A grand week in the Alps Please take my Photo!
Today was our last day of a superb week in the Alps. Its been an action packed week with Via Ferretas some easy and some exposed.
Child Friendly! Via Ferreta
The team then split for cycling , multipitch cragging, some walking to acclimatise for a walk up to the Ecrins hut
Walking into the Ecrins Hut.The following morning dawned beautiful
Summiting at 9am on the Dome de Neige was perfect.
Adele and Paul on the top. Paul's first Alpine 4000m peak
Following the big mountains the team reunited and carried on with more via ferretas, multipitch rock and cycling and plan on celebrating a busy week with a meal out.
Smiles all round
Next week Adele is back to work in Wales on some multipitch Rock
Posted on 26 Aug 2011 by adele
We are going climbing!At 8.00am this morning William (age 4) decided he wantred to go climbing and danced around his house in his new rock boots and helmet. Dad gave God Mum and Uncle Paul a ring and everything was arranged to meet at Burbage North
To start the day William warmed up with some weasling, one of God Mum's favourite sports. 
It was then time to get those new boots on and gear up.
Look at my yellow shoes!
Wanting to help William uncoiled the rope and was soon setting off on his first climb of the day.
Padding up the Slab William was chuffed to meet his mate at the top.......and even happier to lower back down..
Not content with the easy slabs William wanted to push his grade...
and to really show how good he was and that he loved climbing just like us all.....
Dad are you proud of me?Superb few hours of fun for Dad, William, Adele and Paul.Adele is now off to the Alps for a week to have some Alpine activity with a group of friends. Via Ferreta, clipping bolts and maybe an Alp if the weather is good not to mention good food and maybe some wine.The SPA assessment run with Thornbridge outdoors on the 3/4th September is now full.Spaces are still available on the SPA Training on the 24th /25th September. If your interested then contact Thornbridge Outdoors 01629 640491 or e-mail courses@thornbridgeoutdoors.co.uk Posted on 19 Aug 2011 by adele
Rain did Not stop play! Mountain Leader Summer Training 7th to 12th August
ML Team starting out on their overnight expedition.
Last week Gav, Catherine, Bob, Gail, Clare and Tim launched themselves into their Mountain Leader Training Course with great enthusiasm. Based at Helvellyn Youth Hostel Adele the provider and director of the course was excited by the prospect of instructing this diverse team of people all from their different backgrounds and with different reasons for doing the ML training. The banter started very quickly but did not distract from lessons on the Navigators Dozen. Following some indoor instruction we were soon outside practicing micronavigation on Place Fell. It really works! and wow look at those contours! were comments heard as everyone got excited by finding the smallest of re-entrants. On day two the team had planned a journey off the beaten track around Helvellyn taking in Striding Edge
The start of Striding edge
Moving across Sriding edge in gale force winds taught the group how to manage a team across this terrain. Once on the top we continued our route across to raise where we were pleased that when asked by a lost walker we knew exactly where we were.
Following an evening discussion on Leadership we were pleased that a ridge of high pressure was going to bring dry sunny weather for our ropework day.
Thank you to Ron Rutland at
Summitreks who came to assist in the instruction and Mr Malcolm Creasy who came to moderate the course they added value and banter to the day. After a very successful day it was almost essential to finish of with a swift half at the Kirkstone pass Inn. In the evening we took a walk down to the Patterdale Mountain Rescue post where Glyn kindly showed us around the base and gave us an insight into how Mountain Rescue runs in the Lake District. Gale force winds and persistant heavy rain on Wednesday was not as an issue as we had indoor lessons on the weather and Risk before going outside to cross Glenridding beck!
Gail, Claire and Tim Crossing the beck!
Finally on Thursday we set of in the rain for our overnight expedition. The wet warm conditions did not deter enthusiasm as we made our way across to Deepdale wher we did find a dryish spot to camp.
Overnight Camp Deepdale.
After tea we put on our wet clothes again and after ten minutes of the giggles settled into a grand course of Night Navigation taking us from small contour features to the top of Gt Dodd. Excellent dead reckoning night nav meant Adele's glasses were found after she had left them behind in the mist and rain. Five hours later the tents appeared through the mist and we settled down for good sleeps. In the morning a brief time of dry air allowed us to relax before the rain started again. Still remaining focussed we navigated our way home via every interesting contour feature and finished with a shower and coffee and cake at the hostel before departing. What a week!
Below is some of the feedback from the course.What part of the course did you find most valuable and why?Micro Nav. Gained Loads of confidence in my ability to go out on my own.Being able to take on and learn from Adele's vast Knowledge and experience.What part of the course did you find least valuable and why?I found it all very usefulWhat is your plan now you have completed the course?Consolidation and Assessment-focusing on areas highlighted in 1:1 Debrief.Other CommentsAbsolutely loved it! Had a wicked time 
Excellent course-content,set up instructorAwesome! Thanks AdeleAdele will be running another Mountain Leader Training course from Helvellyn Youth Hostel from the 9th to the 14th October if you wish to find out more contact Adele on 07968983146 0r e mail climb@adele-pennington.co.uk
Posted on 17 Aug 2011 by adele
Lhotse Spring 2012Lhotse Spring 2012
Lhotse (8516m) taken from Camp 1on Everest
Next Spring Adele will be Leading a Lhotse Expedition for Jagged Globe.www.jagged-globe.co.uk
LHOTSE 8516m,is the world's fourth highest mountain, and is situated very close to Everest.Whereas Everest has seen well over 3000 ascents Lhotse has received less than 400.
To climb Lhotse the route follows the well known Everest South Col route to Camp 3 (7300m) high on the Lhotse Face. From camp 3 Everest and Lhotse climbers continue up the face and make the long gently rising traverse up to the yellow band. Following an ascent of the band the Everest climbers continue their traverse to the Geneva Spur, the Lhotse climbers however strike off upwards toward a rocky outcrop nick named the turtle shell. The Rock shelves at 7900m provide small platforms where tents can be put up and Lhotse camp 4 can be established. Leaving camp 4 very early the entry to the couloirs is gained. Narrow and steep this is climbed for 500m until the ridge is reached. Once on the knife edge ridge, a left turn and some tricky climbing leads to the summit
Adele has now climbed four of the 8000m peaks and has stood on the summit of Everest twice. Adele will be leading the Lhotse expedition in the Spring 2012 hopefully making her the first British woman to climb more than four 8000m peaks. In addition to her quest on the 8000m peaks Adele will be completing the last three of her 7 summits and will leading the Jagged Globe Aconcagua expedition Nov 30th to Dec 21st.
If you are interested in joining Adele on either of these expeditions or trekking in to Everest base camp with her in the Spring 2012 then please contact Adele 07968983146 or Jagged Gobe on 0845 345 8848 or E- mail tom@jagged-globe.co.uk
Posted on 04 Aug 2011 by adele
