In reply to Kyle87:
In the book it says ideally candidates will have a minof 12 month climbing experience pre training, done 60 graded climbs on a variety of rock types, 40 of these routes would be led and many at severe grade or above.
I started climbing in 2004 by seconding friends up multipitch routes. I did my SPA training in 2007 and had 5 multipitch leads and 8 single pitch leads but lots of seconding experience.
When I went for assessment in Nov 2010 I'd climbed in Pembroke, Gower, Cullin, Langdale, Borrowdale, Conniston, Froggat, Burbage, Stannage, Wintours Leap,
S Wales limestone, Carneddau, Ogwen.
I had Single pitch:
52 Seconds (24 of which at severe +)
32 leads (12 of which at Severe +)
Multipitch:
10 purely Seconding (I learnt to climb by seconding mates on multipitch. (9 at severe or more)
26 Leads (16 at severe grade or more)
I got pulled up on my log book as I didn't have 40 single pitch leads, despite my argument that multipitch teaches you more, especially when you climb single pitch too. I did pass as there was no faults in anything else but I would say get 40 single pitch leads as defering on your log book could happen and that would be poo. Most of my single pitches were in the Lakes or Peak, with a few in S wales.
Post edited at 02:43