Articles

We'll be adding more articles to this page and over time this section should become a valuable resource for our customers and web visitors.
We also encourage our customers to forward submissions, and if we feel they are relevent and of high enough quality, we'll add them to the site.

Click on an article or scroll down through...

Dartmoor with TCA by Graeme Sandiford
Top tips for injuy-free training at TCA by Neil Gresham

Dartmoor with TCA

words and images by Graeme Sandiford

Getting out and doing some climbing on real rock is something that I’ve been planning to do for a long time, but there have always been reasons not to go. Investing in equipment like crash pads, finding the right time to go, the right people to go with, finding the right location and help with the transition from indoor climbing to dealing with the great outdoors.

However, temptation got the better of me early this summer on discovering that the TCA were running a series of day trips. The trip I went for was to Dartmoor as I had fond memories from my younger days and it’s not too far away. I wasn’t disappointed - the location was stunning and potential for climbing was mind-boggling.
What made the day such an experience was more than the national park’s beauty, it was the people. TCA members and staff alike, everyone was out to make the most of the granite and sunshine. Although Paul couldn’t make it, his hard work paid off as we were fully equipped with all that we needed including crash pads and well-researched route guides for the area.
This information was nicely augmented by our instructor Gavin who stood in for Paul. Gav knew the routes intimately was able to give re-assuring confirmation that if you reached further back behind here or there you would you would be able to find a good hold where there appeared to be none. After a few timid attempts you would realize that you could hold your weight on a tiny lump of quartz o the rock face. His enthusiasm was infectious and his patience helped as well.
All in all it was great day out and given me motivation to go outdoors more often. I’d always heard that climbing outdoors was different, but with the right guidance that difference is a good one and will broaden your climbing horizons and deepen your appreciation of this great sport.

Top tips for injury-free training at TCA

words by Neil Gresham, image by Adrian Croome