Climbing...one for the ladies

Advantages: It's awesome!!
Disadvantages: Getting to decent crags from the South East

...I have been climbing for more than 15 years now. Climbing actually encompasses a fairly broad range of activities, so I thought I?d start by explaining where I fit in. I am not one of these mad fools who think that tramping all day up a mountain in miserable cold wet conditions is fun. I enjoy technical rock climbing, on sea cliffs or inland crags, preferably on a hot sunny day and preferably with a very short walk from the car park :-) You can also climb on indoor, man-made walls, and this is where most people now start. New indoor climbing centres seem to be springing up all over the UK, and you can find the wall nearest you via the British Mountaining Council website, http://www.thebmc.co.uk/indoor/walls/wall.asp. Most offer introductory courses for a small fee. For example, the wall nearest to me (which I am not advertising...

Ali1000 21.12.2004 · Read review
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Review of Climbing - General

Climbing The Mango Trees

Advantages: A beautiful and evocotive read, well-illustrated, bonus family recipes.
Disadvantages: none

...Madhur Jaffrey is the undoubted world authority on Indian cuisine, as well as being a successful actress and an award-winning author of numerous cookery books. In Climbing The Mango Trees she tells the story of her childhood, growing up in a wealthy, very extended family in Delhi. Madhur dedicates her book to her grandparents for 'helping to make their grandchildren who we all are'. The majority of her reminiscences are delightful, enjoyable childhood recollections and reflections, which are a pleasure to read. There are, however, some heart-rendering moments, and running throughout the book is a very dark undertone surrounding the family's relationship to one uncle, which certainly makes poignant reading, and also shows that Madhur can portray difficult matter in a subtle and suggestive way. As well as the family tales, around which...

VC81 22.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Climbing The Mango Trees - A Memoir Of A Childhood In India - Madhur Jaffrey

You should climb rocks more. . .

Advantages: Clear diagrams. Chapter 6 and Parts III and IV. Quick reference.
Disadvantages: Too brief on important subjects and too longwinded on unnecessary ones.

...Mountaineering in the UK is certainly an activity, or as I think of it - a lifestyle, that you learn, not by reading books, but by getting out into the mountains, onto the rock faces and climbing. That said, there are 'skills and techniques' that must become second nature, and a clear, well structured reference book is always going to be a useful decoration to a climbers bookshelf. Libby Peter organises her book very much with the MI and SPA qualifications in mind, with yellowy sections giving techniques for instructors. . .In truth, they are useful skills for all climbers to know but not ones that will necessarily be used that often. She is a teacher, and for some reason the book lacks much humor or fun. The book is not comprehensive in its 225 pages, and the information Peter has decided to impart is mostly the most useful...

fantasticpete 20.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Rock Climbing: Essential Skills & Techniques - Libby Peter

Climbing

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...With over 20 years experience of running public and private climbing & abseiling sessions in the Peak Park's Hope Valley, their SPA, and MIA qualified staff & team of experienced part-time instructors are without doubt the first choice for people seeking single and multi-pitch rock climbing & abseiling tuition in the National Park. You'll be warmly welcomed and they'll supply everything you need for really great sessions climbing. Minimal kit is needed. Peak Park is an excellent place to go and I can highly recommend it for all you climbing enthusiasts...

nickdilworth 03.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Climbing - General

Bristol Climbing Centre

Advantages: Great exercise, friendly, exhilerating
Disadvantages: Can get busy!

...There's something immensely satisfying about hanging onto the top a wall you've just scaled, arms aching, looking down at your friends below. By the time you get down again, you're already looking for the next climb... I'd been trying to make time to go to Undercover Rock (AKA The Bristol Climbing Centre) for some time. I'd never tried climbing before but thought it might be something I'd like - and according to a friend of a friend I 'look like a climber' so I signed up for the introductory course. At the centre, they guarantee a maximum of 6 beginners to 1 instructor, and the price is a very reasonable £39 for a 2 hour initial session and a 2.5 hour follow up a week later, including instructor and equipment hire. The first session started with the basics - how to put on a harness, and how to tie a rope, with the instructor...

majick123 09.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of Climbing - General

Auckland Harbour Bridge Climb

Advantages: Great View of Auckland
Disadvantages: Little excitement

...'Climb Auckland's Harbour Bridge!' the article said and naively mental pictures of spiderman crept into my head filling me with childish glee... I could imagine myself boldly climbing up narrow steps and finally hauling myself to the top to be confronted by the most stunning views of Auckland. In reality the Auckland Harbour Bridge Climb, run by the thrill-seekers guru AJ Hackett did not live up to my expectations and my Spiderman dreams were left unfullfilled. It costs $65 to climb the bridge and this was a significant factor in my decision to climb the bridge (it was cheaper than bungy jumping off it for $125). however the bridge climb doesn't hold the same adrenalin thrills. You are dressed in 'stylish' grey overalls and harnessed to a handrail on a relatively wide walkway and led by a guide. the attraction is very quiet...

Gevaudan 15.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of Auckland Harbour Bridge Climb

Man Made wall Compared to Real Rock Climbing

Advantages: Gets the heart going
Disadvantages: Could also make it stop!!!

...Hi As a youngster in the Scouts, we had many trips to Fort Purbrook man made climbing wall. The wall was only about 15 foot tall with matresses on the floor. There were no ropes so it was easy, just climb up the wall..... Well, it was not quite so easy, the man made wall had very small bits to grip one with your hands or tred on with your feet. Even the easy bit was hard to achieve. I came to the conclusion that my body shape was the wrong shape for rock climbing and never took it any futher. 14 years on I meet a friend in our canoeing club who is well in to rock climbing. A few months back he climbed the stack, 'Old Man of Hoy' on the Orkney coast. He asked if I was interested in trying climbing and I said that I'd played on the man made walls and did not think I was designed body wise for climbing. He turned up on my drive...

cundala 21.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Climbing - General

For my climbing plants

Advantages: Gives good support
Disadvantages: none

...expanded or closed up. Opened this trellis makes diamond patters with the bamboo. Closed up it just looks like a bunch of wood in a bundle together. *Why I bought this trellis~~~ I needed to support clematis up against a wooden fence. This trellis is ideal for supporting any climbing plants. *How I fixed this trellis ~~~~ I actually tied mine on with string to the wooden fence where I was attaching it, there were already a few nails and pins in the fence. I could also have nailed/screwed it on. To fix it to a wall you attach wooden batons to the wall then screw the trellis into that. *How it copes with climbing plants~~~~~ Very well really as long as it firmly attached to the fence. My clematis has grown a lot and quiet heavy. *Durability~~~~~ It seems to be quite durable mine has lasted a few years . If you can due to...

mumsymary 21.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Gardman Expanding Garden Trellis

Get climbing!

Advantages: Fun and different
Disadvantages: Not suitable for all people to partake in

...which is what makes it ideal for climbing. The park surrounding the falls itself have many areas to enjoy a picnic and there is an onsite cafe and gift shop. How do I get there? Getting to Dunns River falls is relatively simple. If you are staying in Ocho Rios then it is only minutes away with the nearest other tourist resort being Montego Bay. It is probably easier to get a taxi if you haven't booked it as a tour and these can pick up from any hotel. Alternatively you can always catch the local bus which is a cheaper alternative! How do I book it? If you pre book it as a tour through your hotel you would simply get it booked through the hotel and pay either upfront or when being picked up. You'll probably find you'll pay more as you're also paying for the transport back and forth and also the convenience but if you make your own...

frankiecesca 08.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios

Climb high for him!

Advantages: cute
Disadvantages: retired

...him a big squeeze, you will not believe how soft he is! His fur is so warm and cosy and silky soft. Inside he is filled with stuffing fluff. Though in his paws you will find little beans. This provides a little extra weight to him, but can also be a choking hazard if he were to rip - so he is not safe for very young children. He is not one to be put in the washing machine either. It would ruin is very soft fur for one thing, and ifhe were to rip in there, the beans would create a huge mess and possibly even break thebmachine if they got lodged in places...a simple scrub by hand is a much safer option for sure. On Eucalyptus' left ear, as with all the TY beanies, you will find a little cardboard heart shaped tag. Opening it up you will notice there is a little poem inside. It reads: Koalas climb with grace and ease To the top branches...

Amy69 29.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of TY Eucalyptus the Koala