A busy August for Kendal Mountaineering Services. August 5th - 13th 2015.

Sorry - we have not posted now for over a week!

We are VERY busy at Kendal Mountaineering Services at present and Iain has to do all of the work. Getting back after a days graft providing exceptional sessions for clients and then blogging about it the same day is proving a little too much at the moment.

So, here are a selection of photos from our best moments over the last week - enjoy; and when Iain has time he will fill in the blank spaces beside the photos where you would normally read what he has been up to and with whom.

We are updating our Facebook page daily so please go there if you are interested in a short version of each days activity - with lots of photos.

Contact us here if you wish to enquire about; or make a booking for; an activity session or skills Training Course - thank you and we look forward to working with you!

OK - so what have we been up to of late? Well, on August 5th, Iain was working in Yorkshire on behalf of Verticalair/Live for Today Adventures to provide some activities for delightful children from all over Europe and the Middle East who come to the UK under the umbrella of an organisation called Village Camps who then contract us in to provide some outdoor activities for the group as the pass through Yorkshire on their tour of the UK.

The first photo from this post sees the group enjoying some introductory Rock Climbing at at Brimham Rocks. The climbing is easy and is an ideal way to be challenged whilst learning to trust and work with others in your group. We run a lot of Introductory Rock Climbing Sessions here in The Lake District too!

Photo two sees Iain's group jut after they had all abseiled off the bridge at Howstean Gorge (again in Yorkshire) into the bed of the gorge to start their Ghyll Scrambling (also known as Gorge Walking) Session.

Ghyll Scrambling/Gorge Walking Sessions are great fun. We give our clients wetsuits, cagoules buoyancy aids and walking boots and then we get into a stream and walk up it - swimming & splashing through pools, climbing up waterfalls. This is a great fun exhilarating activity and kids just love it making it ideal for a half day of fun during your Summer Holiday.

In Howstean Gorge, there are also a number of small caves - so there is the opportunity for caving too as in photo three. Climbing, Abseiling, Gorge Walking & Caving; and all in one day! Don't forget - you can also do all of these fantastic activities with us here in The Lake District too!

Our next photo was taken during a half day Introductory Caving Session in the Yorkshire Dales National Park the following day with Marcus & Emma.

The pair were on holiday in the area and wanted to try something different, looked for caving; and up came our website.

Iain took them for an action packed afternoon in Long Churns and the pair absolutely loved it. You can see more photos from this session on our Facebook page - at only £45 each for a four hour session with all equipment included - this caving session was a bargain!

On Saturday 8th August, Iain was joined by returning clients Bob Bettinson & his son Paul.

The pair have done an activity day with us about this time each of the previous 3 years. The first adventure was an Esk Gorge Trip, the next time was Canadian Canoeing and a river Journey on the Derwentwater & River Derwent near Keswick and last year, a rather hardcore day out doing a Kayak journey on the River Lune.

This time, Bob had decided that he wanted to climb the Lake District's highest mountain - Scafell Pike, so he booked a Guided Hill Walking Day in The Lake District with us. This photo sees Iain (left) with the pair at the summit of Scafell Pike on a perfect day. You can read a bit more about this day and see some more photos here.

The next day, Iain started out at Fell Foot Country Park at Windermere with Mark & Robbie Wight.

Robbie will shortly be going on a residential week shortly after starting the Autumn Term at his school and Dad - Mark wanted him to get some experience of the activities that will be on offer during that week.

We spent a rather misty murky & drizzly morning on Windermere improving Robbie's confidence to paddle a Kayak on his own. He definitely enjoyed himself!

Mark had booked a two session day for himself & Robbie, the other activity was Ghyll Scrambling. Ghyll Scrambling or Gorge Walking is, as previously described, getting into a wet-suit, putting on walking boots and wearing a cagoule, buoyancy aid & helmet and harness then getting into a mountain stream and walking up it.

Kids just love Ghyll Scrambling and we reckon that this is one of the best things that we provide in the Summer months. It is also extremely popular with Stag & Hen Parties too!

As Mark & Robbie also lived in Kendal (our home town), Iain decided that there was no need to travel all the way to Langdale to go in Stickle Ghyll, but that we would use a local venue to be found just north of town. When we got there, we discovered that the overnight rain had brought the water levels up somewhat so we drove up the road to the point where the stream splits and the volume of the flow basically halves. Here, Robbie was much happier to get in and have a splash around.

The next photo sees Mark & Robbie back at the Land Rover after the pair's Ghyll Scrambling Session, getting changed and having a hot drink before we loaded up and headed back down the steep dirt track into the valley & back to Kendal.

We have used this reliable vehicle quite a few times recently to get into places that would otherwise be a long walk in - it is all part of the service.

Anyone coming across the company leaflet will see that it states on the back "Giving you what you want". As a business providing high quality Outdoor Activity Sessions & Skills Training Courses in The Lake District, it is our intention, wherever possible, to exceed your expectations and provide a value for money service. We are not the cheapest provider in The Lake District, but we don't cut corners and we will go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction; and even if your request is unusual, we will do it - if it is possible; and safe!

We went the extra mile the next day with returning clients Alex & Elena Gerko. Alex & Elena had previously attended one of our Scrambling Skills Training Courses in The Lake District two years previously. On this visit to the area, the pair were celebrating their 5th Wedding Anniversary and as part of that weekend wanted to climb Scafell Pike.

Unfortunately, the weather was particularly poor on this day as you'll see in this report, but Iain got them to the summit and back to Borrowdale; and then drove them all the way to Oxenholme Station in order that they could get an earlier train back to London. So there you go - Outdoor Activity Provider: and Taxi service too; all for on this occasion, a very reasonable fee of £160.00!

And the last report in this potted history of what we've been up to between the 5th & 13th of August concerns the first of Iain's two days out with Andy Stratton from Dorset.

Andy had travelled up to The Lake District to do some walking and had fancied the idea of trying out some Guided Scrambling.

Iain is a Mountaineering Instructor, so he is appropriately qualified to provide this and a range of other mountaineering & Rock Climbing Courses.

Scrambling can best be described as a "crossover" between Rock Climbing and Hill Walking. Scrambling is a great way to get to the summit of mountains by routes avoided by the crowds; and if you want some peace & tranquility as well as the exhilaration of moving up an exposed rocky crest or buttress, then scrambling is a skill you really want to learn! On day one, Andy spent the day doing just that - learning! And here he is practicing how to deal with climbing equipment that needs to be carried.

We spent the morning of the first day of Andy's Guided Scrambling Course in The Lake District learning the skills of Spotting (how to safeguard each other on easy scrambling ground without the use of a rope) short roping (how to use the rope when a slip could turn into something more serious) and then the application of various belaying techniques that can be applied when one wishes or feels the need to add extra security to rope-working skills.

In the afternoon, Iain guided Andy on a grade II scramble so that he could observe all that he had been taught being put into practice; and then we finished off with a grade III scramble so that Andy could see what ground of this nature is all about.

The final photo from this post sees Andy about to "top out" on this pleasant route - on dry rock and in sunshine. Ideal conditions for Scrambling in The Lake District!

If you have enjoyed reading this mega-post about our recent activities in August and like the look of anything you see, then contact us here to make your enquiry or booking for a great Outdoor Activity Session or Skills Training Course in The Lake District. We'll be happy to help you.

Caving sessions in The Yorkshire Dales. August 3rd 2015.

A number of months ago, Peter Rassa contacted us wishing to book an all day Caving Session in the Yorkshire Dales for himself & his son during their planned visit to The Lake District in August.

Iain offered them the option of either the whole day doing level One Caving, or, if the pair proved to be competent and keen, a combined Level One and Level Two Caving day in the Yorkshire Dales.

Photo one sees Peter & Son Valentino in Long Churns - one of the Yorkshire Dales best known Caving venues where there are 3 kilometres of underground passageway to be explored. In this cave system one can get around without having to climb or descend any serious pitches of verticality and for this reason it is an ideal venue for an introductory or Level One Caving Session.

Long Churns, despite it's a lack of a seriousness, does have many points of interest and some excellent examples of formations (Speleothems) and for this reason it gets visited by many groups - particularly children brought by local Outdoor Education Centres.

Many groups enter the cave system  as we did - via Middle Entrance where you can go upstream in the cave system as well as downstream. Going downstream takes you past the awe-inspiring Entrance Waterfall - the noise from which reverberates up & down the cave system with a deep rumbling sound.

Beyond the Entrance Waterfall one makes their way downstream with the water, eventually arriving at a low point where daylight can be seen. This is where the water flows out to Diccan Entrance. Beyond here one makes their way along the fossil passageway of Lower Long Churns passing obstacles such as Double Shuffle Pool (photo two) and Plank Pool. Whilst it is possible to avoid getting a soaking at Double Shuffle Pool by use of a rope, the removal of the plank means that most novices will get wet at Plank Pool!

Continuing beyond Plank Pool one passes another entrance/exit to Diccan Entrance before dropping into the narrow rift of The Slot. Here, a short and easy climb down leads into Cheese Press Chamber.

The Cheese Press is probably Long Churns most notable and well remembered challenge. A bedding Plane crawl of only some 5 metres in length and as low as 30 centimetres in height - the challenge is to squeeze through from one side to the other.

In photo three, Peter can be seen making short work of The Cheese Press as did Valentino. Well done!

After dealing with the Cheese Press, we visited the Dolly Tubs Pitch Head where daylight can be seen entering from the vertical shaft of Alum Pot. We then retraced our steps as far Diccan Entrance where we briefly saw daylight before heading back underground and heading up Cross Passage (Baptistry Crawl).

We then visited the upstream entrance of Middle Entrance, climbed the Entrance Waterfall and then headed along Upper Long Churns to Doctor Bannister's Washbasin. Here, Peter & Valentino were given the opportunity to crawl behind the waterfall (photo four) before we then climbed the fall; and exited to daylight; and that was the end of our morning Introductory Caving Session.

After lunch, we moved almost pretty much directly across Upper Ribblesdale from Long Churns to Birkwith; and the Calf Holes/Browgill Cave complex so that Peter & Valentino could try out a relatively easy Level Two Caving Trip.

As a Level Two Cave Leader, Iain is permitted to guide clients on trips containing vertical sections of up to 18 metres or 60 feet in height. These trip are much more challenging and more serious than a level one trip due to these factors; and clients need to wear harnesses in order that they can be lowered down or belayed back up such pitches.

In some such cave systems there are traverses along exposed ledges to the various pitch heads and so clients are protected by use of a traverse line and cowtails (slings with karabiners attached) seen here in photo five. The cowstails allow the clients to bypass any knots in the rope but with instruction - remain safely attached to the rope whilst passing knots.

Photo six sees Peter as Iain commenced to lower him down the pitch at Calf Holes which is 15 metres in height.  Peter found this quite daunting, but with Iain's confident and calm instruction, he was soon on his way down.

Once Peter was down, Valentino and then Iain followed to the pitch foot.

Here, at the pitch foot, we all took off our harnesses as the rest of the trip - the walk through to Browgill Cave Entrance is easy apart from a well protected climb down to by-pass the waterfall further on and there is an in-situ rope in place to help people with the descent of this. Harnesses are therefore not required.

Photo seven was taken some time later on after we had walked downstream from the Calf Holes Pitch and we had arrived in the big rift downstream of the waterfall in the lower chamber.

To get to here - after some 500m of stooping and walking along the streamway, we had crawled through the small & somewhat tight Hainsworth's Passage and then dropped into a hole in the floor of this (The Slot), to emerge in the upper part of the lower Section of Browgill Cave.

We had then down climbed a section to bypass the 8 metre waterfall crashing down into the lower chamber and then walked out via this rift. We only had another 100 metres of walking and a short section of crawling before we were able to see daylight streaming in from the mouth of the cave.

The final photograph  from this post about a Level one & Level Two Caving Day in the Yorkshire Dales National Park sees Peter & Valentino as we emerged from Browgill Cave Entrance.

However, this was only the halfway point of this particular caving trip as we subsequently turned around and reversed our route all the way back to the foot of the Calf Holes Pitch.

The route back was exactly the same apart from our visiting the foot of the waterfall and dealing with the challenge of Hainsworth's passage in reverse by way of a slightly different route - The Letterbox.

Back at the pitch foot, we again donned harnesses and then Iain ascended the pitch by way of Single Rope Technique (SRT). Once at the pitch head, he then dropped a caving ladder down the pitch for Valentino & Peter to climb whilst attached to a rope and belayed by Iain who also got to practice his hauling skills when Peter became too tired to complete the ascent.

This was a great caving day out for these guys who thoroughly enjoyed the experience. You can enjoy this caving experience too with us too for only £80 per person (minimum of two persons) for a full day out underground enjoying and adventure with as much or as little a challenge as you like.

Contact us here to book your Caving Session in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We look forward to working with you.

Stag Events in The Lake District. Ghyll Scrambling. August 1st, 2015.

On Saturday, Iain drove over to the beautiful Ullswater Valley to meet Ben Griffin & his mates who were staying in the area for the weekend as part of one of the groups Stag Event.

Ben had done a search online for Ghyll Scrambling or Gorge Walking Sessions in The Lake District and up we had come.

Unfortunately, Ghyll Scrambling venues are limited in the Ullswater Valley as over time, access has been reduced to the best ones. There are still a few places that can be used though and Glenridding Beck is one of these.

Photo one sees the group just moments after we had gotten into Glenridding Beck at the start of the session. Swimwear and fleece pullovers under wetsuits and cagoules soon overcame that chilly feeling and the group started to enjoy themselves. They were already getting a bit warm before they got in!

The first section of Glenridding Beck isn't that long - only a few hundred metres, but there are some good bits packed into it.

What is Ghyll Scrambling all about? Well, you can get an idea from these photos - getting wet and having fun! The beck was at a good level after the overnight rain - ideal for these strong lads anyway.

Ghyll scrambling involves walking upstream in a rocky stream bed, swimming through pools, climbing up waterfalls, working against the flow and dealing with obstacles such as this small waterfall along the way. The fall might have been small, but the volume of water pouring down it meant that this group had to work together as a team to get up it. There was no doubt that they thoroughly enjoyed it!

Another photo from the same section of beck sees the organiser - Ben, as he climbs a short waterfall to Iain whilst the rest of the group looks on.

The pool below was pretty deep and the climb - up a waterfall, needed protecting if people weren't to get swept back down by the volume of water. The protection was provided by Iain through the use of a top rope.

With this method, everyone was able to climb the waterfall and enjoyed the challenge. It was something that Iain though would add value to the session and it did exactly that. We had spent over an hour & a half in this lower section before we had realised it, but every bit had been challenging and above all else - great fun!

Photo four sees the lads at the top of the lower section of the Glenridding Beck Ghyll Scramble. The day had started off rather overcast and a little chilly but by the time we got into the ghyll, the sun had come out and the conditions had improved. By now it was quite warm.

The lads were not cold anyway due to what they were wearing. We do consider that a wet-suit is essential on any Ghyll Scrambling or Gorge Walking Session no matter how warm the day might be. Also, along with the cagoule, buoyancy aid and helmet, protection is provided against scrapes & bumps. Oh! and we provide you with proper walking boots for your feet too - for good grip & ankle support - all as part of the fee per person!

Our final photo from this post about this Stag Event in The Lake District sees the group re-entering Glenridding Beck above the Lead Mine. Just prior to getting back in, we had done a jump into the beck at the  Hydro reservoir and you can watch the video here. A little further on, we took another video of the group trying to get the last person (Will - the Stag) up a not very high, but quite powerful waterfall and this one gives a good impression of what a great Ghyll Scrambling Session is all about.

This group of nine each paid £40 for their four hour Ghyll Scrambling Session with Iain and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Ghyll Scrambling or Gorge Walking ( it is the same activity) is great fun as you can see and ideal for Stag & Hen parties, Corporate Team Building and a great idea for families with Children visiting The Lake District over the Summer Holidays. Contact us to book your session or call us on 07761 483364. Families do get a discount for children as we know how expensive holidays away can become if you have children!

For anyone looking for the ultimate Lake District Ghyll Scrambling Challenge - book on to our all day Esk Gorge trips - only £75:00 per person  (minimum of two persons) for the most exhilarating and refreshing outdoor challenge we offer and a real adventure to boot! We look forward to working with you.

Rock Climbing Skills Training Courses in The Lake District. Wednesday, July 29th, 2015.

When the Hayne family decided to visit The Lake District for a Summer Holiday, they were keen to find someone who could work with their sons Theo & Ollie to provide some Rock Climbing Skills Training for the lads.

Mum Georgina Googled Rock Climbing Courses in The Lake District and up we came in her search. Liking what  she saw, Georgina rang up to book a day out with Iain for Theo and Ollie.

Now, originally, the lads climbing day was booked for last Monday, but the forecast was rubbish - not only for Monday but for Tuesday too. Rock Climbing in the wet is to be avoided if possible.

Because of that, Iain suggested that we might postpone the climbing day until Wednesday when the weather was to improve and improve it did! Photo one sees Ollie climbing up to Theo on bone dry rock - in warm sunshine. Conditions could not have been more ideal!

Theo, at 18 years of age, was the most experienced of the pair - having a number of mates with whom he goes rock climbing from the family home in Guildford. However, his experience of lead climbing in a multi-pitch setting was very limited and it is a skill which he wished to develop.

Ollie had never been climbing in a multi-pitch setting and one of his biggest concerns was whether or not he would be able to belay a lead climber. As he soon discovered though, it isn't that difficult!

Photo two sees Theo placing a "runner" or running belay. This is a way of the lead climber "stitching" themselves to the rock as they climb a route. This method works well - provided the leader places good anchors and the belayer is attentive!

As well as teaching Ollie how to belay a lead climber and teaching Theo how to assess and place good quality "bomber" anchor placements, Iain also showed Theo how to bring two anchors together to a central attachment point when at a stance.

What is a stance? Stances are the places where a climber stops between pitches on a multi-pitch climbing route. A stance will usually be a ledge with good anchor placements where the lead climber can attach themselves to the rock using a minimum of two anchor points - why two anchor points? Well if you are only attached to one and that one fails due to a shock load then the chances are you'll be ripped off the rock and will join the falling climber as they head towards the ground - with very serious consequences!

Photo three sees Theo at a very good stance as he belays Ollie who is just above the crux (hardest part of the climb). The stance is big enough that Theo can drop the rope at his feet as he takes it in - with no fear of the rope cascading off down the crag - something else to be avoided! The stance was also big enough that Ollie could join Theo there with plenty of room for the pair to stand.

The final photo from this post about a Rock Climbing Skills Training day in The Lake District sees both Ollie & Theo attached not only to the climbing rope with slings larks-footed through their harnesses but also still attached to the anchor which is out of sight on the left.

Here, we were half way up the second multi-pitch climb of the day and this particular place was a good point at which to retreat from the route - something all climbers should be prepared to do for any number of reasons. However, you must remain safely attached at all times whilst preparing for an abseil retreat.

We remained safe by firstly attaching slings to our harnesses as can be seen by way of a larks-foot knot and then tying an overhand knot halfway down the sling. The sling was then attached to the anchor using a screw-gate karabiner.

This was done whilst we were still attached to the anchors with the climbing rope - so we remained safe!

Having done this, we were then able to safely untie from the climbing rope which was then threaded through the anchor at its mid-point and then either side was "thrown" down the crag reaching the crag foot. We then all clipped both sides of the rope into our belay plates as in a "stacked abseil" with the first person off attaching a prussik for security. That person was Iain.

We then all unclipped from the anchor as we were now re-attached to the rope, Iain abseiled first followed by Theo and lastly Ollie. With a stacked abseil, each person down protects the person following by pulling the "dead rope" tight should the abseiler following let go the dead rope. Doing this prevents the abseiler from plummeting to the ground. All textbook stuff!

Both Theo & Ollie thoroughly enjoyed their Rock Climbing Skills Training Day in The Lake District with Iain and both learnt new skills and improved their confidence in multi-pitch rock climbing.

Our Rock Climbing Skills Training Courses are open to anyone who wishes to learn to climb. Ideally, at the very least, you should have prior experience of indoor climbing walls, tying on to the rope and belaying. A full day out costs £80 per person for a minimum of two persons. Alternately, for someone wishing to try rock climbing for the first time with no prior experience, then our Introductory half day Rock Climbing Sessions are a bargain at £45 per person for a four hour session (again, for a minimum of two persons) and are great fun for adults and families. All equipment apart from rock shoes are included in the price.

Contact us here to book your Rock Climbing Course in The Lake District; or call us on 07761 483364. We look forward to working with you!

Bespoke Navigation Skills Training Courses in The Lake District. July 24th 2015.

Within a few days of Iain getting back from The Alps, he was back at work with Peter Brookes who wanted to learn how to use a map & compass properly in order that he could venture anywhere into the mountains in the UK.

Peter & his partner's family regularly make visits to the Lake District from Manchester as they own a static caravan in the area - an ideal base from which to explore all that the Lake District has to offer.

Peter's partner had, in fact bought Peter one of our gift vouchers to be redeemed on one of our Weekend Navigation Skills Training Courses, however as these are only run during the Spring & Autumn, Peter was unable to book on to one at the present time.

However, the other option was to use the voucher as part payment towards a bespoke Navigation Skills Training Course "one on one" with Iain which is what Peter chose to do.

We started off Peter's one day Navigation Skills Training Course by meeting him in Staveley and then heading off to nearby Green Quarter Fell.

First of all, Iain impressed upon Peter the importance of orientating the map and then we set off up Hall Lane looking for tick off features - measuring the distance between these features on the map and the pacing out that distance on the ground. Eventually we moved on to the importance of using grid references to pinpoint a location on the map and then we developed Peters skills to be able to find these features on the ground.

The latter part of the day was spent navigating from one grid reference to the next; and Peter was expected to be able to give Iain a bearing as well as the distance to the next grid reference en route. This he did well - despite the difficulty imposed on us by the Bracken seen in photo two which was nearing waist height in places! We finished off the day by discussing Naismith's Rule. Naismith reckoned that most people could walk at 3km per hour and that an addition of 1 minute per 10m contour crossed should be added to the time for distance walked. We reckon William Naismith was a bit slow as most people manage at least 5 kilometres per hour when walking in the hills!

Peter paid £160:00 for his bespoke Navigation Skills Training Day in The Lake District with Iain which might sound a lot - but consider the benefit of getting one on one tuition with an experienced Mountaineering Instructor. A lot of skills can be covered in a day! If you are looking for better value then book as bespoke Navigation Skills Training course - but bring more people along as our £160 per day fee applies to up to four persons; and then each additional person over & above that number pays only £40 each per day - bargain!

The other alternative is to book on to one of our Navigation Skills Training Weekends.

The next weekend course will be running during the weekend of September 26th & 27th and the cost is only £80 per person for the weekend course.

All of our navigation skills training courses are ideal for everyone - even those having the most basic understanding of map reading & navigation. They are also ideal for anyone wishing to update or refresh their map reading skills prior to attending a Mountain Walking Leader Training or Assessment Course or re-assessment.

Contact us to here book your Navigation Skills Training Course in The Lake District or call us on 07761 483364. We look forward to working with you.

A busy few days inbetween our visit to Spain and Iain's departure to The Alps. July 2nd - 5th 2015.

We arrived back from a warm & relaxing week in Northern Spain (Galicia) on July 1st. Iain was back at work the following afternoon at Hause Gill in Borrowdale with Nucleargraduates - one of our regular corporate clients, for another Lake District Ghyll Scrambling Session.

Nucleargraduates have been using our services to provide these sessions since 2011 and have been very satisfied with the results in so much that with this client group, these sessions are more than just about having fun! As well as that, these sessions are used to impell  these successful recruits to the organisation into working with each other and getting to know each other - something that is imperative to the success of their two year apprentice-ships within the organisation.

As usual, this group enjoyed a great and productive session in the ghyll with Iain and were well equipped to remain warm and protected during their session - something that we take very seriously!

Two days later, Iain was out running another Ghyll Scrambling Session in The Lake District for Ian, Jake, Charmaine, Charlene and Stacey who were visiting the area for the weekend to celebrate one of the groups birthday.

Iain took them to our nearest Ghyll Scrambling haunt reserved only for small groups as it involves a short journey by Land Rover and our vintage vehicle only has six seats! We were short on time as this group had to be elsewhere within a few hours, but as can be seen in this photo, they absolutely loved Ghyll Scrambling and it is quite likely that they will return again to finish off the rest of this ghyll - we do hope so anyway!

At the same time as Iain was out with a group of five, one of our associates was working with a group of three also Ghyll Scrambling in The Lake District at one of the areas best Ghyll Scrambling venues - Stickle Ghyll. Ioan, Mark & Dyl - all old university chums enjoyed a great session here with Chris who guided them all the way up the ghyll where they were able to scramble upstream - climbing up waterfalls and swimming through pools. For both groups today, the weather was warm, so it was ideal for thoroughly fun sessions enjoying a soaking in a mountain stream.

Ghyll Scrambling is great exhilarating fun best done in the summer months when it is warmest. We provide wetsuits, cagoules, buoyancy aids helmets, harnesses and walking boots as part of your fee of £45 per person to keep you warm and protected. A session will last up to four hours and the bigger your group size the less it costs you! For people looking for something a bit more challenging, our Church Beck Canyoning Sessions are ideal and if you want a full day of wet Adrenalin packed fun then our Esk Gorge Sessions at only £75 per person are unbeatable value and fun!

The next day, we were once again double booked by groups. Kate Bowman and here husband Dave spent the day in the Stickle Ghyll area of Langdale working with Mountaineering Instructor Simon Brocklebank - working on our behalf.

Simon's brief was to teach Kate & Dave the basics of scrambling ropework so that the pair could learn the skills to go off scrambling for themselves. Firstly the pair were "guided" by Simon up part of Stickle Ghyll so that they could see what the skills involved and then they went on to Tarn Crag to look at scrambling belays.

Finally, the pair were coached by Chris as they made their way up a grade II scrambling route on Tarn Crag. All good coaching and it certainly looked as though the pair enjoyed themselves judging by the photo!

At the same time Iain was also working in the same area running a Guided Scrambling Day in The Lake District for Ioan, Mark & Dyl who had been Ghyll Scrambling in Stickle Ghyll the previous day with Chris.

All three of these lads were big strapping rugby players and they wanted a good day out, Iain thought he was going to have his work cut out!

We started off by ascending the grade II route  - Piked How, from the the Langdale valley floor and eventually reached the top of this at around midday. As on the previous occasion that Iain guided on this route, he linked it with another scramble leading on to the top of Harrison Stickle and we arrived there about 2pm.

There was still time to do another route, so we descended Jack's Rake which is one of The Lake Districts classic scrambling routes. The photo shows the lads at the bottom of Jack's Rake after a very energetic & exhilarating day out on some of the areas best scrambling routes. Ioan, Mark & Dyl thoroughly enjoyed their Guided Scrambling Day in The Lake District with Iain. Next time, we are talking about taking them to the Esk Gorge!

Finally, whilst Iain has been in The Alps, other instructors have been working on our behalf with other groups. We have had a Hen Party on a half day Lake District Ghyll Scrambling Session in Stickle Ghyll on July 11th and more recently, we had another Mountaineering Instructor running a Rock Climbing Skills Training Course in The Lake District for us. Unfortunately, neither instructors managed to capture the shots of these groups working which we know you all love. So our last photo from this post sees a photo of a previous Hen Party having great fun with us at Stoneycroft Gill.

We are now up to date with our Blog posts; and if you like the look of any of the Activities or Skills Training Courses on offer here - then contact us to make your enquiry or to book a session. We have plenty of availability throughout August for those of you here with children over the Summer Holidays - most of it now being weekdays. But do get in touch and we will be happy to provide a great Outdoor Activity Session or skills training Course for you!

Kendal Mountaineering Services - where have we been & what have we been up to in June and July 2015??

Its ages since we've posted anything up on our blog. Not because things haven't been happening, no - in actual fact, mid June was so busy Iain didn't have time to post; and then he went away to Spain for a week - unthinkable at this busy time of year - but true. Anyway, here is a quick rundown of what we did work-wise before we went away!

Photo one sees a team from Kellogg's UK paddling a Canadian Canoe Raft on Grasmere on Wednesday 17th June. This was part of a Team Building afternoon on the lake and the group played all sorts of games. You can read a further report about the session here. Canadian Canoeing is a great way to explore any of the Lake Districts Lakes and our prices start at just £45 per person for a four hours session with all equipment included. An ideal sport for families visiting The Lake District during the Summer Holidays.

The following Saturday, Iain was out with returning client Adam Mitcheson who was after some Alpine Ropework Skills Training.

Iain took Adam to The Bell - a fine little scrambling route in the Coniston area. Here, we looked at the skills required for alpine scrambling and also for arranging an abseil descent. Both techniques are necessary on undulating Alpine ridges as Iain would rediscover some three weeks later.

We also looked at the techniques required for ascending a fixed rope such as the ones likely to be found on Adam's planned ascent route of Mont Blanc via the Aiguille Du Gouter and we finished off by looking at arranging a hoist to rescue someone who has fallen into a crevasse (photo two). Iain intends to contact Adam to find out how his Mont Blanc trip went as we understand that the Gouter Route was shut by the Gendarmerie due to continuous rockfall down the Grand Couloir recently. Anyway, we hope our day of skills training was beneficial for his trip to The Alps. Read more about this day here.

The very next day, Iain was running an Introductory Kayaking Session for Stella Tucker, her daughter Jen; and Jen's bloke Dave. This session had been arranged as a birthday present for Stella during one of the family's many visits to the area.

We met at Waterhead and after some skills training, paddled across the head of Windermere to where the combined flow of the Rivers Brathay & Rothay enter the lake. We travelled up here (photo three) and visited both rivers paddling as far upstream as the depth of water would allow before returning to the lake and paddling across to to Pull Wyke Bay and then heading back to Waterhead. The three thoroughly enjoyed their Introductory Kayaking Session in The Lake District - and you can too for only £45 per person for a four hour session. Kayaking is a great way to explore the Lake District's lakes during the Summer Holidays.

Two days later, Iain was briefly out Scrambling on Piked How in Langdale with Paul Deakin and his partner. Unfortunately, we didn't get very far before Paul's partner stated she didn't feel well and felt unable to continue. Hopefully the pair will return at another time so that we can give them the benefit of this fantastic scrambling route all the way from the floor of the Langdale Valley all the way to the summit of Harrison Stickle. You can read about about a previous trip to this route here if you are interested in trying a Guided Scrambling Day in The Lake District with us.

At the same time as Iain was out with Paul Deakin & partner, one of our associate instructors ran a one day bespoke Navigation Skills Training Course in The Lake district for Janet Holleron in the Kentmere Area of The Lake District. We are not sure what happened as Hayley only managed to get one photo and that was of Janet enjoying her Sushi somewhere during the day out; although we understand that Janet found the day thoroughly beneficial. We offer you two types of Navigation Skills Training Courses in The Lake District - our superb value weekend courses are listed here and cost only £80 per person for a two day course or, like Janet, you can book our Bespoke Navigation Skills Training Course at only £160 per day for up to four persons. Both of these courses are ideal for anyone wishing to improve their map reading a navigational abilities!

Finally, on the day that we left for Spain, we had four instructors working on our behalf with a group from Marston's PLC .

This event was arranged for Marstons who were raising money for charity and had asked us to quote for guiding a group of up to thirty five persons up Scafell Pike to the summit and back down again.

There are a number of ways to ascend England's highest mountain and the shortest way is to ascend via Lingmell Gill and Hollow Stones directly to the summit. This route is also the steepest way to ascend Scafell Pike. One of our instructors on the day took this photo of the group ascending Brown Tongue en route to Hollow Stones and the summit. As can be seen, it was a cloudy day although dry and the group made good time.

The final photo from this report about guided Hill Walking Session in The Lake District sees a satisfied group of Marston's employees arranged together at the summit of Scafell Pike.

In the end, only 25 out of the 25 employees originally booked on to this guided fell walk turned up meaning that with our team of four instructors holding a minimum of the Summer Mountain Walking Leader Certificate, the party was well catered for. All instructors that we use on any of our guided Hill Walking Days in The Lake District will hold the Summer Mountain Walking Leader's Award or higher, will be first aid qualified and will have emergency equipment with them. Ideally, they will also know the route that you wish to walk as well.

Prices for guided Hill Walking in The Lake District start at just £160 for a group of up to four persons or £40 each. If your group is larger then contact us for details of the price per person which will be less the larger your group size. For example, Marston's PLC paid just £20 per person to be guided up & down Scafell Pike by our team of instructors.

If you have enjoyed reading this post about the many activities and Skills Training Courses that Kendal Mountaineering Services have to offer you and would like to enquire; or make a booking - then contact us via the website here, call us on 01539 737332 or ring Iain on 07761 483364.

We look forward to working with you!