Rock Climbing, 'Cadet Rock', Costa Blanca. Spain, Oct 2011, ID 1179

HQ Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training

The CCAT Spanish rock climbing course (CADET ROCK) was based in Albir, Spain during the period 15-22 Oct 11.

The Costa Blanca is a well known destination for Autumn/Winter sun rock climbing devotees. The temperate Mediterranean climate at this time of year, a modest 20°-26° C, is perfect whilst during the peak holiday season is just too blistering hot. The rock climbing venues are vast and vary from roadside crags providing single pitch through multi-pitch, to extensive sea cliffs and onto some massive classic mountain routes. The quality of the climbing on the grey limestone is outstanding offering both bolted and traditional led routes. Combined with the additional ingredient of being very steep the climbs look initially daunting but every route is a gem. The rock climbing area is so vast that the development of climbing venues continues to this day swelling an already comprehensive guide book (Costa Blanca Rockfax 2005).

Alicante has an international airport with regular flights from several UK destinations. The key to finding the real value for money bargain is to be flexible, avoid school holidays and book early. Car hire companies are equally plentiful and again it is worthwhile shopping around for the best deal but also to pre-book to avoid the queues on arrival.

The aim of CADET ROCK was to further develop the multi-pitch rock climbing skills, knowledge and experience of a group of eight selected Cadet Force Adult Volunteer instructors and Senior Cadets (17yrs+) on a pathway towards achieving both Joint Service and Nationally accredited qualifications in the future. The team of five lads and three lassies would be trained and assessed for the Joint Service Rock Climbing Proficiency (RCP) qualification. Four instructors were employed to deliver the course.

The team departed Capel Curig, Sat 15 Oct, at 4am for an early morning flight from Liverpool Airport to Alicante. Having left UK in dismal weather we arrived in Alicante to be greeted by clear blue skies and wall to wall sunshine. The journey time to our accommodation was only forty-five minutes, arriving in time for a welcome spot of lunch. We used the remainder of the afternoon with briefings and some refresher rope work and belay training to set the scene.

The initial climbing training was conducted at a local roadside crag, Sierra De Toix. We kick-started the programme with a climbing coaching session – movement over rock to develop technique as well as looking at the basic skills at a single pitch venue. The afternoon was a taste of multi-pitch climbing and provided an insight of what was to come over the next five days.

We primed the team for a big route the following day on the Penon De Ifach. This is one of the most striking landmarks, a 332mts rock tower overlooking the town of Calpe and the Mediterranean. The south face is a huge vertical orange coloured wall with routes weaving their way through the complex system of slabs, grooves and ridges to the summit. This would be one of the highlights of the trip and exemplifies the reason for choosing this area.

The following day we took a more sedate approach on a single pitch climbing venue to drip feed more training and hone the climbing technique as well as raising the bar a little on the personal climbing grades. That evening we included a lecture on the use of guide books and explained the climbing grading system.

In the remaining few days we visited Echo Valley and Sierra De Toix to complete yet more multi pitch routes to consolidate skills and introduce the multi-pitch stacked abseil. Another evening lecture on climbing history capped the day’s activities.

The comments we have received on this course have been measured, somewhere between ‘truly awesome’ to ‘the best course I have been on in my life’.

Did we achieve our aims?

• All eight candidates achieved the RCP qualification.
• All six CFAVs will be returning on Leader qualification courses in 2012.
• The two Senior Cadets will be pursuing Joint Service qualifications in their future military careers.

We offer our grateful thanks to the Ulysses Trust for their generous financial support towards the costs of the CADET ROCK course.

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