kossie

Email User

Got into my passion for mountains thru hill-walking & backpacking in wild places, from a very young age. Life-long love of scrambling (the Black Cuillin ridge - my idea of heaven) which developed into an obsession with long multipitch mtn routes - particularly in Snowdonia. I’m in my element on the beautifully sculpted 200mtr easy-grade rock-routes on the east face of Tryfan - always in my ‘boots’, not rock-shoes, climbing alpine-style - ie lots of ‘moving together’, simultaneously climbing - which takes a lot of mutual trust, & understanding of the technique. I enjoy climbing which sees me end up on a summit - love to make a day of it. Early starts, the earlier the better, to catch the best of the conditions, be the first on the mtn, & to maximise use of daylight hours, are what make sense to me. I also like to keep a close eye on weather conditions, so that when it’s forecast favourable, I drop everything & go. I get plenty more & amazing mtn days that way.

Used to spend a week every winter in Lochaber. Climbing ambitions very much in the Scottish-winter & summer-alpine brackets (grades III-IV & PD/AD), tho defo still not reached my potential. You cld call me a frustrated, yet ambitious alpinist! (Been 6 times, but not been Alps in years now :'( - the Matterhorn still beckons!)

Recently reckoned up I’d done 80% of my climbing with just 3 best mates. These days I’m trying to be more of a climbing-whore... Reliability, competence, confidence, trust, enthusiasm, self-reliance, a relaxed attitude & GSOH are important mountaineering traits to me. Manchester-based. So am always up for meeting like-minded climbers with a similar interest & approach.

Location
Manchester

Best Climbing Experience
My very first multipitch (1993): 'Grooved Arete' on Tryfan, was an exhilarating experience!
BMC Jonathan Conville mountaineering training: in Cairngorms in winter (2002), and in Argentiere, French Alps, in summer (2003).
'Dorsal Arete' on Stob-C-n-L - entertaining!
5 days of awesome ice-climbing on the N.Face of the Ben, staying at the fabulous CIC hut.
'Cosmiques Arete' in Chamonix - great fun, & surprisingly easy, i thought.
A 7 hour epic night-time abseil-retreat in the Swiss alps rates quite highly as an experience too! (Only had one proper 'epic' - but working on it...)

Favourite Climbing-Related Discussion Topic
Mountaineering, esp alpine techniques.
Advanced Rope-Technique (EG self-rescue).
Equipment & gear, developments and use of.
UK Winter conditions.

Recent Postings

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Interests Outside Climbing
Have run a thriving Volleyball Club in Mcr for years. Love the game.
Motorbikes (& motorcycling advanced training).
Camping and tiny festivals.
All sorts of hippy shit...
Leftie as hell! :O)

Photo Gallery

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Click to list photo comments written by me. (10 comments)
I've voted for 20 photos, average vote 4.5.
(60% superb - 35% good - 5% average - 0% poor - 0% rubbish)

Anything Else We Should Know
Been steadily cragging (in Peak district - favourite venue, the Roaches) for years - tho, being an old fart now, my highest grades are well behind me! Happy playing at VD/S/HS these days.

Been in a national mountaineering club for over 30 years (where's the time gone?!)
Enjoy wknd and weeklong club meets, particularly in Snowdonia, the Lake District, and Scotland.

And enjoy grabbing good weather windows, 'dropping everything', let's head to the mountains! Usually staying in huts, bunkhouses, or camping. :)

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