2 Awards in one week!!!

Transition has been very lucky this week as we have won two prestigous awards.

First of all we were awarded 'Socially responsible Business' by Crimestoppers. This was profiled by events such as the Urban Arts project amongst others...

Then, last night we were overjoyed to recieve the 'Business Success' in the under 3 years category. Competition was stiff for all categories and this makes it all the more special...

The Transition team thanks all of you out there that have supported us since we opened our doors in April last year.

Still Getting Stronger!

Here is the evidence as if we needed it! Transition has had a positive effect on the North East Climbing scene its now June and still folks are trying to get stronger and send those projects!

Amamda Lyons demonstrates immaculate technique on The Pain 7a a porty classic

Mark Scott makes like an orangutan and prepares for the swing on the uber classic The Pit 7a

Look at the monkey swing!!! Mark taking the swing before the final pull over the lip!

Gordon Lennox and our own Duncan Paterson trying to pull the Pit Boulder over!!! You'll need more than the 2 of you? Duncan employing some cunning foot work on The Buzz 7a+ and Gordon mid way through his marathon 5 hours session on Kayla 7c+!

It seems assured now wither summer or winter you will always get a crack down at Porty! Thanks to Stuart for taking some pics and check out his and Amanda's flickr site link on the left for more inspiring photos of porty bouldering.

We're selling climbing gear!!!

That's right; we have a sales counter set up for all customers to purchase climbing gear.

At the moment we are holding limited stock or basic necessities such as; finger tape, chalk balls, chalk bags, loose chalk and some krabs and belay devices.

If it is a success then we will look to increase the range of items we sell from it to include harnesses and other hardware.

The counter is located just outside the climbing wall door. If you whish to purchase anything from it then simply speak to the reception staff to get it for you and pay at the reception desk. If you have any technical questions please seek out an appropriate member for the climbing staff.

Happy climbing!!

How the West Was Won!

The Superb West Coast Weather over the last 6 weeks has been hard for us East coasters to ignore! A strong posse headed west form Aberdeen for a long weekend of action on Friday 24th May.

First up we hit the the Creag Mhor Thollaidh crags. Guy Roberson warmed up on the massive Destitution Man on Loch Maree Crag a 50m E4 5c of stunning quality unlike the photo!

Mean while another strong party of Pete Benson and Ali Coull were limbering up on some fine Loch Tollaidh routes. Ali Coull demonstrates east coast living doesn't need to be tan free on MacDonald a fine E4 6a.

Sunday was to full of climbing for any one to pick up the camera but Monday was a treat, climbing as a 3, Pete , Ali and myself headed to Rieff.

I lead of first on the superb and great named "If You See Kay" the lengths some people will go to to have a swear word in a SMC guide book?

Ali made lite work of another steep neo classic Miss Money Penny E5 6a

Pete felt obliged to stuff his finger into the alluring crack of Strongbow the classic E2 at the Stone Pig Cliff.

I tried in vain to keep the momentum up but narrowly failed to onsight arguably the most under rated route at Rieff! Clatterbridge is a great sustained wall climb(E56b).

We then made a quick dash to take advantage of the dry conditions at the Boulder Cliff

Pete dawned the gloves to send the outrageously overhanging classic Wyatt Earp Surely the hardest or maybe most under graded route at Rieff at E3/4 6a?

Bouldering and its problems!

We've started to re set the bouldering wall again...

There is a new board up to display the problem grades and rules. Please use this to help with the specifics of the problems on the wall as there will be certain rules that will apply to some but not the others.

Here's a list of some of the abbreviations of the boulder problem rules:

SS or Sit = Sit start

Stand = Standing start

Jump = Jumping start (using closest handhold and any foot holds available)

AF = Any footholds allowed

FF = Features and smears only for feet

No Feat = No features for hands or feet

+ Feat = Includes features for hands and feet

No Arete = None of the corners/aretes are allowed for hands or feet

No Bridge = Bridging between walls is not permitted

Why not try some of the problems with a mix up of these rules? Its a good way to get your imagination flowing. Also; if you really want to play on those nasty nasty holds with your hands but the problem is too hard using one colour of holds... use them all for your feet!!

Your ability and the scope of the routes and problems in the climbing centre are only limited by your imagination.

Ever heard of add on? Its a great game to play with others down at the wall. Someone starts a sequence and everyone else has to repeat that sequence and add another hold on to it... By the time its your turn again you'll have to have good skills and an even better memory! Its great for trying out new sequences and finding new ones that you would have never thought of.

There are loads of ways to liven up your session from games, altering rules all the way to simply not matching hands or feet when trying a problem or any movement on the wall.

Get climbing and get those creative juices flowing!

Baker Hughes 10k Event

Hey hey,

On the morning of the 25th May our car park will be closed for the 10k event. It will be open from midday onwards.

Parking should be available in nearby streets during this time but nothing is guaranteed.

See the event website for further information...

Need i say more?

I think the picture says it all!!!

From hosing holds to teaching kids, the dedication of Al is remarkable! Appearance obviously doesn't matter too much when it comes to instructing!!!

BOULDERING MASTERS POSTPONED

It is with regret that we have to postpone the competition on Sunday 27th April.

We will try and reschedule for a later date but may have to leave until after the summer.

Keep a look out for competition series over the summer for those days you're not out on the crags!

These series will be along the lines of a set number of problems or routes to be done in a few weeks or a month, and a super final at the end of it..........

See you soon.

Sun and Hail

Despite the mixed weather over the passed 10 days the determined or the plain obsessed like me have managed some great routes and some crags have been positively mobbed!

Gordon Lennox kicked it off on Wednesday the 9th when an "optimistic" evening hit to Meikle Parton provided the long awaited good conditions essential for placing the crucial cam on Paul Mather's "Blind Optimism" E6 6c. Sending its 3rd ascent and proving its already a classic and excellent addition to one of the north coasts most popular cliffs. (right)

I then stunned myself when I managed to link the super direct finish on top rope! Having been alerted to the great potential of the line I had been on it 2 times previously but never been able to link more than a couple of moves. "What a wonderful thing a northerly can bring!" The rock felt sticky and I felt obliged to stick myself to it! So I took to the lead! Sheer shock at my own progress brought failure the first time but second go I linked it to give the coast one of its toughest E7. "Sonar" maybe short but it packs a punch.

Gordy was at it again the following Sunday unperturbed by the heavy showers he got on Upside Downies (E5 6b) at Berymuir Head and stunned the on lookers as he pushed on boldly up wet holds with only a lonesome nut! (Left)

Berrymuir was a great place to be during the squally showers and it was great to see 3 separate parties there making the most of the sunny spells and the banter was great as we accused each other of being mad!

Shame then that I drew the short straw seconding Gordy with the hail bouncing off my napper!

Finlay Bennett managed a quick ascent of Quickdraw McGraw between showers, surely one of the coasts steepest E1's? This was its second ascent of the day and another classic The Niche also saw 2 ascent, there was nearly queues forming! (Right)

I returned the following Wednesday the 16th of April with Dan Richardson and a length of hose pipe to take another look at a new line! After growing inpatient at the speed the rock pool was draining I decided that a smelly mat and potential broken bones where worth the risk to capitalise on the excellent conditions the northerlys were still providing. It paid off as I added possibly the south coasts first E8 up the overhanging arete left of Recess Route. "Sarlacc Pool" will have to wait on a second ascent to gauge just how serious it is?

Just before the birds got to settled on their perches Gordon and I made a mid week dash to the Red Wall. We braved the chilling Northerly winds and repeated some excellent routes.

Gordy made light work of repeating Mike Reeds excellent understated wall climb "Shrinking Violet". Well worth the effort and probably quite high in the grade at E4 6a but worthy of 2 stars in my book!

We then reversed "Phaff", I warmed my hands and made a dash for the top up the most desperate looking crack in the north! There was plainly a reason it had remained unrepeated for 25 year! But I blew the cobwebs out the crack and and got on with it speeded more by numbing hands than the pump to successfully top out of"The Arrow" E5 6c

All that was left was to send the remaining hard line "Hundred Acre Woods" E5 6b to complete a stunning day on the North coast granite.

What a great place to live with all this on your doorstep?

4 Peaks Challenge: The aftermath

Well,

After a busy day with 7 teams and around 50 people even the staff were sweating just watching the flurry of ascents throughout the day.

Teams consisting of local climbers, companies and outdoor stores as well as the Air Training Corps Cadets fought hard and they all completed the challenge of climbing the height of the 4 heighest peaks from around the UK; 4,190metres!!

Special note goes to Team 'Tangfastic Six' for not only climbing the greatest height in half a day buit also the total for the whole day! Also to Joan Love for having 90 ascents to her name over the course of the day.

Competitors had the luxury of Massage Therapy throughout the day thanks to Gail Selbie and her team

Thanks to everyone who took part and we hope you enjoyed the day!

I will update with the total Sponsorship money raised when we have the final tally.