Rock Climbing for Childline

We did it !!!!!!!

We battled the weather the rock and our fears and WON.

On the evening of 14th July Nicky, Paul and myself travelled to a secluded yet beautiful part of Dartmoor called Dewerstone.

We left our cars in a small car park and started on the quite steep trek for about a mile until we reached the bottom of “Mucky Gully”. Out of all my adventures this is the one I was most nervous over. Standing at the bottom looking up 110 feet I started to think this would be the one I’d back away from.

Phil and his wife Tammy were our instructors and they immediately started to sort out all of the equipment and at the same time told us a few of the things we had to do to make our assent safely. Tammy was to be our “Lead Climber” and as soon as she was ready she started to climb. We all watch attentively hoping to get some tips on how to climb this rock and all secretly hoping it was going to look easy. Tammy made it look very easy and climbed about 20 feet up before she put her first piece of safety equipment in the rock.

We listened to Phil as he told us what Tammy was doing and gave us minor tips for the climb. The sight of Tammy about 75 feet up the rock face didn’t assure us though and I think we were all a little nervous at this point.

It had been decided that I would be first one to climb so I put on my harness and rock shoes while we waited for Tammy to secure herself and our safety rope at the top. A shout for somewhere above told us she was ready and  Phil checked my harness and safety rope. There was no going back now so I started to climb .

The slight drizzle had made the lower section wet and therefor a little slippery. I was lucky though because as I climbed higher the wind had dried the rock so foot holes were ok. I didn’t look down and just concentrated on the next place to put my feet and where I was going to put my hands. As I was the first after Tammy to climb it was my responsibility to remove the climbing equipment from the rock face as made my assent. This , when on the ground, seemed like a fair request and I didn’t mind. However 60 feet up clingy to the rock face knowing I had to take my hands off the rock to retrieve the equipment I decided it was a little unfair. The worst of this was when I had to look at my harness in order to see where I was clipping the equipment. I could see passed my harness and a long way down the ground. On many occasions when either foot holes weren't readily available or the actual realisation of what I was doing hit me I had to stop, take a few deep breaths and give myself a stiff talking to in order to calm myself down and continue.

Near the top, the rock face split into two which introduced some new problems for us. The first was the wind. 100 feet up the wind that evening was quite strong and on a number of occasions I found myself hugging the rock face waiting for the gusts of wind to calm a little before I continued upwards. The next was by taking the easiest route up I found myself being on the wrong rock face 110 feet high and having to climb/scramble/jump across the gap between the two faces. Constantly encourage by Tammy and the distant shouts from the others below I made it to the top. Once safely secured to the safety rope was able to sit down, take in the view and reflect upon the achievement I had just made.

Next up was Nicky.

Nicky scrambled up the rock face in next to no time compared to my climb and with shouts of support from me, Tammy and the others below she was soon scrambling over the gap at the top. With tears running down her face and a look of shear relief it was over she looked at me and said “your not going to want to take this up as a hobby are you?”

Paul followed Nicky even faster, although unfortunately Paul had to deal with the worst weather conditions as it rained quite heavily for his entire climb.  

We scrambled  down the rocks at the back and made our way to the others at the bottom of “Mucky Gully” feeling very triumphant at our achievement but both Nicky and myself said we would be happy not to do it again!

Id like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to our new friends Phil and Tammy who made this event although fearful and nerve racking an enjoyable and safe one we will remember for ever.  

Between us and the guys who climbed before us I believe we raised £1000 for Childline so I’d also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who sponsored us.

Thank You.