Rock-climbing Expedition ‘Lynx Mountain Dragon IV’, Calpe, Costa Blanca, Spain – March 2006
39th Signal Regiment (Volunteer)
The 9 team members assembled at the TA Centre in Bristol. The instructors Maj Shipley (Trg Maj), Maj Howell-Walmsley (Trg Maj) and Capt Woodhouse (Ops Offr (V)) issued the ropes and climbing equipment before we got an early night as the flight to Alicante was leaving at 0600hrs.
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After the short flight into
Alicante, collection of hire vehicles and locating the villa that would
provide a bed for the night meant that it was late afternoon before the
team reached the first crag at Toix. There everyone was taught to tie-in
and belay safely and pairs were linked depending on their ability. I was
teamed up with Sig Keadwell (HQ Sqn) and our instructor was Maj Howell-Walmsley
(a veteran of the North Face of the Matterhorn!). The next day LCpl Burke
and Sig Wright went off to climb the 1000ft route Via Valencious on the
Penon d'Ifach and that was graded a Hard Very Serve Route with Capt
Woodhouse leading. The rest of us went to the impressive crag at Marin and
climbed several 2 pitch routes which allowed us to practise our
multi-pitch climbing technique as well as climbing as a party of three.
Over the next 3 days we continued to climb multi-pitch routes at a wide
variety of crags but always in pleasant warm and sunny weather!
As our skill and confidence level increased we got the chance to start leading the routes which made for a more interesting and exciting experience. What would have been easy with the rope being belayed from above became certainly more challenging once we were leading the rope up and placing our own protection. The expedition culminated on the sixth day of climbing in the valley of Sella where we put everything into practice and ticked off quite a few routes with the students doing all the climbing and seconding. It was a great trip to Spain and it was certainly the most intensive I have done in my career LCpl Jarman
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