Articles

Sam Leary takes over from Dave Walsh on the rock

Written by Tom Briggs, March 2014

Dave Walsh retired at the end of last season as our Rock Climbing Course Director. For the past seven years we have had a more comprehensive programme of rock climbing and scrambling courses and Dave did a fantastic job overseeing the staffing as well as delivering first-class instruction on the courses. Sam Leary has worked as an instructor on our courses since their inception, and she is also a regular instructor on our Scottish Winter Courses. Sam is passionate about her rock climbing and has a wealth of experience:

"I have been an active rock climber for the last 30 years, with a particular passion for mountain crags and any sea cliff (except the really loose ones!), this has lead to a flurry of new routing particularly in North Wales and also on the sea cliffs of Pembroke. On a good day I have led up to E4 on trad routes and a bit harder on bolts. As I get older however the grade is almost irrelevant (unless it's too hard of course!), now it is more about the quality of the experience.

In pursuit of rock, I have gained a wealth of experience from many areas of the U.K. and mainland Europe. There have also been trips to Peru, Bolivia, America. Morocco and Kenya. Climbing is definitely my main focus, both for pleasure and at a professional level.

Through freelance work I have found teaching and guiding in the multi-pitch environment to be extremely fulfilling. The combination of a technical and challenging activity that affords the opportunity to be in a beautiful location with like-minded individuals is for me what it is all about.

Winter mountaineering followed on from the rock climbing and I have gained a solid depth of experience from both Wales and Scotland. I am comfortable on Grade V ice routes, but equally enjoy a solid day out on longer, easier mountaineering routes. A personal trip to Norway was inspirational and great way to start the season.

In addition to the above, I hold a black belt in karate, dabble with cross country mountain biking, road biking, sea kayaking and enjoy throwing myself downhill (frequently headfirst!), on a snowboard. In fact just about anything which allows me to be outside challenging myself mentally and physically."

To book one of our Rock Climbing and Scrambling courses, view the programme here.

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