I’ve been working with Jake and Scott for a few weeks now, making the transition from indoor climbers to trad lead climbing. At the Hawkcraig, we were at the stage to let them lead at the “sharp end” of the rope.

 

I set up a rope so I could “self-line” next to whoever was leading the next pitch – so I was on had to give them advice on gear placements.

 

We climbed half-a-dozen routes or so, breaking some of them down into two short pitches to allow both Scott and Jake to have a go at the sharp end. With the tide being in, we had to abseil to stances above the waves.

Shipping on the Firth of Forth.