Mountain Biking
08.05.2012 -We went mountain biking in the Peak District. We stopped at points on the map to see if we could navigate and see where we were e.g. after the secong hairpin bend stop at the gate. We also followed the reservoir round like a hand rail feature so we knew that as long as the reservoir was on the right hand side we were going in the right direction.
To plan a route we decided that we would pick out obvious places to stop e.g. 2km up near the third hairpin bend and as we knew how long it would take to go 2km and we would be looking for obvious signs such as that, it would mean that it was pretty simple for us to navigate where we were going.
The orientation of the map would also mean that it would be easy to navigate as when you were no longer facing north the map would still be.
On a map there were grid references and in the event of us getting lost or having to decide where we were they could be used to help either get us back on track or to tell people where we are on the map.
There are 4 figure grid references and 6 figure grid references.
4 figure gris references are used to pin point a square you are in whereas a 6 figure grid reference is used to pinpoint and exact location.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
31st January 2012- Cooking
We cooked tomato soup, made hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
We used a trangia to cook our food. To cook the soup and boil the water for our hot chocolate we used the burner, we also used the burner to toast our marshmallows. This didnt take as long as other peoples meals did as its not very complex, but if we were to take it on an expedition it wouldn't weigh much and would provide nutrients that we would need.
It was a success because we didn't burn anything and the pans were easy to clean and when we got it, it was hot and edible.
Our meal was easy and less filling compared to Perry's as his group cooked chicken curry and rice. Their meal took a lot longer than ours and had a higher risk of contracting food poisoning. We had finished our meal and were boiling a second batch of water and packing up, they were still cooking there chicken and rice. There was no risk of food poisoning with our meal but they had to make sure that their chicken was good correctly to prevent it.
If we had to do it again we would cook something different and more filling so that it would provide more energy for us.
We cooked tomato soup, made hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
We used a trangia to cook our food. To cook the soup and boil the water for our hot chocolate we used the burner, we also used the burner to toast our marshmallows. This didnt take as long as other peoples meals did as its not very complex, but if we were to take it on an expedition it wouldn't weigh much and would provide nutrients that we would need.
It was a success because we didn't burn anything and the pans were easy to clean and when we got it, it was hot and edible.
Our meal was easy and less filling compared to Perry's as his group cooked chicken curry and rice. Their meal took a lot longer than ours and had a higher risk of contracting food poisoning. We had finished our meal and were boiling a second batch of water and packing up, they were still cooking there chicken and rice. There was no risk of food poisoning with our meal but they had to make sure that their chicken was good correctly to prevent it.
If we had to do it again we would cook something different and more filling so that it would provide more energy for us.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Rock Climbing (Yarncliffe Quarry)
At Yarncliffe Quarry (17/11/11) the equipment we were provided with, (harness, helmet, Karibieners, belaying device and rope), was handed out and we were instructed on how to put the equipment on. Jed then set up the ropes on the rock face and made sure it was safe for us to climb.
The jobs that I did whilst we were climbing were:
Belaying: I stood at the person at the bottom of the rock face and tightened the rope through a belaying device as the climber gradually climbed up the rock. Then when the climber reached the point of the rock that they wanted to, i was responsible for the climbers safety and when the climber was abseiling they must gently release the rope through the belaying device.
Climbing:
Once the belayer was ready, we climbed onto the cliffe face. We tried to grab the rock that had the most grip as it was quite wet. We used the strength in out legs to push up off the lower rocks so that we could climb the rock. Once at the top we had to lean back and then the belayer lower us.
How To Fit A Harness
Unravel the harness so that the leg hoops are in front of you. The leg hoops should be hanging from the waist band so they are infront of your legs when harness is lifted up.
Step into the leg hoops (like a pair of trousers) and pull it up till it can go no higher. The strap that connects the two leg straps together should be at the front of your legs if it is not then the harness is on the wrong way.
Then tighten trhe waist strap so that it wont drop down and will carry your weight once climbing.
Double back on the waist strap so that it is secure and wont loosen off.
Then tighten the leg straps so that they are as tight as they can get.
Again double back on the leg straps so that it won't loosen off.
Once its fastened tighten it using the strap so that it is secure on your head and won't fall off.
Belaying Techniques
Measure up the size of the climber and the size of the belayer so that they are in proportion to one another so the belayer is strong enough to anchor the climber.
Tie the climber into the harness using a figure of 8 knot and then a stopper knot then check that the climber is secure by pulling the knots to see if it will stay and prevent the climber from falling.
When communicating with either the belayer or the climber you need to make sure that the message is clear and that it has been clearly understood. For example if the rock is high and the climber has gone most or all of the way up you could use signs that have been explained prior to the climbers assent. You could also shout up to the climber once they have finished climbing and say things like 'lean back' and 'hold onto the knot on the rope'. These are clear instructions and cannot be misinterprited.
1. Fold your rope into a loop.
2.Then fold it back across itself.
3.Wrap the loop around the back of the folded rope and thread it back through the main loop.
4.Adjust the knot size.
Stopper knot
1. Start the knot by making a loop, and wrap the short end of the rope around itself twice.
2. Send the short end through the knot.
3. Tighten the stopper knot evenly.
4. Secure the end of any other knot using a stopper knot.
You can also use layback. This is basically when you transfer your body weight from your hands to your feet.
A crimp is also another climbing technique. For this you only use your fingertips to hold the rock with.
A pinch is another way to hold the rock. You need to just pinch either side of the rock so that you can get a good grip.
Use of an anchor
An anchor is usually something that is attatched to the climber, rope, rock, building etc. It's goal is that in the event of a fall it will usually stop a fall or hold a static load.
The jobs that I did whilst we were climbing were:
Belaying: I stood at the person at the bottom of the rock face and tightened the rope through a belaying device as the climber gradually climbed up the rock. Then when the climber reached the point of the rock that they wanted to, i was responsible for the climbers safety and when the climber was abseiling they must gently release the rope through the belaying device.
Climbing:
Once the belayer was ready, we climbed onto the cliffe face. We tried to grab the rock that had the most grip as it was quite wet. We used the strength in out legs to push up off the lower rocks so that we could climb the rock. Once at the top we had to lean back and then the belayer lower us.
Unravel the harness so that the leg hoops are in front of you. The leg hoops should be hanging from the waist band so they are infront of your legs when harness is lifted up.
Step into the leg hoops (like a pair of trousers) and pull it up till it can go no higher. The strap that connects the two leg straps together should be at the front of your legs if it is not then the harness is on the wrong way.Then tighten trhe waist strap so that it wont drop down and will carry your weight once climbing.
Double back on the waist strap so that it is secure and wont loosen off.
Then tighten the leg straps so that they are as tight as they can get.
Again double back on the leg straps so that it won't loosen off.
How To Fit A Helmet
Put the helmet on the top of your head and with the tightening mechanism at the back of the helmet turn it clockwise so that it tightens. But turn it anti clockwise if it needs to be loosened off.Once its fastened tighten it using the strap so that it is secure on your head and won't fall off.
Belaying Techniques
Measure up the size of the climber and the size of the belayer so that they are in proportion to one another so the belayer is strong enough to anchor the climber.
Tie the climber into the harness using a figure of 8 knot and then a stopper knot then check that the climber is secure by pulling the knots to see if it will stay and prevent the climber from falling.
To belay a belay device is needed in order to get the climber down. Every time there is slack on the rope, the rope needs pulling through the belay device so that if the climber falls they will not fall all the way down as they will have been stopped and the belayer will have full control of the rope. To get the climber downyou need to ask them to grab the knot fastened to their harness and lean back. You then grab the rope at either end of the belay device and then gently release the rope through the device to make the climber come down whilst they step down on the rock face.
When communicating with either the belayer or the climber you need to make sure that the message is clear and that it has been clearly understood. For example if the rock is high and the climber has gone most or all of the way up you could use signs that have been explained prior to the climbers assent. You could also shout up to the climber once they have finished climbing and say things like 'lean back' and 'hold onto the knot on the rope'. These are clear instructions and cannot be misinterprited.
Tying a Figure of 8 and stopper knot
Figure of eight1. Fold your rope into a loop.
2.Then fold it back across itself.
3.Wrap the loop around the back of the folded rope and thread it back through the main loop.
4.Adjust the knot size.
Stopper knot
1. Start the knot by making a loop, and wrap the short end of the rope around itself twice.
2. Send the short end through the knot.3. Tighten the stopper knot evenly.4. Secure the end of any other knot using a stopper knot.
Appropriate route choice
When planning a route when climbing you need to make sure that there are ridges and indents in the rock face so that you can gain a good grip that will prevent you from falling from the rock.
There are also different ways that you can grip the rock so that it will make your choice of route more diverse and possibly easier to be able to climb.
You could use the mantel shelf which is using your arms to push yourself up onto a ledge using upper body strength so that you can get your knee or foot onto the ledge that your arms are on.
You could use the mantel shelf which is using your arms to push yourself up onto a ledge using upper body strength so that you can get your knee or foot onto the ledge that your arms are on.
You can also use layback. This is basically when you transfer your body weight from your hands to your feet.
A crimp is also another climbing technique. For this you only use your fingertips to hold the rock with. A pinch is another way to hold the rock. You need to just pinch either side of the rock so that you can get a good grip.
Hand and foot jams are when you wedge your hand or foot into a rock so thatit is easier to climb. For Hand jams your palm needs to face on side of the crack and the back of the hand the other. For the foot jams you need to do the same but with your big toe facing up and your little toe facing down but you foot needs to be in the crack upto the arch in the foot so it is secure.
Place protection
Place protection is when you place a Hex (Hexcentrics), a camming device or a nut into the rock so that there can be ropes up the rock so that it is safe for the climber to climb up it.
Use of an anchor
An anchor is usually something that is attatched to the climber, rope, rock, building etc. It's goal is that in the event of a fall it will usually stop a fall or hold a static load.
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