Route Setting Route setting is an important part of any climbing facility. Whether it is a school where children are getting their first experiences of climbing, or a dedicated centre where experienced climbers go to test themselves. Sam has experience route setting for schools, leisure centres, military bases and climbing gyms. Sam takes pride in…
Read more
Tarragona tapas In a week it was never going to be possible to even touch the surface of the climbing on offer in Tarragona, northern Spain, with historic sport venues such as Siurana and Margalef on offer. But, true to our host nation, we sampled the best of the region ‘tapas style’ – and it…
Read more
Climbing gifts for Christmas Speaking as a climber, there is very little I want for Christmas. Everything I need, I get. Everything I want is very specific and usually expensive. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate gifts! But when the ‘Big name Outdoor store’ sells your family member an ice screw and you are a…
Read more
Bea’s and Oriol’s cosy caravan (Tarragona) Normally, our climbing trips take place in areas we can easily drive to in our trusty van, Rocher. This means accommodation is sorted! For our most recent trip to Spain, we decided to fly (£20 return flights!). Spain is full of refuges, hostels and campsites but we decided to…
Read more
Finale Ligure While on my European road trip, I (Tom) was holed up in my van in the Italian Alps while torrential rain put an end to my hopes of climbing on the stunning Alpine granite and gneiss crags of the Aosta Valley. I needed to move on and in the midst of the cold…
Read more
Rab Kinder Smock Review When I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing the re-born Rab Kinder Smock, I was more than keen! Rab have been making quality clothing for nearly 40 years and all of my climbing buddies swear by their down jackets. The jacket got dropped off in its medium…
Read more
Portland Heights Boulders Here at After The Send we are all about climbing whether it’s trying to smash out a new grade, climbing a classic or just trying something new. We had heard these boulders a little while back and with a spare afternoon in hand, we decided to go and have a look. We weren’t the first…
Read more
Is it worth the drive? 2 hours North West of where we live in Dorset you enter the wonderful world of Wales. We spent a night and a day sport climbing in a sandstone quarry in South Wales and then hopped back in the car to drive for another 5 and a half hours north,…
Read more
Boot Bananas This must be one of the biggest problems for climbers! It’s not finger strength or pump or even fitting into a tiny pair of shoes… it’s all about taking those shoes off and hoping the smell doesn’t offend too many people. My shoes have been known to vacate a boulder room, clear a…
Read more
For a while now, we here at After the Send have been big fans of 3rd Rock clothing. We first discovered them a few years ago and our obsession has grown from there, infecting the rest of the After the Send crew. 3rd Rock website The 3rd Rock message is ‘our planet, our playground’; meaning…
Read more
Dorset Bolt Fund Click this link to donate to the Dorset Bolt Fund. Portland’s climbing history started in 1967 when Reverend Bob Stepton recorded the first routes- loose trad lines. The first 20 years of Portland climbing history were recorded to be climbed on horrible, stainless steel pegs accompanied by massive run outs. It wasn’t…
Read more
Pongoose Here at After The Send we love to highlight some of the best new climbing companies. That’s why we are so excited to add Pongoose to our Friends of the Send! We first heard of Pongoose last year when there were whispers in our climbing community about someone designing a new clipping device. The…
Read more