Cliffhanger 2011

Public sessions are a real hit

Organised by Sheffield City Council and Heason Events, on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2011, the fifth Cliffhanger event was held in Millhouses Park in Sheffield.  

With 20,000 people at the event over the weekend, and based on the enthusiastic and positive response from visitors, exhibitors, competitors, sponsors and partners it is clear that once again a nationally significant outdoor pursuits-based event was delivered.  

The AMI had an exhibitors stand and held free skills sessions for the public. We worked with around 50 different folk during the 2 days.  

Cliffhanger is the UK’s largest outdoor event for outdoor people. The main focus of the weekend was round 7 (of 8) of the IFSC Bouldering World Cup.  

20,000 people attended the event over the two days. The following statistics are derived from a sample of 370 people who attended the event (the average age of the sample was 33, however the majority of the sample had children in their group):  

59% of visitors travelled less than 10 miles to get to the event
15% of visitors travelled between 10 and 30 miles to get to the event
25% of visitors travelled for more than 30 miles to get to the event
The average distance travelled to get to the event was 32.6 miles  

The AMI is committed to supporting Mountaineering Instructors everywhere and enabling them to deliver skills and advice to the climbing public.    

Gri Gri 2, Recall

Please see the attached files regarding a “recall for replacement”

Press release, Gri Gri 2

Equipment Recall !

DMM have just issued a recall notice for the Dragon Cam size 4 and 5. They were alerted to this by an American retailer who found cracks in a size 5 in his stock.  

For more info go to;
  
http://dmmclimbing.com/dragonrecall45.asp  

Ed  

The Outdoor Show, 2011
Members marketing Opportunity  

DMM, The Beacon Climbing Centre and AMI working together

This year the Outdoor show will be at Excel in London. The show in the past has been at the NEC in March but has moved to a bigger venue and will next year be between the 13 and 16 of January.
The Outdoor Show will be sharing the space with The Boat Show and The Bike show   In the past AMI members have helped DMM with some belaying on an indoor wall, this has always been a great showcase so we have developed the project a little further.  

At the next show DMM and The Beacon Climbing Centre (BCC) will have 3 separate wall areas. One rock tower, one ice (closed cell foam) wall and an area of ground level teaching panels. The stand will also have a shop and a meet the expert s area .   The DMM stand will sit between the Skymasters comp and the Bouldering Comp.  
DMM the BCC and AMI are offering short workshop sessions to the public to showcase British Industry at its best. If you would like to get involved you will be able to market yourself and the AMI during the show.  

The workshops are being advertised on both UKClimbing and DMM websites, they are;  

Perfect anchors, 1 hour Place the perfect nut or select the best cam. Learn the dark arts of leader placed climbing protection and how best to use it. Who is it for, novice climbers wishing to place nuts and cams with confidence and attach them selves safely. The workshop will be ground based and practical. All gear supplied. 6 places available
Workshop times 1. 10.30-11.30           2.12.00-1.00                3.1.30-2.30                  4.3.00-4.00     

Knot wizardry, 1 hour Lock off your belay plate, in reach, out of reach, clove hitch. Learn some top tips and handy hints from the experts. If you have ever got to a stance and said I hope that will work then this is for you. Ground based advice about slick rope work and tangle free climbing. Who is it for, intermediate climbers who have climbed outside. All gear supplied. 6 places available
Workshop times 1. 10.00-11.00           2.11.30-12.30              3.1.00-2.00                  4.2.30-3.30         

Trusting anchors, 1 hour Placing climbing protection on the lead ..with added gravity. Learn to trust yourself, your partner and your gear. Everything from resting on an anchor to gently taking falls, don t worry, it s with a safety rope. Climb on the artificial rock face and place anchors under the expert guidance of a Mountain Instructor. All gear supplied. This is a workshop for climbers with previous experience of leading indoors who would like to get into leading outdoors. 4 places available
Workshop times 1. 11.00-12.00           2.12.30-1.30                3.2.00-3.00                  4.3.30-4.30  

Places will be on a first come first served basis.   For more go to;   http://www.outdoorsshowextra.co.uk/th  
http://www.dmmclimbing.com/news.asp?nid=338&ngroup=2   http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=432777

SAIS Survey

SAIS Report Service Feedback Survey - Please help 
 
Our aim is to continually develop the avalanche information service for all mountaineers, climbers walkers and skiers that enjoy the Scottish mountains and hills during the winter season. We have produced this survey in order to obtain your views and user information. We aim to provide a service that gives the best possible mountain and snowpack information to mountain users, enabling them to enjoy the Scottish winter mountain environment with greater knowledge and awareness of the avalanche hazard. Your feedback is important in helping us achieve this.  
Please use the link/address  below to access the survey thankyou  
Mark Diggins, UIAGM SAIS  Coordinator   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SAISsurvey    

pine martens in the uk

The Vincent Wildlife Trust is currently running a project entitled Prospects for Pine Martens, which aims to find about more about pine martens one of the UK s rarest mammals in England and Wales.

We are currently appealing to various countryside/outdoor pursuit publications to help us to detect this elusive mammal and I wonder if you will be able to help. Pine martens are now restricted to upland craggy areas, including the Lake District, North Yorkshire, the Pennines and Snowdonia, where many people frequent for outdoor pursuits, particularly climbing and mountaineering. Tracking down pine martens is a difficult business, and so we re appealing for anyone who thinks they might have seen one to come forward and report the sighting to us.

Further information about the project here

Lizzie Croose
The Vincent Wildlife Trust
3&4 Bronsil Courtyard
Eastnor
Ledbury
Herefordshire
HR8 1EP
tel. 0044 (0)1531 636441 fax 0044 (0)1531 636442
web: www.vwt.org.uk  / www.pinemarten.info  

Registered Charity No. 1112100; Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 05598716. Enrolled Environmental Body, No. 235743.The Vincent Wildlife Trust - specialising in mammal research and conservation in Britain and Ireland

Have you seen a Pine Marten in England or Wales? If so, we d love to hear about it!Please phone 01531 636441 or email enquiries@vwt.org.uk  today!

new development officer

Ed Chard has been appointed as AMI's new developement officer. Ed is a long-standing committee member and works as a self-employed Mountain Instructor. Email Ed on info@edchard.co.uk with any queries.

AMI News

AMI News magazine is available on subscription via this web site. With all the latest news on mountaineering and great articles by climbing experts, it's a great read.

Check out our subscription page for more info!