News Archive

DMM and the NEC Outdoors Show	- 07/03/2008
DMM will be attending the Outdoors Show at the NEC on March 14th -16th 2008. The DMM stand is opposite the Sky Masters competition wall and promises to be the focal centre of the climbing area because this year we have more than ever going on.



UpsideDown Wales Film Premiere	- 22/02/2008
A 50-minute film that is not so much an off-the-wall as an under-the-roof look at one man's obsession with climbing overhanging rock in North Wales. George Smith's UpsideDown Wales will get it's premiere showing at LLAMFF. DMM who have provided kit for George Smith's exploits over the years had a chat with the man to get some background to the project.



Hot Times on Fitzroy	- 18/02/2008
Adam Wainwright in the company of Boardman Tasker prize winning author, Andy Cave, has sent us a report on their successful ascent of Fitzroy, one of the world's most magnificent peaks, by the Franco-Argentine route.



10 Year Old Opens New Slate Sector	- 16/02/2008
Talented youngster, Josie Ball, has completed the last of her bolted projects as part of her development of The Sidings in the Dinorwig Quarries.



The Carabiner that came in from the cold	- 06/02/2008
The eagle eyed among you may have noticed a Boa securing an intrepid photographer to a mast on a double spread in the Sunday times a few weeks back. This is the story behind the picture.



Nick Bullock Adventures	- 21/01/2008
The latest in the continuing adventures of full-time climber Nick Bullock, with details of a possible new winter start to the Cecchinel-Jager on the Pointe Lachenal.



DWS, Surf and Sharks	- 01/01/2008
Deflated from too many damp and chilly days at the crag? Thoughts of sun-soaked rock can help keep those winter blues at bay. Here's a report by Adam Wainwright on a world-class deep water soloing venue that we've been saving for just such a moment.



Twid's new route in Alaska	- 19/12/2007
Biff Bash Bosh! 900m ED Scottish VII E1 19 Pitches,Twid and Simon Kitchatna Sprires, Alaska.



Press update!	- 17/12/2007
*The new 30 ton press gets positioned an inch at a time!*



Alpine guides update	- 07/12/2007
It’s been a great year for Alpine Guides.



The Art of Bouldering Book	- 06/12/2007
The new book, Stone Play - The Art of Bouldering, is the ultimate antidote for any boulderer or climber for that matter, finding themselves seasonally affected by the recent unremitting rain and gales. It is the light at the end of the tunnel. A book that oozes passion and as welcome as a breath of fresh air in a stale centrally heated semi; the words and pictures come from the heart. Put it on your Xmas list.



DMM's new hot forging press arrives	- 27/11/2007
DMM have just purchased a new hot forging press to help both help increase output and also to allow us to make larger, more complicated forgings.



Nick Bullock On-Line	- 22/11/2007
Nick Bullock embraces Web 2.0 and has set up a "blog that isn't really a blog" but a good place to find pieces of his writing, expedition reports, photos etc with the occasional traditional blog posting.



Big Hole Filled	- 15/11/2007
The next stage in installing our press !



Have Your Say	- 13/11/2007
Don't forget that the Saturday after the Kendal Film Fest' is the opportunity for all Wales based climbers and hill walkers to come along to the BMC Cymru open meeting and AGM. It is a chance to have your say and help decide BMC Cymru's prorities for 2008. Pencil 'BMC Cymru meeting, Plas y Brenin, starting at 6 p.m.' down in your diary for November 24th.



Tomb Raider in Dinorwig Quarry	- 25/10/2007
Vetran climber Colin Goodey along with his wife Sue, adds another route to the slate quarries in his "testimonial year", but this one is a bit different.



New Forging Press to arrive soon	- 19/10/2007
The latest addition to our Manufacturing Plant to arrive soon.....



Big cats!	- 16/10/2007
Last year we gave these guys some biners......



DMM Friday Evening at Kendal	- 09/10/2007
DMM to host Friday Evening at Kendal



British First on Grandes Jorasses	- 28/09/2007
Jon Bracey's enthusiasm knows no bounds and with two major routes on the Grandes Jorasses in a week, including a first British repeat, he had one of the best week's of his life.



Ben's new film nearly finished.	- 24/09/2007
Ben Bransby has been hard at work...



Kyrgyztan Summer	- 18/09/2007
You were unlikely to have sighted one of Graham Desroy's bright shirts on the Welsh crags this summer. That's because he was away climbing in Kyrgyzstan. Of course he took plenty of Hawaiian shirts with him. But he's now back and looking forward to evenings at the Beacon climbing wall.



Gaz's Broken Heart	- 25/08/2007
Gaz Parry adds two more problems and repeats a V12 in the powerhouse "Cave of Justice" more commonly known as Parisella's.



Kenton and Nick attempt new route in India.	- 24/08/2007
As I write this piece Nick Bullock and Kenton Cool are on the way to the Garhwal region of India attempting an alpine style ascent of a new route on the North Face of Kalanka.



The Ultimate Tick Ticked	- 14/08/2007
At least for Rich Mayfield...but Mark Stevenson isn't far behind. Completing Dwm on Castell Cidwm yesterday as part of The Hard Rock Challenge meant he has become the third person known to have climbed every route in Ken Wilson's 1974 'Hard Rock' book.



Gogarth Writing Competition	- 03/08/2007
New competition looking for inspiring writing about some of the finest sea-cliffs in Britain.



Gogarth Festival Latest	- 02/08/2007
Latest details on Gogarth Festival. Who, what, when and where.....



Two Weeks to Gogarth Festival	- 20/07/2007
A celebration of the unique Gogarth climbing experience and awesome grooves of another kind all rolled into one great weekend.



Sue Harwood moves on to Pastures new...	- 18/07/2007
Sue has decided that her new pub the Fricsan in Cwm Y Glo needs her full attention and thus is leaving DMM after 13 years of dedicated service.



Gaz wins at Nissan Outdoor Games	- 11/07/2007
Just to let you know Gaz won the Nissan Outdoor Games at Interlaken in Switzerland last weekend.



Bolting Workshop	- 04/07/2007
A workshop organised by the North Wales Bolt Fund (NWBF) covering correct bolting methods and guidelines on placing fixed protection and anchors.



Of Bolts and Wikis	- 03/07/2007
Climbing area wikis in North Wales will make it easier to keep track of which routes have had old dodgy fixed protection replaced with shiny new BMC donated bolts (clearly we are talking about slate and North Wales limestone here).



Join Leo Houlding on TV	- 02/07/2007
Leo has barely had time to catch his breath after free climbing The Second Step en route to Everest's summit before his name is popping up again on the wider media radar.



Geldard Punches Hard with New Pass E8	- 26/06/2007
Hard on the heels of his new route ‘Spinal Crack’ (E8 6c) in Cwm Idwal back in April, Jack made another significant first ascent in North Wales with his new route 'Rocky' (E8 6C).



Leo Tops Out on Everest	- 14/06/2007
Leo Houlding and Conrad Anker free Everest's Second Step en route to the summit.



Action Packed North Wales	- 11/06/2007
So much has been going on of late in North wales that it's difficult to keep track of it all but here's a bit of an overview of what's been happening. At least what we've heard about!



Wales Book of the Year?	- 28/05/2007
Jim Perrin follows up the success of his biography of Don Whillans, The Villain, with his most recent book, The Climbing Essays, being shortlisted for the English language 2007 Wales Book of the Year.



Houlding on Big 'E'	- 28/05/2007
Leo Houlding drops DMM an email from Everest Advanced Base Camp (21,300ft) to update us on the progress of the unique Altitude Everest 2007 Expedtion.



New E8 at Bosigran	- 21/05/2007
Pickford climbs Bosigran’s last great problem



Hunter Success for Bracey & Houseman	- 21/05/2007
Jon Bracey and Andrew Houseman make the second ascent of The French Route on the formidable North Buttress (a.k.a. Moonflower Buttress) of Mount Hunter.



Postcard from Gaz Parry	- 16/05/2007




Wainwright Slate 7b	- 06/05/2007
What's a Raisin Frumpsnoot? A new 7b sport-line in Bus Stop Quarry climbed by Adam Wainwright pictured here about to make a clip on the first ascent (© Ray Wood). Perhaps the ideal evening project you've been looking for, with it being so close to the road?



Pickford New E9 6c	- 04/05/2007
Dave Pickford completed a major new line to the right of War and Peace on the huge west wall of St Govan’s Head in Pembroke on Sunday April 29th; the same day that James Pearson made the second ascent of Trauma in the Llanberis Pass and a few days before Pete Robins made a quick second ascent of Jack Geldard’s new E8 Spinal Crack in Cwm Idwal and Dave Birkett climbed the huge wall beyond Loch Coruisk on Skye. The exceptional spring weather in the UK has obviously spurred on some significant events in British climbing.



Spinal Crack Repeated	- 02/05/2007
There were a few contenders vying for repeating Spinal Crack but it was Pete Robins (left) who wasted little time in tying on to the sharp end confirming a grade of E8 and the high quality.



Hugh Banner Dies	- 23/04/2007
It was with great sadness this morning that we heard of the death of Hugh Banner, founder of HB Climbing.



Idwal Project Cracked	- 21/04/2007
Long Standing Cwm Idwal project is cracked by Jack Geldard giving Spinal Crack E8/9 6c. In the photo Jack is on the first ascent hurriedly going for the crucial 4CU placement (Photo © Ray Wood).



Ian revels in the snow	- 13/04/2007
Ian takes a well earned rest and if i'm not mistaken thats a smile on his face!



Chris joins the experts	- 13/04/2007




A good few weeks for the DMM Team	- 02/04/2007
Various DMM climbers have been in the news recently with hard ascents. First off Gaz Parry has been ticking various Font 8b's. See http://www.gazparry.co.uk/video.html for full details. Nic Sellers has made an impressive ascent of Balance It Is at Burbage. Full details at http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=235124. This adds to Nic's impressive grit CV which is headed by the 3rd ascent of Partheon Shot and a very pure ascent of Masters Edge. Silvia Fitzpatrick is ticking away at the 8's in sunny Spain with a 8a+ at Cogollus and a 8a at Villanuava del Cuache in the same week.



New Centre Helmet	- 06/03/2007
Introducing the DMM Ascent helmet.



Oppdal Ice Festival	- 02/03/2007
DMM attend the Oppdal Ice Fest.



Alloy Offsets	- 01/03/2007
Alloys Offsets will be available later this summer.



DMM and the NEC Outdoors show	- 01/03/2007
DMM will be attending the NEC show on the 16th to 18th March. http://www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk/



Ben Bransby Starts Climbing Masterclass	- 19/02/2007
Check out his new website www.benbransby.co.uk



Nick Bullock's Alps Update!	- 12/02/2007
After a busy few months of new ascents and hard repeats Nick has proven he's a.......slave to the cause.



New DMM Web-Site Goes Live.	- 01/02/2007
Hopefully any day now the new web-site will go live. If you're reading this then it has happened! Please bear with us while we sort out any bugs in the system. It isn't perfect yet but we are working on it.



Jon Bracey third time lucky on Omega	- 24/01/2007
"It's the best ice route in the Mt Blanc massif. As they say, twice means keen, three times obsessive. Yesterday was third time lucky for me with an 8 hour free ascent along with Dave Heselden" commented a happy Jon.



Silvia F Redpoints 8B at El Chorro	- 17/01/2007
Silvia shows what a winter in Spain and a new camper van does for your climbing with a red point ascent of El Oraculo 8b, El Chorro, Spain. The full details are on UKC - http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=222507