HOW AVERTICAL WORLD CAME TO BE
FROM A PASSION FOR CLIMBING
Back in the early 2000’s there were very few climb walls / centres in Scotland, most climbing was still done outside (when the weather was good and the midges not biting!) The Centre was opened in March 2003 after a year+ of building steel structures, walls and loos and reception.
The building had been a furniture warehouse for 50 years and before that a church servicing the Blackness area of Dundee.
Ideal as a climbing centre due to its height and location.
Development of the climbing & bouldering has take place over 3 phases
Phase 1 was the main floor with basic facilities
Phase 2 added the climbing and bouldering within the altar area and the slab climbing area.
Phase 3 involved adding the basement bouldering, gallery seating along with an updated reception.
Since then we have added the Lattice board and have plans for a possible phase 4, watch this space!
We are climbers who are in love with our sport in all its forms, you will find a member of staff who can impart experience in all forms of climbing including;
Sport
Competitions
Bouldering
Trad
Multi pitch
Winter
Alpine
Himalayan
Greater ranges
The knowledge base within the staff is second to non as is our passion for all climbing
SOME IMAGES OF CLIMBS AND CLIMBERS
We will be posting images of climbs and climbers regularly over the next week or two.
Each image will be without a title, location or name of the climber / climbers to get you guessing!
There are no prizes, just some fun and hopefully inspiration.
We won’t keep you in suspense for too long as we will post full details of the last image with the publication of the next one along with any back story there might be.
No 6
No 5
Fanfare for the Common Man E5 6a, Dirc Mhor.
Climber Simon Jenkins
Photo by Malcolm Davis
A classic climb at the grade, the crag is just north of Dalwhinnie and not seen from the road, an hour+ walk is worth the effort.
No 4
Maisie Gunn’s Magic Midgie Cream 6B+ on the heather hat boulder in Glen Nevis.
Boulderer: Didi Jellema
Photo by: Duncan Anderson
No 3
Newtyle quarry
Hurlyburly 8b
Climber Duncan Anderson
Image Sam Auchterlonie
No 2
Closer to home this time!
Balmashanner Quarry home to some short but very steep and finger intense sport routes, once spring arrives and the dampness has cleared its popular test pieces regularly expel would be strong climbers. Found 5 minutes from the car and 10 minutes from Forfar. In the sports climbing guide books for Scotland.
The Climb; Gravity’s Rainbow 8a
The climber; Andy Simpson, a local who has at times appeared to make the ‘Shanner’ his home!
No 1
So did you get it?
This was at the time (mid nineties) the biggest climbing wall.
The Emosson Dam just over the Swiss border from the Chamonix valley.
Two lines were set with artificial holds on the 140+m high lenticular shaped dam wall, Starting as a slab the wall quickly changes angle to vertical and beyond, at the top you are pulling up steeply overhanging ground. In 3 pitches probably one of the most exposed routes out there, mid line the smooth concrete surface sweeping in all directions.
If only all dams were built this way!
The climber, my companion on the day was Jim Kerr (not the musician, but the Mountain Guide).
More info general info: Here
Previous posts:
WINTER
It’s not for everyone and it means a lot of things, from climbing, snow covered Munros to Skiing and Boarding, a few images of Winters past, that tell a tale.
1 – Winters approach, so often in darkness through deep snow
2 – Easy gullies, the learning ground for future winter climbers
3 – Scotland? of course!
4 – Ephemeral ice on Labyrinth Direct
5 – Ptarmigan’s tale, runway take off
6 – Skye from Liathach’s western flank
7 – Igloo making in Glen Isla
8 – Golden Eagles print Ben Eighe
9 – Winter ridges
SUNRISE
Whilst not directly climbing related, we all like a good sunrise! having got up early by necessity, every morning (some of you will have met the reason for this, see the images). Rain, cloud, lots of wind! plus some unforgettable sunrises, the rewards for the early rise, a bit like the anticipation of what might lie ahead on a day out climbing.
Hope you enjoy the first of hopefully what will be an inspirational series of stories.
All take from Broughty Ferry beach over several years, all images unedited.