Outdoor pursuits work is almost always done for the love of it and not the money; which as others have said, is not brilliant compared to other professions. Most people I know who work in the outdoors are highly talented and would earn a lot more doing something else. On the other hand, there are more important things in life than money although some people find outdoor work repetitive and you can feel as though your skills are regressing to the level of your course attendees unless you work hard at maintaining your own skills. I think, as others have said, the easiest way is to do something else whilst you build up the skills in your spare time. You should be able to do both your SPA and Summer ML within 2 years if you are committed. When I was your age I was going climbing or hillwalking every other weekend because that's what I wanted to do. Your group leading experience does not have to be very formal. Leading a group of friends or organizing a club walk is fine. The main thing is that you are taking responsibility for the route and the group. Thirty is not at all old. Lots of people do their IML after they have retired from other work such as teaching, police, civil service or the armed forces. Lucky them!
I found it surprisingly serious, but then again it was chucking down with rain all day. We climbed the whole thing in pitches with a small rack and I fell off on the crux but that has a safe landing anyway. Traditional nuts (e.g. rocks), hexes and slings would be fine. As to whether or not it would be OK for an experienced person to solo; it's hard to say. My advice would be to solo something a bit easier first and get a feel for the grading system. Maybe the grade 2 to the right of Idwal slabs? It's necky and serious and the route finding is interesting, but it's technically easier. Clogwyn y Person Arete is every bit a grade 3 in my opinion.
I don't know Wolf Mountain but have used Redpoint several times and would do more if I lived nearer. I think it is a very friendly wall, with imaginative, well thought out routes and the grading seems about right to me.
I'm in the Alpine Club and I want to draw attention to the fact that we are looking for a librarian and an administrator for our London headquarters and I thought there might be some OutdoorsMagic people who would be interested in that. These jobs would suit people who have a passionate interest in mountaineering and who live in the London area and people like that are hard to find so I'd like to thank Jon very much for saying it's OK to post this on here.
Alison Stockwell
