Discover Trad Climbing

June 2021 -Trad Experience, The Burren, Co. Clare

“I spent 2 days with Jono in the summer '20 when restrictions eased. Although I had done a fair bit of snow and ice climbing, when Covid scuppered my planned climbing in Peru, I finally decided to break my rock climbing duck. Enter Jono. He had the flexibility and knowledge to pick the best venue to suit the weather forecast and my (lack of!) skill. So we met at the quick-drying rock of the Burren, which is a stunning environment before you ever climb anything! We chatted and refreshed rope and belay skills etc and got cracking pretty much from the roadside at Ballyryan. Jono is very patient, low-key, and encouraging, and I found myself climbing up through the lower grades almost without realising it, one or two jelly-armed moves excepting! The next day was even better as we abseiled down to hanging belays and climbed back up the sea cliffs. That was an unbelievable experience, and I was way out of my comfort zone, but Jono is so calm you could almost convince yourself it was a normal way to spend a Sunday. It is a real privilege to spend 2 days getting coached by a world-class climber, in really fun easy company and to find serious adventure when COVID-19 had drained so much of it away. I can't wait to petrify myself on a cliff with Jono again this summer! Do it.”