Firstly my name is Pete, I'm a short, hyperactive climber and photographer living in Bristol. I've been here 14 years now, I came initially for my (ever so useful) Mechanical Engineering degree at UoB, then hung around ever since because quite frankly it's a fantastic city, full of a load of great people and with a range of interesting opportunities.
- I work with my friend Dick Hall selling climbing hardware at Dick's Climbing - "Dick's Climbing is Bristol's only dedicated Climbing Shop."
- I work as a Climbing Instructor and Duty Manager at the fantastic The Climbing Academy, Bristol - “The Climbing Academy undoubtedly sets new standards in dedicated bouldering facilities in the UK.”
- Very recently I have started volunteering with the fantastic iDID Bristol Club - "iDID Bristol is iDID’s newest adventure club for people with a wide range of disabilities."
As I'm sure you've realised quite quickly, my life revolves around Climbing; it keeps me employed, it keeps me entertained and it keeps me sane.
In the grand scheme of things I've not been climbing a very long time, December 2008 with the opening of TCA (The Climbing Academy), the thing is at that time I was having a catastrophic breakdown, suffering for years from Depression that time was the worst it had ever been and on the advice of doctors I was signed off work at the bookshop I was employed by at the time. Fortuitously, TCA opened the same month and gave me a safe, active and distracting venue to play and chill out. It's no exaggeration to say I wouldn't be here if I hadn't found climbing and specifically the opportunities afforded by TCA.
Climbing for rehabilitation/distraction from mental or physical conditions is a subject very close to my heart and in recent months all the more so. Through fantastic training from iDID Adventure and the tireless organisation of Rose and Rosa in organising Bristol's inaugural Inclusive Climbing Festival I've had chance to share my enthusiasm, grow my confidence and introduce a whole load of new people to Climbing who haven't had the chance or the confidence to in the past.
That's what this blog will hopefully develop; recommendations of courses to undertake, experiences and techniques used in the real world and my own personal experiences and development.
I'm afraid I have a load to say and do occasionally waffle, but bear with me, tucked in between I hope there will be some genuinely useful information!
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