I began rock climbing in 2003 whilst studying environmental biology in Queens University Belfast. Since then I have been lucky enough to have climbed and paddled throughout Europe and further afield, but no matter where I end up its always good to get home to wee Northern Ireland!
I began working in the outdoor industry in 2005, as a volunteer Instructor for Greenhill YMCA, before going on to do a year as a trainee instructor in Tollymore National Outdoor Centre. After my time in Tollymore I went on to work as a freelance outdoor instructor, working for a variety of providers throughout the UK and Ireland.
During this time I worked my way through the mountain training awards, eventually attaining the WMIC. This award allows me to work throughout the UK and Ireland in both summer and winter, instructing all aspects of climbing and mountaineering.
In 2014 I established Jonny Parr Climbing and now split my time between running summer climbing and mountaineering in Northern Ireland, with occasional trips to Skye, and winter climbing and mountaineering trips throughout the Scottish Highlands.
As well as climbing and mountaineering I also do a lot of sea Kayaking. My dream trip would be to combine the two and paddle into some remote fjord and do a bit of climbing well off the beaten track!”
What is a WMCI?
The Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor is the higher qualification within the Mountaineering Instructor scheme.
WMCI holders are qualified to instruct all aspects of mountaineering, both summer and winter, including rock climbing, scrambling and technical snow and ice climbing and winter mountaineering. WMCI award holders have already passed the MCI and Winter Mountain Leader(Winter ML), after which they undertake further training and assessment in teaching winter climbing and mountaineering to obtain the WMCI.