 This is Clean Ascent Trustee Phil Skinner, climbing Central Corner at Irishmans Wall on Dartmoor. Phil is working towards the Rock Climbing Instructor qualification.
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 Absolutely stunning day walking the Snowdon Horseshoe with James, the inspiration for Clean Ascent, and our friends Simona and Simon. We started early and missed the crowds on a glorious day. Here's James nearing the top of Crib Goch's North Ridge, looking out over the cloud inversion we were treated to.
 Clean Ascent client lewis came with us to Hound tor to try climbing on real rock for the first time. He did fantastically well overcoming his fears and was jumping for joy and asking how he could climb more.
 I had a great day with Lee Chivers of Clean Ascent and Ripple Effect, as he worked towards consolidation for his Rock Climbing Instructor qualification.
 We were lucky to be joined at the Quay Climbing Centre by Lewis, who impressed everyone with his natural climbing ability. Here he is being belayed by Clean Ascent Instructor Vince, with Lee Chivers watching and offering advice.
 I had the pleasure of taking James, who's writing is on the Addiction page of this website, and our mutual friend Simon, up Cadair Idris via a rarely used scramble from Cwm Cau. The views from the top were stunning.
 Great news! Vincent Forder, who came though the Clean Ascent pilot, has passed his Climbing Wall Instructor qualification. Vince first tried climbing at our first taster day back in May 2017, and has dedicated himself to the sport and to getting qualified. Just shows what is possible with some effort and application. This is Vince teaching on one of the autobelays at the Quay Climbing Centre.
 This is Clean Ascent Trustee Phil Skinner, practicing releasable abseils with Lee Chivers, one of our instructors and pilotees. They were taking part in an SPA Training course run by Mark Garland Mountaineering. The SPA (Single Pitch Award) will soon be called the Rock Climbing Instructor award.
 Vince and Lee had the chance to practice their instructing and coaching skills as Phil has started to come to Exeter to learn to climb with Clean Ascent. Both Lee and Vince are working towards instructor qualifications.
 Here is Vincent Forder being lowered as part of a demonstration of how you might teach multiple people to belay. Vincent, one of 3 people who took part in the pilot for Clean Ascent, was taking part in a Climbing Wall Award Training course run by Mark Garland Mountaineering.
 Vincent, having been through the pilot for Clean Ascent, is now ready to take his indoor climbing instructor training (CWA), and has started logging lead climbs for his outdoor instructor training (SPA). Here he is at the top of Sheep May Safely Graze
 James, the inspiration for this project, following me up a route on Fledgling Wall, a mostly solid but very tidal slab North of Bossington Beach in West Somerset.
 We climbed Aran Benllyn and Aran Fawddwy today, walking the Aran Ridge for Clean Ascent's first mountain day. Everyone coped well with the 995m of ascent and enjoyed the views of Snowdonia and beyond.
 We had a great day at Chudleigh for our weekly Clean Ascent day in conjunction with Ripple Effect Devon. I led Vinnie and Lee up a couple of long single pitch routes and talked about anchor selection and belay construction. We were joined by Jake who was climbing for the first time and had a good time top roping a few routes. Clean Ascent director Phil Skinner also came along to see how much fun we were having.
 As a thank you to climbing instructor Anna Hearnden for her continued help with Clean Ascent, I organised a couple of days guided climbing and instruction with Trainee Mountain Guide Tom Ripley. We climbed more than 20 pitches over the two days, covering varied terrain whilst Tom taught us techniques for leading clients quickly on climbs and steep ground. Tom deserves thanks and regards for his time and teaching, and we wish him luck on his journey through the British Mountain Guide Scheme
 Due to bad weather, the ongoing training for Ali, Lee and Vinnie took place at the Quay Climbing Centre in Exeter. We spent the session working on movement technique and learning to lead climb, covering areas such a belayer position, clipping position, rope management, route selection, falling and catching falls. Next session indoors they'll all get their first leads done. Thanks to Anna Hearnden for her help.
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