Blogs & Stories

About us

The Team

Our Stories & Blogs 

Sometimes its good to sit back and see where you have come from. We appreciate all 

our experiences and adventures and those who have be part of them. This is what makes us who we are, we may not own all of them but that part we a play makes us proud. This is what this page tells, some of those stories. Maybe these stories could be part of your journey?

• 1999 • Was the beginning to the new chapter



Over 20 years ago our true adventures began when we took a big gulp, put our money where our mouth was and stepped out into the world to offer our skills in adventure sports and adaptive engineering.


• 2000 • Back Up New Zealand


In 2000 work started with Back UP NZ. It ran its pilot course in the summer of 2002 and over a 10 year period Gilligan's Isl was involved to assist the co-foundation of what is now a national charity in New Zealand.

Its aim was, and is to this day, to get people with disabilities in the outdoors and, in some cases, using the outdoors as physical rehabilitation.

Wayne came on the Back Up NZ first pilot course in 2002. He appears in photos and now is passing on the magic of his wisdom as he has been a huge motivator, participant and director of the things we have discovered. His journey illustrates the collaboration of like minds.

 

His get up and go for it attitude motivated all of us to learn new things and try in a safe, constructive way. See blogs for one of the many things he was involved with.

•2004• Bridal Veil Falls, Whaingaroa/Raglan NZ



Ross's Story 


I had the great pleasure of meeting Ross Ormsby skiing in 2004 he then become involved in Back Up NZ courses. He is a flipping all round awesome bloke whose sense of adventure continues boundless.


"I've always wanted to go see what's at the bottom of that waterfall" was the opening line which began this adventure. 

Ross had broken his neck aged 16 in a rugby accident, and so uses a wheelchair to get round. Getting to the top view point of the falls was no issue as the 200 metre track led from a car park, but that's also where the water fell 55 metre. 


With use of a paragliding harness, a kayak, climbing gear and a top team what could have been deemed as impossible was achieved. I have no doubt that what come out of this adventure was not just abseiling down 55 metre but showing and motivating many that with a bit of planning it is possible to achieve goals thought out of reach.

 

This main photo appeared as part of the Adaptive chapter in Mountain training Rock climbing skills and techniques 2009 second addition which J Gilligan wrote.

Click for Blog post

• 2012 • Battleback centre


Work begin with Battle Back Centre and the Royal British legion initiative to help provide activities to those who are wounded, injured, and/or sick, whether serving military or veteran. 


The opportunity to provide adaptive engineering,  development/delivery inclusive sports  read in blogs 

The long hard work as finally got it out there, the Inclusive Climbing book as a creation was a chance to pass on all the possibilities and options for inclusive climbing techniques and sum up the combined years of experience of its authors.

Creation of the seated snowboard • 2002 •





The snowboard is one of the many examples of adaptive engineering which Gilligan's Isl has been involved with. Taken from the conception of the idea in 2002 to functioning activity in present day, this is a piece of kit which can get near anywhere in mountain ski snowboard resort. 


The person-centred design was created to fit to someone who wanted to be independent but required support for their lower body or limbs. The board follows the all the principles of snowboarding so is not skiing, which makes it unique.




click for blog post

Blogs

We aim to bring to you some of the things and goings on we have been involved with in our time in inclusive adventurous sports and hopefully motivate, inspire or inform.

by Graeme Morrison 16 Dec, 2022
video recorded at ted Aberdeen from Zoe Morrison talking about "why we don't like change"
by james gilligan 24 Oct, 2022
a ascent of "Mytikas" ( mount Olympus) highest summit in Greece, the Balken mountains
by james gilligan 19 Aug, 2022
The decision making frame work(DMF) created to enable and to give structure and progression of subjects and make sporting activities inclusive.
by james gilligan 08 Jul, 2022
On a rainy day in Scotland, comment was made " There is 100 words for rain in Scottish ". This lead on to a conversation in the true British way about the weather, But a little more educated than the everyday. In Maori, they have many names for the sea, this is spiritual language and so could be many things as to what it is doing and the noise it makes, The next connection to this which was raised (as usual) is the Eskimo/Inuit fact that they have 52 names for snow, the scots have more than 400 to describe snow. this is explainable and very much like the Maori, because it could be the sound it makes when walked on but there is many names for the type of Snowflake or granule as the many forms due to the weather that creates it. But back to Scotland comes the conversation and their and with the group I had this conversation with, on the rainy day in hand which had the wind behind it. Comment was made that this rain would be " Pishin Doon ". It still sounds like a weather forecast term given by Sean Connery rather than an actual term word. So off goes my train of thought and on to a google search, to which we can all find the dodgy Scottish accented quote from actor Mel Gibson on the weather from Braveheart, " its a Dreich night ". Eventually I found some good posts and lists with a good explanation of what they all mean so in compilation and not made up for the tourists trying to sound like scot. here you go... Spindrift -spray whipped up by the wind. Aftak -an easing or lull in a storm or rain. Bleeter -it’s raining, then it’s not then it is... its unreliable Bluffart -a gust or squall accompanied by a sudden short fall of snow or rain Bullet Stanes -Quite simply, hail stones. Dag of rain - a slightly misty shower Dreich -miserable weather Drookit -absolutely drenched Daggle -to fall in torrents). Fret -As in “Dinnae fret” for a ‘fret’ is a piercingly chilly and damp mist hurtling in from the sea. Flist - an explosion, in Scots dictionary. Flaggie - a large snowflake Feefle -A word used to describe that magical swirling, twirling, dancing kind of snow that makes you want to build a snowman. Flindrikin -Just a wee bout of snow here and there. Goselet - a soaking, drenching, downpour. Greetie -Coming from ‘greet’, the Scots for ‘cry’, ‘greetie’ means raining and showering down. Gloaming - That alluring and evocative twilight dusk that descends upon a place in the early hours of the evening. Dates back to the fifteenth-century in an old Scots text: ‘the glomyng of the nycht’. Haar -drizzle from the sea, If you can spy the haar venturing in then you are witnessing that notable wispy mist gliding in from the East Haud - means it on hold, do this in the weather as you see fit? Jeelit -A great sounding word meaning absolutely bloody freezing. It’s maumy - mellow, soft and insipid A muckle -Very large snowflake Mochie - Can be applied to those squirmy moments when clamminess cloaks you and warm, uncomfortable dampness sets in due to those horrid, humid days. Mochy weather-i.e. mild and humid Oorlich -The word ‘oorlich’, meaning undesirably damp, nippy, cold and chilly is a grand chance to accentuate the Scots ‘ich’ sound. NOT to be pronounced ‘oor-lick’! Pish-oot -An intense downpour when it’s ‘Pishing it doon’! It’s Pishin -as above, but continual, as said by Sean Connery Peeggirin -a stormy shower Plowetery -If it’s plowetery, then it’s all a bit of a shambles really. Rainy, showery, grimy and damp. Snell - Frightfully freezing to the point that it feels like the weather is piercing your skin. Stermm -The stuff of stars! Smirr - a fine rain drizzle, That annoying, drizzling kind of rain that ruins your day. It’s not epic enough to have a lazy ‘rain day’ indoors but still manages to soak you slowly but surely. Stottin -heavy rain that bounces Smizzle -its kind of in the name, a smidge of drizzle Skite - quick moving weather Sump -When the rain comes down with gusto and great strength. Spitters-The kind of slushy, chilly snowflakes or icy raindrops that touch your skin during a firm gust of wind. Unbrak -Used to describe moments when a thaw is on its way Uplowsin - heaving rain, Yillen - a shower of rain, especially with wind Watergaw -See Scottish poet Hugh McDiarmid’s poem ‘The Watergaw’ for an in-depth description. You know when you see a rainbow but then realise it’s not a full rainbow, rather a hypnotic snippet of a rainbow with no pot of gold at the end? That potion of colours is a ‘watergaw’ and emerges after a hefty bout of rain. Do not confuse it with a rainbow. its not quite the 100 But pritty decriptive........ ...and if yo dint think ther was enough of the weather words to drop into sentences, well here's a few slogan to keep ya gayn.... Auld wives and pike staves In other words, ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’! ‘The rain is God’s way o’ cleanin’ the coos’ Every cloud has a silver lining! ‘Cast not a clout till May is oot’ Words of wisdom. Basically, you don’t want to look like ‘mutton dressed as lamb’ going about the place like a dafty, wearing sandals exposing your toes when the weather isn’t even in full summer swing yet! Wait until the blossoms of May reveal themselves. Yer grandpa’s like the weather — nae pattern! The good old Scottish weather is unpredictable, to say the least. thank you for the articles I referenced for my education and expanse to vocabulary, https://starkeycomics.com/2019/03/14/100-british-words-for-rain/ https://www.naomiloves.com/blog/2018/12/18/100-be-mindful?format=amp https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/27-scottish-words-and-phrases-to-describe-the-weather/?amp=1
by james gilligan 30 Jun, 2022
This year I had the great pleasure of working with Adventure partner to Gilligan's Isl, Good to Go adventure . Chucky (Richard) Davison has worked hard building on the previous years learnings to create and even better adventure and journeys across the great Glens of Scotland. These All inclusive trips have been highly popular, not just for the opportunity to see Nessie close up but also for the camping, adventure, journey and challenge of the great Glen canoe trail . Any questions about future trips or taking this on as individual or private group give us shout or click on the links. To book your place on a trip click on the link for skyhook booking Below: Nessie on Loch Ness
by james gilligan 30 Jun, 2022
buy inclusive climbing manual in shop. wales V12 outdoors, joe brown caple curig and the climbers shop Ambleside
by james gilligan 28 Jun, 2022
Every wanted to try waterfall ice? Its the middle of summer so we thought we'd ramp you up for the winter adventure, and a change of temperature,
this is what we have been up to on the rock
by james gilligan 26 Apr, 2022
North wales has so much to offer, this is what we have been up to on the rock, rock climbing, ,
by james gilligan 25 Apr, 2022
When the season in the Uk ain't so warm fro climbing it will be here. Accommodation and activities, Gilligan's Isl have explored the attic area or activities over many years, we will be provinding some guided trips in climbing in the fourth coming year.
by james gilligan 10 Apr, 2022
We have strived to be better and non destructive to the natural environment in our working duties. this What we are doing to make our work and its use of tools better for the environment
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