Being a Fresher and General Screw-Abouts

So reading Conor's lovely post inspired me to write something myself because why not. I wanted to share some of my own experiences of UCDMC. Conor is getting old and has been an important part of the club for a good while now so I thought I would write something from a completely opposite perspective... A Fresher. Hopefully this will turn out alright and maybe even convince a few of the next year first years to join our interesting establishment in September.

Considering I am substantially poor I didn't get the chance to go on a lot of club trips this year but I know next year will be different. So lets start at the very beginning. I think most freshers are scared of college, new faces, men with beards and an overwhelming amount of opportunities. I tried a good few things back in September in a desperate attempt to find a place of my own, including GameSoc, I&E, Rowing, Basketball, LawSoc and Trampolining but none of these even came close to the warm welcome I received when I decided to join the Mountaineering Club. From the moment Grá took my 20 quid I knew this would be an interesting experience.

The first few weeks were of course very hectic. Hundreds of people at the wall but the awesome thing was that not only the committee members but most of the older members were helping out the freshers the best they could. This meant that they pretty much didn't get any climbing done for the first month or so because they were belaying EVERY new member. I just thought it was nice of them. A lovely welcoming gesture in my opinion. Or maybe just an elaborate scam to retain as many people as possible to get more money and what not. Either way it was nice.

So as I said, I'm poor so the only trip I really got to go on was the Intervarsities in Cork. Have to say it was a great experience... well... the getting to know a few people was... the climbing was meeghhh. I'd say it was fun for the senior members but the freshers pretty much just had a bouldering contest as all four freshers that went flashed all the top ropes on the second day. The two top ropes look easy even on a photo:

 

Even though I didn't go on a lot of trips I did go to Dalkey which was really awesome and I'm definitely looking forward to going there a lot more in the Summer. One photo I really wanted to share is actually one of my favourite photos from this year. For those who might read this next year it's a photo of your Captain.... but for me.... it's a photo of our SAFETY OFFICER, Andy:

Even though I didn't get to go on the Fresher's trip to Glendalough I still went with a the UCDMC crew earlier this month:

I distinctly remember three things from this trip. First one was this child looking at Sean carrying the bouldering mat and saying that "that is a very very weird looking backpack". Second being this lovely boulder that we decided to start from a little cave under it:

And third being Excalibur on the way back to the car:

So that pretty much wraps it up. I had an awesome year with the club, definitely looking forward to the next 3 years and to the quirky adventures of the UCDMC.

Last thing that I want to add cause I'm freakin excited. I recently decided to make my own rack and yesterday I actually found a guy selling a few things (second hand because yet again... Im poor). Got all this for 200 euro which I thought was definitely a great price. The guy selling it said he is a big supporter of newcomers so he threw in an extra few things for free. All together I got 6 quick-draws, 8 gates, 3 120cm slings, 1 nylon really strong 120cm sling, nuts sizes 1-13, hexes sizes 1, 4 and 5 and a Prussik cord.

- Damian Grudzien

Helicopters, Psyche and Trad Climbing

After suffering from 2 bad ankle injuries, 2 surgeries and 2 helicopter rides, my psyche in summer 2014 was at an all time low. Its hard coming back from bad experiences and trying to climb as well as before. I had lost the hunger for getting out and pushing myself outside the comfort zone. Blah blah blah etc. However in the last few months I've become more psyched than ever before! Here's some EXCLUSIVE pics of the helicopter rescues in France...

Paul Collins getting some airtime off the Frendo Spur, Chamonix

"Back to Ireland please"

Evening light on Mr Frendo. The circled rock will never be forgotten!

   

Déjà vu chopper number 2! Weeeeeeeee!

                                    

Last September, after pretty much doing no climbing all summer, I got my first taste at climbing in Ailladie Co. Clare. We got there at around 7pm and made the long walk to the crag (its about a minute walk from the road!). The first route I seen was Siren, E3 5c and I started to get psyched again. It looked so good that I had to give it a shot. Bold easy climbing up a wall on crimps in an excellent situation. Falling not allowed. As I topped out I got a round of applause from a paddy wagon of asian tourists, followed by handshakes and selfies and even an autograph! It was hilarious. It was my birthday which made it even better! We managed 2 more routes that evening. The Ramp, which traverses a fault line up the spectacular Mirror Wall, giving excellent climbing on great rock. Pis Fluich was next, which was a corner climb approached by dodging waves and hopping boulders! 

Leman seconding Siren. I like the waves in the backround :)

The following day gave more sunshine and cool climbing on the featured limestone of the Burren. Highlights were Skywalker, Route 32 and Gallows Pole (which I thought was nails for E2!). Unfortunately we only got to stay for 2 half days before we returned back to Dublin. The place is like a holiday resort for climbers - amazing routes, rock, scenery and the whole place sparkles in the sunshine! I had forgotten how amazing trad climbing really is but I had definitely gained my psyche back! Cant wait to climb there again.

Looking across the 2nd pitch of the ramp. Great climbing!

The day after I travelled up to the Mournes with Paddy Nolan, Colm Shannon and Liam Brophy. I had never climbed there before so it was great to finally have the time and see what all the fuss is about! The rock is a bit mad, consisting of overlapping pillows of granite, flared cracks, loads of friction and lots of good/slopey holds! Again this was only a 1 night trip but we still managed 2 good days of climbing. The first day was spent on the corners of lower cove, about an hour walk (very scenic!) from the carpark. Highlights from day one include Meatgrinder, French Route and Overdue (which is more like HVS and not E2!). It was also fun to watch Colm trying to climb a slimey and very overgrown E2 on the fourth corner. Gardening mid-lead always makes good viewing. 

Climbing up some stupid rock somewhere sometime

The next day we ran into some car trouble. Liam wanted to dry his socks using the car engine and unfortunately we were left with a car that wouldnt start #lolz.  After about an hour of pushing it around we finally got it going and headed for the hills. We only did one route that day which was FM, a huge slab of granite on the side of Slieve Lamagan. Easy climbing on sound rock from bottom to top. A great day out with amazing views of the Mournes at the top of Slieve Lamagan.

 

Dunno what he's looking at, its a pretty shit view

It was great to knock out these routes in Ailladie and the Mournes, despite not being trad-active for a while. It was a big confidence booster and a reminder of how much trad climbing is in the head. 

Its a shame ducks and swans cant do trad. They'd be great at quack climbing

Due to work and final year in college, I've only managed to climb in Dalkey Quarry over the last few months. This has been great as its such a cool spot with lots of awesome routes! It was great to repeat some of the classics there and see other members from UCDMC giving it socks. The club is stronger than ever and seems super psyched. The number of female trad climbers is higher than ever and is something most clubs in the country are lacking. Seems like everyone is going to have a really good summer.

11 loopers from UCDMC straddling Arrowhead in Dalkey.

Robert the robin, having lunch with us at Dalkey

Keith pulling some disco shapes on Mahjongggggg

Kieran in cruise mode on Superette

Here's a video I made of some UCDMC members on Honeypot Crack in Dalkey. Its a great climb but is hardly ever dry!

                                      

Other highlights this year are:

Smashing out sport routes in the slate quarries with Bren Rogers
Climbing Comes The Dervish in Vivian Quarry with Neil and Chloe, having not slept in 30ish hours
Carrot Ridge, Connemara - a long multibitch on good rock (yes I said multibitch)
All the days climbing in Dalkey
All the danger cans!
Intervarsities
UCDMC Ball, that was nuts

Things I'm looking forward to...

Gap of Dunloe Meet - 15th-17th May

UCDMC Mournes Trip - 17th-20th May

Fair Head Meet - 6th-8th June

Getting back into slacklining

Climbing as much as possible

-Conor McGovern