AMGA

(November 28, day 1) Our AMGA course began on November 28th. Five people in addition to myself opted to take this course. The goals of this course were to learn and lead others in the traditional climbing style. The first day we arrived and walked to Ajan Mark Hammond's lecture at Tamarind Village. Ajan Mark spoke from personal experience about gear risk management and in the afternoon we practiced how to properly use Camelot Nut Hexes and how to make the anchor by Cordelettes.

(November 30, day 2) On the second day, I was feeling tired from the Community Crank but still stoked to be at the class. We went up ANXITY STATE CRISIS since it is a great place to learn a Top Managed Site how to belay and rescue people from the top. Ajan Mark climbed up first. Then we followed, we watched and checked the placement of gears along his route. This way wer learned as he went the proper gears to use to ensure the most safe climb. After we ate lunch we climbed to the top again to make a rigging in trad style using the Camelot Nut and Hexes, to do a top belay with munter knot. Do this to rescue people from a top belay with munter knot by using a Prusik knot for friction; then switch to the GriGri automatic belay device for a little bit different technique. For munter knot when you belay "for a top belay you can see a climber easily but for GriGri you couldn't see them well."

(November 30, day 3) We went back to the Tamarind Village again and talked about Base Managed Site. Ajan Mark also explain how are there differences between Top site & Base site. The belay from base site easier because you can see client, guide them throughout their climbing movement, and it lends itself to an easy to an easier rescue. So we continued the lecture by talking about how to rescue client if they have problem during climbing and in the afternoon we have learned about the friction hitch stuff. The last thing to learn was how to more efficiently guide a client in the traditional style.

The last three days was a very educational experience. I was very impressed by Ajan Mark's teachings and at myself for learning a new climbing technique. In two days Ajan Mark will return home to America. Now, my goals have grown, I hope to aquire more climbing instruction and progress in my climbing ability.

 Climb On

N*Star