be good for another 6-8 weeks. There are still some open projects, if you're hard as nails!<br />
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<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-73389362248806638672012-06-18T09:54:00.001-07:002012-06-18T10:02:56.671-07:00DO NOT CLIMB WITH THIS!!!!Warning! we found this equipment in our local "everything" store last week. It was hidden in the key rings and lighters section. I knew it was really wrong to have the photo of the climber and the words "belay device".<br />
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I would hope that no new climbers would think it was ok to use. Scary thought really :0(<br />
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They cost 90 cents each or a little more.<br />
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Do not climb with this equipment!<br />
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<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-63950491899206447602012-05-27T01:51:00.002-07:002012-05-27T01:52:03.800-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
Deep Water Solo Festival 2012</h2>
The <span style="color: red;">9th September</span> will be the start date for this years festival for The Costa Blanca.<br />
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Many new lines are open ranging from 6a. up to 8a. Back up floating around this year will be a small rib, various kayaks and a small sailboat.<br />
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Options range from hire yourself a car and just booked accommodation or take a full package and we will arrange transport each day and an airport pickup.<br />
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Party nights at The Orange House with BBQ and slacklining over the pool of course!!!<br />
<br />Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-72147408468035640212011-12-31T09:19:00.000-08:002011-12-31T09:19:49.663-08:00Happy New Year!<b>What a great month December has been. </b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The new crag is coming along with 14 new lines, an outstanding project, and space for perhaps the same again. Grades from 4 to 7b so far. We ran out of spits (the bit that goes into the rock). The supplier said they'd had a big sale last week someone came in and bought a box of 100. I said I didn't know who that may have been, but could I order another two boxes please ;O) Standby for topos! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mikey Robertson is over for Christmas and New Year, but more importantly is was his birthday on the 24th. So what better way to celebrate than to go to a new crag, bolt a new route, then climb it! We weren't the first there, one other line has been bolted at 7a. But they may be scope for another few hundred routes there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2Vf-Hv_1C7-JOBb0uKPvey273oVJiiBuKZDRC2SCHkjZSJHlbzwUIAb7vbXE0KD8kBtgVX9u4EJ9SfqXDPgKoEO328VBMaW5NvZjTnfqdgHD1DyJo49GM4fKFjhzfnHVJ3yFMhCUCAc/s1600/Mikey-newroute24-12-2011-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2Vf-Hv_1C7-JOBb0uKPvey273oVJiiBuKZDRC2SCHkjZSJHlbzwUIAb7vbXE0KD8kBtgVX9u4EJ9SfqXDPgKoEO328VBMaW5NvZjTnfqdgHD1DyJo49GM4fKFjhzfnHVJ3yFMhCUCAc/s400/Mikey-newroute24-12-2011-09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mikey on "Hippo bath day" 6b/+ (Sella)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Castellets Ridge in two days!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes you heard right, and before you ask no it wasn't my idea! El Capitan Thompson is the guilty party. We managed to complete 7kms of ridge in two days possibly one of the hardest and scariest things I've done in Spain. On both nights we climbed well after dark, the weather was very kind being in the low teens. Not so cold that we couldn't function after dark and not too hot that we had to carry extra water.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6wyZVIBNitKiA-nOvsVfUt4zbc5x17Ze6O7YIVoPpt9l2vrMO-vWt-10GOok3GNul-kuId2I5JRk75l9WeDZC7x73ccM8UzN6n8lefHuwaKwZX44OflcDylOCAQRi9fcdAIxtAR7myw/s1600/TomoCastellets14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6wyZVIBNitKiA-nOvsVfUt4zbc5x17Ze6O7YIVoPpt9l2vrMO-vWt-10GOok3GNul-kuId2I5JRk75l9WeDZC7x73ccM8UzN6n8lefHuwaKwZX44OflcDylOCAQRi9fcdAIxtAR7myw/s400/TomoCastellets14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">With only 2km left, most of which I have done before, another half day should see us completed. Tony Pearson and I will finish it tomorrow, making it an all Army traverse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXwyuHww7lkcwYw1zOv-rWOao3ygK7Q17d1vVCBsJPc-uJevFDawr895nEPg4duFSUpr4kh2rSQlP_Gmi25gAFeS8L-dsGBJkHgyAkOu9xupZgx-3VSKnhj8xYQrL9Ti0FQwejtFb2J8/s1600/TomoCastellets15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXwyuHww7lkcwYw1zOv-rWOao3ygK7Q17d1vVCBsJPc-uJevFDawr895nEPg4duFSUpr4kh2rSQlP_Gmi25gAFeS8L-dsGBJkHgyAkOu9xupZgx-3VSKnhj8xYQrL9Ti0FQwejtFb2J8/s400/TomoCastellets15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I will be producing a topo for the ridge in the near future so watch this space and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Orange-House/267418710706">http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Orange-House/267418710706</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Projects </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I managed to complete my project at the awesome new crag, "Beautiful Corner", 7c ticked on the second day. A good way to end the year. The new project 7c+ is much harder and may have to be a longer term project for me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W6ThXJqgmLrikpjU-EGqwgoseSZxyA6e1gRAlV8qd5fWL2eWEBlcqav4-UVmy85eAmRje-Bwm-Cw318YYeJ6-P6_erniuvYbqLN1SrscYqndQ_nCRJoNwwDSTEu3HVdLV58rvTTpTEA/s1600/Tom01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W6ThXJqgmLrikpjU-EGqwgoseSZxyA6e1gRAlV8qd5fWL2eWEBlcqav4-UVmy85eAmRje-Bwm-Cw318YYeJ6-P6_erniuvYbqLN1SrscYqndQ_nCRJoNwwDSTEu3HVdLV58rvTTpTEA/s320/Tom01.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> As the sun sets for the last time in 2011<i><b> Happy new year! </b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-15793858931483507542011-10-27T08:57:00.000-07:002011-10-27T09:27:41.616-07:00The Gripper Clipper AwardsThe Gripper Clipper Awards (est 2004) are awarded to person or persons for services to comedy whilst climbing or attempting climb.<br />
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With over 10,000 user visits to the Orange House over the last 8 years it's no wonder our guests have had the odd thrill and spill. Cantina Marina hosted a Morroccan food night at the house, with most guests attending what better time to present the award. <br />
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I've been promising for several years to document this esteemed award's history with a page on the main web site. This is now under construction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsfjLojXhI3tPRcwhoFyAeubwLyDczI5768CsWkT0b5e76zmGNaqmuH35k0gUY4EqBQ0q6mDzZzfzqFy9VvAO4Ov2BV0ltRro7k6sieHnjd5lzD6_QBurX7cyAEiKxNaYTIbMiI5UQls/s1600/317885_10150890382700707_267418710706_21226962_1593279244_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsfjLojXhI3tPRcwhoFyAeubwLyDczI5768CsWkT0b5e76zmGNaqmuH35k0gUY4EqBQ0q6mDzZzfzqFy9VvAO4Ov2BV0ltRro7k6sieHnjd5lzD6_QBurX7cyAEiKxNaYTIbMiI5UQls/s320/317885_10150890382700707_267418710706_21226962_1593279244_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> So until that page is completed here's the latest installment from the White Coast of Epics.....<br />
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Bertie's Blunder <br />
Bertie (retired solicitor from LMC so I will be careful with what I write) was attempting to second a route, was unable to do so and was subsequently lowered back to the ground. <br />
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Sam (the leader) then threaded the belay and prepared to be lowered back to the ground by Bertie. Having communicated with Bertie his intentions, Sam was lowered the 30m to the ground safely if a little fast. Bertie, with a face similar to that of a bull dog chewing a wasp and no skin left on his fingers, turn to Sam and said "I forgot to put the friction plate on!"<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXsjgQuiTR200U3y4Na0dn1N7Fglj4itFiV3KZ9oLQAjiBn0v4vbnLJaDYGX1qh02IM1H1_y7L5bWmY-xu-gA2eeDS5CY-P01_9ATPr8eZLcP2rRZIMalyiiOaDhtCCK0B4o8bhK0xE8/s1600/296723_10150890382535707_267418710706_21226960_1173071555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXsjgQuiTR200U3y4Na0dn1N7Fglj4itFiV3KZ9oLQAjiBn0v4vbnLJaDYGX1qh02IM1H1_y7L5bWmY-xu-gA2eeDS5CY-P01_9ATPr8eZLcP2rRZIMalyiiOaDhtCCK0B4o8bhK0xE8/s320/296723_10150890382535707_267418710706_21226960_1173071555_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Congrats Bertie! You join an elite band poeple who are entitled to use the letters "GCA" after their names.<br />
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Other award holders are Helen and Chris for attempting to walk the Bernia Ridge North to South when it runs East to West. Sharky and Ex boy friend for being rescued by boat from the Toix Sea Cliffs, only to realise they were now stranded at the port of Altea with no shoes, no money, no car keys and the car still at Toix anyway. Paul and his missus for taking thirty one and a half hours to climb Puig Campana. The list goes on.....<br />
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So if you wish to climb on the Costa Blanca and want to avoid the "GCA" title, the following dates are available for improvers (F4 to F6c) 27th November, 22nd December and 16th January. These are 5 days courses, selfcatering and transport. Email sam@theorangehouse.co.uk for further details.Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-18540964363513401392011-10-19T02:17:00.000-07:002011-10-19T02:17:46.575-07:00Autumn on the Costa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpquQnxnOCwJVP4nrXBm9MMuNEmnM9-OEn1VIpQ-cLz6MJlOTZzcWUonq1U2wTtZXLOwZ00dEGcdw54VcRxwuP3TUeztAHa4Cw4WsZdi9yhrulIEb7KlkyhZrrw1h3nSMMJadUfht6QI/s1600/curse-you-for-breathing-ya-slack-jawed-idiot11.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
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We spent the long hot summer in the Alpes. September was still very warm and the traditional DWS venues have seen some action and are becoming very popular by local and visiting climbers. The hot weather has continued well into October allowing us to push out about 40 new DWS lines from 5 up to projects likely to be 8a or harder.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpquQnxnOCwJVP4nrXBm9MMuNEmnM9-OEn1VIpQ-cLz6MJlOTZzcWUonq1U2wTtZXLOwZ00dEGcdw54VcRxwuP3TUeztAHa4Cw4WsZdi9yhrulIEb7KlkyhZrrw1h3nSMMJadUfht6QI/s1600/curse-you-for-breathing-ya-slack-jawed-idiot11.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_LLDrGjUoMzDrVOye40MTpq8z_yJuiT9W-18rLIDr4OpXFlgLlVC7vYq3dcaSxIka-1-Iw7ACdg1kfpI4JCSLSyCNfVUIDmqYTYUXJsmdvWeqI_Wji4QUaTkKpT5MMOTTvMK-frRD9U/s1600/daneilDWS05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_LLDrGjUoMzDrVOye40MTpq8z_yJuiT9W-18rLIDr4OpXFlgLlVC7vYq3dcaSxIka-1-Iw7ACdg1kfpI4JCSLSyCNfVUIDmqYTYUXJsmdvWeqI_Wji4QUaTkKpT5MMOTTvMK-frRD9U/s320/daneilDWS05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Daniel" 6c+ Rich Mayfield on the first ascent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>My fav new route is Daniel (6c+/7a), named after my grandson who was in the kayak during the first ascent. This leads into a fantastic traverse line of Ailis 7b ish so far. 60m long the odd loose hold and the pump means this line is still a project.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpquQnxnOCwJVP4nrXBm9MMuNEmnM9-OEn1VIpQ-cLz6MJlOTZzcWUonq1U2wTtZXLOwZ00dEGcdw54VcRxwuP3TUeztAHa4Cw4WsZdi9yhrulIEb7KlkyhZrrw1h3nSMMJadUfht6QI/s1600/curse-you-for-breathing-ya-slack-jawed-idiot11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpquQnxnOCwJVP4nrXBm9MMuNEmnM9-OEn1VIpQ-cLz6MJlOTZzcWUonq1U2wTtZXLOwZ00dEGcdw54VcRxwuP3TUeztAHa4Cw4WsZdi9yhrulIEb7KlkyhZrrw1h3nSMMJadUfht6QI/s400/curse-you-for-breathing-ya-slack-jawed-idiot11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Curse ya fur breathin", an open project likely to be 7c/8a.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>"Curse ya fur breathing, ya slacked jawed idiot!" Pictured above has seen manys attempts over the Autumn with slow progress through the roof. It's still warm enough that I'm itching to get back today, so as soon as I've finished typing this I'm off. Wish me luck I may need it!<br />
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New DWS mini guide will be available from our web site next year, watch this space... <br />
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Hasta la Vista from the White Coast....Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-85977513622968234482011-04-26T10:20:00.000-07:002011-04-30T10:55:53.088-07:00Easter at the Wild Side<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMAK56xMQNnXPOU2uLUKpBOzxU_qDl5CfGBK-Z4F6B2VoTVhWl9tlSbpiq98vPiXWtn69roDs5ZfAzaL-Ga2Pr5SRc2EoODhU3aqpIT_mlz2g9ubjUX3Fx_HSR2KzB3fOiOa3OiPXGa0/s1600/wildsidePan02lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMAK56xMQNnXPOU2uLUKpBOzxU_qDl5CfGBK-Z4F6B2VoTVhWl9tlSbpiq98vPiXWtn69roDs5ZfAzaL-Ga2Pr5SRc2EoODhU3aqpIT_mlz2g9ubjUX3Fx_HSR2KzB3fOiOa3OiPXGa0/s400/wildsidePan02lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Easter was a mixed bag of weather, after a mini heat wave we did have a few days of rain, but it never rains at the Wild Side. You can always climb on the Costa! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicy7tFWGuRqPU94drjXLgITR6kN4JI2suHAy_5poc9kQQHJcmW7yoMqcH5pcv2M4PJkQ0kr4RPjyirNNE4rVOfoZhHcDjVeZGvYjVXFhaVz32ICHQbWniPTp-s2qBXqXfw_VH2vfGdziA/s1600/ErgonRich15lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicy7tFWGuRqPU94drjXLgITR6kN4JI2suHAy_5poc9kQQHJcmW7yoMqcH5pcv2M4PJkQ0kr4RPjyirNNE4rVOfoZhHcDjVeZGvYjVXFhaVz32ICHQbWniPTp-s2qBXqXfw_VH2vfGdziA/s320/ErgonRich15lowres.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rich Mayfield resting on Ergometria 8a</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjctntgEKvcd6Tf3SsybhaXcHqb183VZTTpibuVMnj-qr1PLDve2IWhw3qQShAid8V_CYfVh6AUCkikXlfZ8Tmtr8QYXDRRLRPLQm8YFgxNR0L4Ae_-3eg1Wjbt1Eh2uFOyoqb2PmVUs/s320/WildsideLittleChris06lowres.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Chris resting on Ergometria 8a</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4hmqLIRjs_hToYv8h_euJUEgZNCyM4mOapHfhK78wShPVXs0SAa5BPM7ZslCljNMPi1z242nYVHZ1-MX-fMgsqeKygaKQCkzpUMHguyFtSOkE7zeuH0-MHrK8AT9SJxw3qaCF0gQAeE/s1600/WildsideMartinThe+Cech02lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've just taken Adam Hocking to the airport after a long and fruitful trip over the winter, he did complain he only had 8b's and above left to do at Wild Side. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV1H5NV-rOcrFuZ9OWw-Y4akDP3s0q1cx3EwAToT8S_6jNCZc9g4jbQT3lB5YkKrgmpn_Rbvplyb9K8uSjsL64fTCVAzkL0qPcJYKkeJ6FlVmAs1Sw1g7L1x4DWf1HxZXwaWsJAwrMTg/s1600/ErgonRich13lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV1H5NV-rOcrFuZ9OWw-Y4akDP3s0q1cx3EwAToT8S_6jNCZc9g4jbQT3lB5YkKrgmpn_Rbvplyb9K8uSjsL64fTCVAzkL0qPcJYKkeJ6FlVmAs1Sw1g7L1x4DWf1HxZXwaWsJAwrMTg/s320/ErgonRich13lowres.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">A rainy day at the Wild Side need not be a wet day. Around 40 climbers from all over the world were cranking hard.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-82562666741816903212011-02-01T09:38:00.000-08:002011-02-01T09:40:14.461-08:00Mini GuidesWell I've been really busy with the production a new Mini Guide for Castellets and up dating the Via Ferrata Mini Guide.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeFgTRN5CSlRKAquBC_s7-xGJcyO4GuSHM_QEsaq1BNsx_buEX3JFAFbgblpIkGoCB6E_Dc69QB8c3awOJQNtox7O22r8VpjsvP7yitLajILct81HuuNUtIL5vBluaFrTCd6DC1Hog8M/s1600/CastelletsCoverLowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeFgTRN5CSlRKAquBC_s7-xGJcyO4GuSHM_QEsaq1BNsx_buEX3JFAFbgblpIkGoCB6E_Dc69QB8c3awOJQNtox7O22r8VpjsvP7yitLajILct81HuuNUtIL5vBluaFrTCd6DC1Hog8M/s320/CastelletsCoverLowres.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Castellets is one of our closest crags being only 8km from the Orange House with a 10 minute walk in. Mostly sport climbs with good gear. The ridges is 8 km long with crags on boths sides so there really is HUGE potential for new routes here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyeL0ROCtoUjvF-CDZ3_OfugbjmR44Ta42YJODlwqe-h2s6qLsjOAjx1wjY5Qokp0JWLdhEnA4rxCHkn226p3Gje5XqnIW5c3o-fFRTdMCXAT0K-JDVAq37Nq0zX2twepU2OIUBomyXw/s1600/Scootty01lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyeL0ROCtoUjvF-CDZ3_OfugbjmR44Ta42YJODlwqe-h2s6qLsjOAjx1wjY5Qokp0JWLdhEnA4rxCHkn226p3Gje5XqnIW5c3o-fFRTdMCXAT0K-JDVAq37Nq0zX2twepU2OIUBomyXw/s400/Scootty01lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There are some mixed routes, these are marked on the topos so you shouldn't get caught out. 30 odd climbs listed but have also done some new routes and the upper tiers aren't included yet. Watch this space.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenRS3e9AYcMwh0k0MDKKPhyphenhyphenYe8yGdG-7ptP6mZDt06W4De5tBtzq1-qw9ujLogC3mJToDcYHCjMRupMqYWlI1XNMH2o27SaIYqohK6uGwz-PMzdvLv4NLo1eSolbm4O_JQNPrAFUwJi0/s1600/VFMiniGuideVersion3CoverLowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjenRS3e9AYcMwh0k0MDKKPhyphenhyphenYe8yGdG-7ptP6mZDt06W4De5tBtzq1-qw9ujLogC3mJToDcYHCjMRupMqYWlI1XNMH2o27SaIYqohK6uGwz-PMzdvLv4NLo1eSolbm4O_JQNPrAFUwJi0/s320/VFMiniGuideVersion3CoverLowRes.jpg" width="214" /></a> </div>This has been a bit of an effort because although I do enjoy doing them, I'd rather go climbing ;O) This includes updates on access where it's changed and included two more via ferratas, Les Marcjes and Xorrat de Cati. Both of these are availible from the main web page at <a href="http://theorangehouse.co.uk/gallery-2/pdf-page"> http://theorangehouse.co.uk/gallery-2/pdf-page</a> then follow the instructions.<br />
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Have fun!Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-46137133946891067552010-09-16T02:48:00.000-07:002010-09-16T02:52:24.694-07:00New website and New houses....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuFcnnQt92BuebV1hlrypz8h9N3w7ECaqxx2z_QYrDByqT1sa050scuf6aX8Ir-J4A23kYoy0L6jW8snshvl_xhkysHHyT9WhdtzwC_9NymRafn6s_unxO7yduqSIfJOyycuErXWPWGI/s1600/simons+pictures+117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuFcnnQt92BuebV1hlrypz8h9N3w7ECaqxx2z_QYrDByqT1sa050scuf6aX8Ir-J4A23kYoy0L6jW8snshvl_xhkysHHyT9WhdtzwC_9NymRafn6s_unxO7yduqSIfJOyycuErXWPWGI/s200/simons+pictures+117.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>Well I think I started the <a href="http://theorangehouse.co.uk/">new website </a>in April, but learning a new piece of software is not easy when you are trying to look after The Orange House, 4 rental houses, 2 kids and 3 dogs!<br />
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We have lots of new sections and some great <a href="http://theorangehouse.co.uk/gallery-2">galleries,</a> they show the Main Orange House, the village houses and some great climbing shots from around the area.<br />
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The Winter Climbing programme is now released which includes an <a href="http://theorangehouse.co.uk/rock-climbing-courses/improvers">Improvers Sport Climbing Course</a> running over Christmas week, limited places so get in touch asap.<br />
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BMC Members now get a 10% discount, this joins the list with AMA members, AIM, students and teachers.Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-64863146270250601772010-07-07T15:30:00.000-07:002010-07-07T15:44:30.627-07:00Stag and Hen Activity WeekendsFor years we have been running specialist Stag and Hen weekends but never really advertised them. After a very busy May this year and over 4 groups saying how it was the best holiday they ever had we thought maybe to was about time we told a few others what we do!<br />
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We have designed some special pages on the website to give you a better idea about what we can offer. The list of activities is endless and add to that the beachs, the bars, the private villa you would be hard pushed to find a better location to chill out with a group of friends... <br />
<ul><li>EXCLUSIVE use of villa so no one telling you to be quiet and go to bed!</li>
<li>airport transfers</li>
<li>fully stock bar on arrival, BBQ</li>
<li>entertainment brought to the house</li>
</ul><ul><li>Rock climbing</li>
<li>Diving</li>
<li>Via Ferrattas</li>
<li>Scrambyling</li>
<li>Gorge Walking</li>
<li>Sea Kayaking</li>
<li> Horse riding</li>
<li>Mountain Biking</li>
<li>Road cycling</li>
<li>Bridge Swinging</li>
<li> Go Karts</li>
</ul>The list really goes on and one, you choose the things you want to do and we do the rest and the stag or hen go free of charge.<br />
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Costs start from as little as £125 for a 3 night stay, so get in touch as we only have a few months to offer these weekends MAY and JUNE only!<br />
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<a href="mailto:sam@theorangehouse.co.uk">sam@theorangehouse.co.uk</a><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<ul><li> </li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li><br />
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</ul><ul><li>and hope that next year to run a few more.</li>
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NOTE: please dont worry that a group will be at the house if you book to stay! the house is booked exclusive so no one bothers anyone else!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2qqK3cozRCOYyVpMVHGA9nSkpOK5RqNhnMhOCghxkHARtXgKkexHIiNWGBXryjWcmqAwiwapKD4kkMJftw4Ygno20sMN9LJj9BZiJY1G6QL1StBW4yjJzgrgPnsNyskR_CwaSMtKOwM/s1600/freehen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2qqK3cozRCOYyVpMVHGA9nSkpOK5RqNhnMhOCghxkHARtXgKkexHIiNWGBXryjWcmqAwiwapKD4kkMJftw4Ygno20sMN9LJj9BZiJY1G6QL1StBW4yjJzgrgPnsNyskR_CwaSMtKOwM/s320/freehen.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15lmfc47BZcEDKBbVOIil1avfnUJIcvEiU28_iuN32hRoWqHjw6zfddPFXvkZNfjZ1pe9EYTbGrLMd-w1vhNZfftnjq1rJvZCMCL0RCLi_hhyphenhyphenz1z0k_l_HJ-DoyBQK6Z4z2w-GVOtMnE/s1600/benidorm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15lmfc47BZcEDKBbVOIil1avfnUJIcvEiU28_iuN32hRoWqHjw6zfddPFXvkZNfjZ1pe9EYTbGrLMd-w1vhNZfftnjq1rJvZCMCL0RCLi_hhyphenhyphenz1z0k_l_HJ-DoyBQK6Z4z2w-GVOtMnE/s200/benidorm2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-47149302114791171152010-05-27T02:53:00.000-07:002010-05-27T02:57:51.211-07:00Army Competition Boulders 2010<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Boulders in Cardiff was the venue last Thursday and Friday for the Army Mountaineering Association 2010 sport climbing championships. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg8BrTykV5Oy_-NmxwPn5Jv4Wgeh-0B3ztOU9rNWZ2d_jWqw1uoRKS2vucvfzflO4m_GK2us_GzZUhbmeTXr5CqKhnqleIdJYzRpihstMrGLv1wAU2jFlZVGqXtdr638XIelWmSyHloc/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg8BrTykV5Oy_-NmxwPn5Jv4Wgeh-0B3ztOU9rNWZ2d_jWqw1uoRKS2vucvfzflO4m_GK2us_GzZUhbmeTXr5CqKhnqleIdJYzRpihstMrGLv1wAU2jFlZVGqXtdr638XIelWmSyHloc/s200/IMG_0136.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSm1cR3kKYbHoIbkhxFaPkn_6cCvDovvo_86gQGtn3XuPmjS6TZ8ff3yqLGPH-RslGJP9RkKG3l02kweAsnbDb4cNZ9cnhYI4DHRL6SxfcQn8sCFomcXkHqomkbPoPaNapvyFdQj011g/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSm1cR3kKYbHoIbkhxFaPkn_6cCvDovvo_86gQGtn3XuPmjS6TZ8ff3yqLGPH-RslGJP9RkKG3l02kweAsnbDb4cNZ9cnhYI4DHRL6SxfcQn8sCFomcXkHqomkbPoPaNapvyFdQj011g/s200/IMG_0129.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Rich Mayfield and Olly Noakes taking full advantage of the rest, after the "Skymaster" style start, moving and suspended volumes which formed a 6m roof, then a further 10m of pumpy climbing on good holds which only enabled 4 competitors to top out. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8sdsA4UdR9562A6SaRGP-ublxHTmsiJJyorWn0B2JtJehQqorDJnrZvec-z51tiHVWBFqJvehA9-M2CfzbUbMp1caev4cjAkYW7eZW7afKcLmj_1nvue5jiWQBTerGPohrU6XXA7yow/s1600/BoulderAMAComp2010Pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8sdsA4UdR9562A6SaRGP-ublxHTmsiJJyorWn0B2JtJehQqorDJnrZvec-z51tiHVWBFqJvehA9-M2CfzbUbMp1caev4cjAkYW7eZW7afKcLmj_1nvue5jiWQBTerGPohrU6XXA7yow/s320/BoulderAMAComp2010Pan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The final was even longer, with quite possibly the longest run-out of any indoor wall right at the end of the route. Bargin! With a 10m roof on two suspended volumes at the start, Andy Long's route setting took full advantage of the Boulders Wall to produce some very out-landish climbs.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Chd-zYF5_muwlazZUFT3saRCdgVeqSIo8Nj66zFRk6GVpDeyJDBXVD308cOq3XLbGh5P9nPOMvUGBNS3JdpcWztGzlqsht3jBb_6tdKGcuIAkebBoT9voWiE21Q1rlwGlEnSscxpI8/s1600/AMAComp2010FinalPan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42Chd-zYF5_muwlazZUFT3saRCdgVeqSIo8Nj66zFRk6GVpDeyJDBXVD308cOq3XLbGh5P9nPOMvUGBNS3JdpcWztGzlqsht3jBb_6tdKGcuIAkebBoT9voWiE21Q1rlwGlEnSscxpI8/s320/AMAComp2010FinalPan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">With over 200 personel attending this is one of the best event on the AMA calendar. The Orange House sponsored this event and we're looking forward to seeing the winners out in Spain for some tufa-tugging-tastic fun!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K3mLmwMxC8sF4u1Oc9q8HFCdMiRYhC8M2tZ8E7kZSMNN5LkpuUdj1EaNaWJ6msz4IF9giv6F64S38aRTAZtibeTQ7IVssSnlk44qt5N3VsqNF8Y7foweicsfE9fIFpvtxuEDt28Rysk/s1600/IMG_01581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K3mLmwMxC8sF4u1Oc9q8HFCdMiRYhC8M2tZ8E7kZSMNN5LkpuUdj1EaNaWJ6msz4IF9giv6F64S38aRTAZtibeTQ7IVssSnlk44qt5N3VsqNF8Y7foweicsfE9fIFpvtxuEDt28Rysk/s320/IMG_01581.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599668781403417287.post-25718577908179894622010-04-24T14:34:00.001-07:002010-04-24T14:34:47.580-07:00New Websitewww.theorangehouse.co.uk<br />
<a href="http://www.theorangehouse.co.uk/">www.theorangehouse.co.uk</a>Sam Rich Mayfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14676375256672832822noreply@blogger.com0