Developing your Alpine Climbing Career with Kath James

In this episode of Alpine Stories, Mountaineering Instructor Kath James shares her Alpine Climbing journey.

Kath began her climbing life at home in Devon and then in North Wales at University and as a Centre Assistant at Plas Y Brenin. Kath’s first trip to Alps consisted of a long bus journey, some aborted attempts on mixed lines that were not in condition and plenty of altitude related issues! It was after this trip that Kath learnt some lessons the hard way and started to develop her Alpine Climbing career.

Kath describes some key routes along the way to completing bucket list routes such as the 1938 Route on the Eiger, Cassin Route on Piz Badile and the Kuffner Arete. This approach of developing a rounded mix of skills from ice climbing to long days moving safely and efficiently on rock, meant that when it came to challenges such as stuck ropes or long descents, Kath was able to dig into the reserve bank.

Ski Touring is another way of getting around the mountains in the winter/spring and like many mountaineers Kath has started to incorporate ski touring trips into her Alpine visits. This opens up more of the year for completing routes in different conditions and also opens up more places to visit making the most of the hut system.

“Ski Touring opens up more areas - you visit places you wouldn’t think of going to in the summer”

Kath tells us about ‘Trainer Alpinism’ - routes and skills that everyone should develop during their alpine apprenticeship. This includes practicing crampon and axe skills during Scottish winter and going to quieter places in the Alps where there is less hustle and bustle on the routes. Kath suggests that the Eastern Alps are not often frequented by Brits and that this can give a more pleasant arena to learn the lessons whilst becoming more competent.

Join Kath on her Alpine Journey and pick up top tips and add routes to your wish list that you may not have thought about…

Learn more about Kath James