Polish Association of Alpinists visit Glenmore Lodge
Friday, January 25, 2008
Four climbers from the Polish Association of Alpinists have been staying here at the Lodge for the last week. They have been comparing notes with Jon Jones and some of the team on how and what we teach and coach in winter mountains. They have been out in the hills all week climbing and enjoying our Scottish weather that has offerend lots of snow, wind, rain and even blue sky.
I had an chat with them last night to find out more.
Q: How does Scottish climbing compare with Polish winter climbing?
Ans: Our mountains are higher (around 2500m) and we have longer routes, up to 1000m, but the climbing is similar. We have plenty of turf, like Scotland, lots of mixed routes and less ice. You seem to have more wind.....lots more wind! We also share the same ethos and style of climbing as we prefer traditional climbing and not bolted routes.
Q: Why come to Scotalnd if we are lower, with shorter routes but similar?
ANS: There is a strong history between Scotland and Poland with our famous mountaineers developing together. Woytek Kurtyka teamed up with John Porter and Alex McIntyre in Scotland to train together and go to the Himalaya and do classic lines such as the one on Changabang. It is a great place to climb.
Q:Why Glenmore Lodge?
ANS: We know about this place because we are climbers. We all talk and I have been here before on the International meet. We wanted to share ideas and learn new techniques , top tips and learn from different countries so we can take them back to Poland and try to keep improving.
Q: What is life like for a mountaineering instructors in Poland? Can you make a good living?
Ans: Very few instructors make a full time living. Most need to have another job. Rope access, or climbing walls and of course regualr jobs. We have a different system to the UK. We have guides, that do just that, and insturctors that do single pitch, multi pitch and summer navigation. So a different set of qualifications.
Q: What has been the best bit about your visit so far?
ANS: Going to Jon's house to drink whiskey!
Thanks to Mariusz, Krzysztof, Bodzio and Adam for coming to visit and taking time to chat. If you would like to see some of their Polish mountains you can go to http://www.kw.krakow.pl/
I had an chat with them last night to find out more.
Q: How does Scottish climbing compare with Polish winter climbing?
Ans: Our mountains are higher (around 2500m) and we have longer routes, up to 1000m, but the climbing is similar. We have plenty of turf, like Scotland, lots of mixed routes and less ice. You seem to have more wind.....lots more wind! We also share the same ethos and style of climbing as we prefer traditional climbing and not bolted routes.
Q: Why come to Scotalnd if we are lower, with shorter routes but similar?
ANS: There is a strong history between Scotland and Poland with our famous mountaineers developing together. Woytek Kurtyka teamed up with John Porter and Alex McIntyre in Scotland to train together and go to the Himalaya and do classic lines such as the one on Changabang. It is a great place to climb.
Q:Why Glenmore Lodge?
ANS: We know about this place because we are climbers. We all talk and I have been here before on the International meet. We wanted to share ideas and learn new techniques , top tips and learn from different countries so we can take them back to Poland and try to keep improving.
Q: What is life like for a mountaineering instructors in Poland? Can you make a good living?
Ans: Very few instructors make a full time living. Most need to have another job. Rope access, or climbing walls and of course regualr jobs. We have a different system to the UK. We have guides, that do just that, and insturctors that do single pitch, multi pitch and summer navigation. So a different set of qualifications.
Q: What has been the best bit about your visit so far?
ANS: Going to Jon's house to drink whiskey!
Thanks to Mariusz, Krzysztof, Bodzio and Adam for coming to visit and taking time to chat. If you would like to see some of their Polish mountains you can go to http://www.kw.krakow.pl/
posted by glenmore @ 1:56 pm 
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