Welcome to Brians blog
On many occasions I’ve been inspired by a blog entry, a description of a climb or a photograph in a climbing magazine.
Who knows, maybe one of my blog entries can inspire someone to try a climb, walk a hill or learn a new skill.
Nov 2023 Developing Your Leadership Skills – useful for the ML or LLA
Aug 2023 Pathway To Becoming A Mountain Leader – The Journey to being an ML
Jan 2022 Tactics Of Navigation 1 – Upgrading your navigation skills
Apr 2021 A bit more bouldering in Doolin – some Bouldering videos
Mar 2021 Training For Rockclimbing – a personal journey to improve
Jan 2021 Earths Edge Guest Podcast – A podcast about my foreign expedition work
Nov 2020 Training/Assessment Opportunities – Opportunities for Female Instructors
Nov 2020 Mountain Skills Training: Understanding Weather – A useful guide for novices
Nov 2020 Mountain Leader Training: Understanding Weather – a useful guide for the ML trainee
Oct 2020 Mountain Skills Training Courses FAQs – Frequently asked Questions
June 2020 Understanding Variations Some insights for RCI Trainees
June 2020 Mountain Skills: Consolidation and Assessment how to train and prepare
May 2020 Self-Rescue For Climbers – do you know how to solve a problem?
May 2020 Hypothermia In The Moutains – a guide for hill users
May 2020 5 Gear Choices For Increased Safety On The Hills
May 2020 False Loops – why they are unsafe
May 2020 Lifespan Of A Rope – When should I retire a rope
May 2020 Half/Double Ropes – Why should I use them?
May 2020 Ropes – understanding their markings and ratings
May 2020 sleeping systems for the outdoors – tips for a better nights rest
May 2020 7 reasons to boulder in Doolin – we’ve gone list mad!
May 2020 The 5 Best HVS climbs in Ireland – another list!
May 2020 The 5 best VS climbs in Ireland – a fun list
May 2020 Prusiks Knots & Autoblocks when and why to use a friction hitch
April 2020 Belaying: rope loop or harness loop? a look at the options
April 2020 CAMS: Breaking The Rules
April 2020 Placing Trad Gear Improve your trad skills
April 2020 Mountain Leader: Whats a good QMD?
April 2020 RCI: Problem Solving Whats in and whats out!
April 2020 RCI: Problem Avoidance The best way to solve a problem!
April 2020 Personal Abseils: Cows-tails, lanyards or clipping in direct? Some thoughts on extending the abseil device.
April 2020 RCI set ups: Personal Abseil rope systems for RCI trainees
April 2020 RCI set ups: Bottom Rope Rope systems for trainee instructors
April 2020 RCI set ups: Group Abseil Rope systems for trainee instructors
Mar 2020 Types Of Carabiner learn about crabs useful for rockclimbing
Mar 2020 5 Tips: Tying into the rope pointers to improve your tying in
Mar 2020 Skills Refresher: 3 More Knots some more advanced knots
Mar 2020 Skills Refresher: 3 Basic Knots learn some new knots
Mar 2020 Skills Refresher: Taking a compass bearing navigation
Sept 2019 Fun in the Sun some inspiration from the 2019 Burren Meet
Aug 2019 Hiking around Ireland some inspiration to get out on the hills
May 2019 Island Peak – 6189 amsl a blog about getting high in Nepal
Apr 2019 Reconnect nature and flow
Mar 2019 Inspiration, Time and Effort inner ramblings in a post
Dec 2018 What is mountaineering? a quick thought on what makes a mountaineer
Sept 2018 6 Times, so far – Success on Kilimanjaro
June 2017 The crag booty dilemma – a mid route conundrum
Apr 2017 The Gap Meet and rock climbing in Kerry – A brief tale of a weekend in Kerry
Feb 2017 Coaching. Climbing. Grappling? Always trying to improve as a coach
Sept 2016 Kilimanjaro, Feargal Sharkey and Briamox summit night on Kilkmanjaro
Aug 2016 North Wales and the art of Trad Climbing – A trad trip to North Wales
June 2016 Fairhead Meet 2016 A brief account of the MI meet at Fairhead in 2016
Apr 2016 Movement Works – Fixing injuries, improving flexibility and warm up routines with James Hale
Apr 2016 Climbing Howling Ridge – A classic Irish mountaineering day out
Feb 2016 The Gaisce Award – Working as Mountain Leader
Feb 2016 Doolin Bouldering, New Problems Storm Imogen leaves some new problems in Doolin
Feb 2016 Climber friendly Hostel, The Burren a great place to stay in The Burren!
Jan 2016 In search of ice.. In search of good winter mountaineering conditions in Ireland.
Jan 2016 Training your climbing weaknesses Making the effort to address my weaknesses.
Jan 2016 Climbing videos Videos from Climb It and from the Irish climbing scene.
A little info about me:
My name is Brian Bateson. I am originally from Kildare, but it being flat and landlocked I decided to move to Clare. I live on the edge of The Burren, where stunning scenery and incredible landscapes can be found everywhere you go.
Its in The Burren where I go climbing most. Hours have been spent, but never lost, at crags like Ailladie, Ballyryan and Lackglass. Its a small community of climbers that live near The Burren all year round. So while getting a belay can sometimes be tough, it only serves to create solid friendships between those who tie in.
Ailladie is clearly the jewel in the crown of the Clare climbing scene. A crag Ive loved and hated in equal measure at times. Its been the scene of some of my most memorable days climbing. Its also been the scene of regular failure and rejection, getting spat off a number of its climbs.
Only a fool fears failure though, because nothing worth achieving should be easy. And if I want them bad enough Ill just have to try harder.
Thank you for reading,
Brian
