We could have been out Christmas shopping but instead we were treated to rock climbing for beginners, indoors on the wall at Plas y Brenin. Not so much a wall as a cavernous chamber with overhangs and arches. Brendan and his two colleagues kitted us out with climbing shoes, helmets and harnesses; the shoes were a bit tight but that’s all part of the design, for greater grip.
We began with basic bouldering, low down on the wall going crab-like across. Legs are stronger than arms so we were advised to maximise the use of legs as opposed to arms. Arms at full stretch are stronger than arms crunched up so we tried to keep them long. Theory is easy but handholds and toeholds didn’t always present themselves where they needed to be.
After free climbing a low section we roped up, climbed the high bits then belayed down. Bit of an act of faith, to let go of those handholds that had been squeezed so tight on the way up, and lie back at right angles to the wall. The wall with the overhangs proved a bit too challenging for me and I found myself spinning in space, safely held by the rope which we were assured was strong enough to hold a minibus.
A huge thank you to Plas y Brenin for supporting the Snowdonia Society as a business member and laying on this event. What I hadn’t realised before was that this wonderful climbing wall is open to us locals; I think the charge is just £5.
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