#climbingismypassion — Public Fediverse posts

...So yesterday was "New Roof Day" at @WhiteSpiderClimbing - always a fun time as it doesn't happen so often. So many fun routes and a great set, but 5(ish) laps of the roof didn't leave enough left in the tank to try the hard ones; next time, maybe! Thanks to Jon for the belay, company, and enthusiasm.
#Climbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #IndoorClimbing #LeadClimbing #TheSteeperTheBetter

Up on the left of "The Beach" main crag, where we did our warmup climbs, was this interesting, techy route. Evening was getting on, but we were having fun so Carole and I gave it a stab while Helen and Yoshi were down playing on Karpouzi. History suggests we had the greater fun...
#Climbing #Kalymnos #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion

Right next to Karpouzi at "The Beach" is this significantly thinner, harder, but almost equally fun line. Little disappointed not to get the flash on this one, but it was my own dumb fault... With maybe a little start-of-trip-low-mojo issue. Really good crag and a great climb, though.
#Climbing #Kalymnos #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion

Climbing day one in Kalymnos and we headed to "The Beach" near Palionisos. A couple of climbs in, we headed down to the "far right" sector for the fantastic-looking line from the picture in the guide. Seems like lots of other people have had the same idea, it being one of the more polished routes I've climbed in Kalymnos (even for flowstone), but the route lived up to the picture; lots of great, laybacking action. A fab start to a great trip, though group opinion was divided as to how good the route was!
#Climbing #Kalymnos #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion

Having got my sendgeance on Anonymous Bosch, we moved a couple of routes down to this thin, balancy-looking corner to step things up a notch. To be honest I wasn't actually expecting to onsight this, but was super-chuffed to get the send. Definitely a lot of try-hard and sheer bloody-mindedness to keep going towards the top, which I am also quite proud of. Surprisingly for me, my inner monologue didn't break and I didn't start talking and swearing at myself... Maybe because of all the helpful encouragement from Jeremy Donaldson that I was vaguely aware of in the background :-) Thanks also to Robin James for the patience watching us try this stuff after he broke himself...
#Climbing #Gower #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #TryHard #Onsight

Sooo… Ended up back at Watchhouse slab with top geezers @Jeremy & @Robin. Inevitably, I introduced Jeremy to "Anonymous Bosch". For anyone following along, you'll remember it spat me off at the crux last time before I worked out how to do it, so I was after sendgeance. Unfortunately, my memory was kinda faulty so I well messed up the crux first go following Jeremy's beta instead of my own. On the up-side, my mojo was stronger this time, as was my shoulder, so things were looking up for the second try of the day once the brain had been jogged. Great route, fun moves and good catches from Jeremy.
#Climbing #Gower #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Whipper

Not the Gower, but still Wales; heading back from the Gower, Helen, Carole and I were set to do a crag "on the way". After debate, we settled on Ferndale, North of the M4 near Porth. Sandstone, it turns out - big, blocky, hard, sandstone, not the "crumble at harsh words", soft, Southern Sandstone - and a shortish approach (up a big hill, though!). This banging route had a slightly shaky start, an interesting puzzle crux, and a fun upper section.
#Climbing #Wales #SportClimbing #SandstoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion

"Oh, no! The sea! Run away!"... "...But not TOO far; just round the corner where it can catch us easily should do..."
At least Castaway Cove itself doesn't flood quickly in the tide, but on the other hand we did have to paddle out again round the corner - fun when there's swirling sand and one fairly narrow strip that's merely calf-deep when the rest is at least knee-deep. Totally worth it for this banging route, though, and probably the most picturesque cove of Rhossili beach.
#Climbing #Gower #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Rhossili #LastMinuteRetreat

Rhossili beach is such a fun venue: Sharp barnacles for the first 4 meters of every climb, slippery, salt air rock, potentially corroded protection, slogging over sand to get there, limited time to climb, and a very real chance of being stranded or swept out to sea... What's not to like? Seriously, though, it's an epic location with some great climbs and it's even better with a fun bunch. I thought this one would be a fun challenge for said bunch to try - arete climbing being a style not seen that much in the gym - and thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
#Climbing #Gower #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Rhossili

One from the "Try hard at White Spider" collection... Been a little broken since Nice; tweaked my elbow when I came back and it's been niggly since, so I've put the try-hard on hold a little. With the elbow complaining less, I figure it's time to apply a little and see. The cave was both a project and test - had had one session at it and struggled transitioning to the wall and also completing the final sequence but found it didn't tweak the elbow too much (no lockoffs!). Tuesday was cave day... Thursday was back to crimpy routes likely to tweak the elbow. Luckily the cave looks like it's up another month for another session, and the route seems doable with a little practice and try-hard. We'll see!
#Climbing #LeadClimbing #IndoorClimbing #ClimbingGym #ClimbingIsMyPassion

It wasn't all sunshine and sends in Nice... There was quite a lot of rain and whips too. The one had something to do with the other because damp limestone can be a little slick, though the reasons also included grade sandbagging, fatigue and just plain sucking. Anyway, I thought I'd post a little compilation of Nice whips because who doesn't like a bit of schadenfreude?
Thanks to Roy and particularly Alesia for not dropping me!
#Climbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #Nice #LaTurbie #CoteDAzur #Whipper

Had a flash go at this one when it was fresh and the route card wasn't up yet and got a little sandbagged. Still, it seemed pretty do-able... The route card now says... "What number is this, Chip?" (<Monkees joke)... Let's see...
With the new, improved, Paul Stoneman on belay.
#Climbing #LeadClimbing #IndoorClimbing #ClimbingGym #ClimbingIsMyPassion

Is 10 minutes enough time to recover between hard flash attenpts? Probably not, but oh, well! This one was just too tempting, and I was hoping the anecdotal evidence of it being easier wasn't wrong. Was it? Let's find out... Send or not?

Spoiler alert (or is it?): Thanks to Jon Koplin for keeping me alive with a solid catch!
#Climbing #LeadClimbing #IndoorClimbing #ClimbingGym #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Whipper

Loving the new @whitespiderclimbing compwall set; nice progression and interestingly different from recent sets. Did all the "easy" ones last week and the wall's mostly been out for other setting when I've been in since, so now it's time to try nearer the top of my flash-grade. This blue has big @gazparry energy (lacking footholds, especially the crux!)... Or maybe @alex_patterson_climbing was just channelling him! 😂 Great route either way!
#Climbing #LeadClimbing #IndoorClimbing #ClimbingGym #ClimbingIsMyPassion

"And the last shall be...", Well, not first, but also not the last of the El Chorro vids despite being the last climb of the trip (I just be out here making reels as I come to them...). Thoroughly enjoyed the trip with gret company (thanks for the belay, Robin) and a fun climb, but my brain was definitely flagging by this point; behold the terrible footwork!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ElChorro #ClimbingIsMyPassion

"And the last shall be...", Well, not first, but also not the last of the El Chorro vids despite being the last climb of the trip (I just be out here making reels as I come to them...). Thoroughly enjoyed the trip with gret company (thanks for the belay, Robin) and a fun climb, but my brain was definitely flagging by this point; behold the terrible footwork!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ElChorro #ClimbingIsMyPassion

"And the last shall be...", Well, not first, but also not the last of the El Chorro vids despite being the last climb of the trip (I just be out here making reels as I come to them...). Thoroughly enjoyed the trip with gret company (thanks for the belay, Robin) and a fun climb, but my brain was definitely flagging by this point; behold the terrible footwork!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ElChorro #ClimbingIsMyPassion

"And the last shall be...", Well, not first, but also not the last of the El Chorro vids despite being the last climb of the trip (I just be out here making reels as I come to them...). Thoroughly enjoyed the trip with gret company (thanks for the belay, Robin) and a fun climb, but my brain was definitely flagging by this point; behold the terrible footwork!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ElChorro #ClimbingIsMyPassion

Fun, crimpy, mini-(hopefully)project from @YannGenoux @WhiteSpiderClimbing reckon I have a decent shot of sending in a couple more goes if I can just fix my dodgy shoulders, save a little energy, and nail that fifth clip...
With thanks to Jon and Shan for the belays
#Climbing #IndoorClimbing #LeadClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion

First send vid of the year, inspired by the upcoming cave reset. Actually pretty doable if you're only mildly wasted and not completely boxed before you try it... There's probably a lesson in there, but damned if I can spot it 🤣
#Climbing #Bouldering #IndoorBouldering #ClimbingIsMyPassion #WeaAeSpiderClimbers

"OK, so it was a hard upper-body workout yesterday and my shoulders are sore, but why don't I have another go at that roof I keep dropping? What could possibly go wrong?"
#TryHard #Climbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #IndoorClimbing #WeAreSpiderClimbers

The new @WhiteSpiderCLimbing comp wall set is rather fun. Bit of a grade gap between the (softish) 6c to this blue 7a+ (or nails 7a maybe if you have fingers of steel), but all top routes with great movement. This one is no exception with classic @YannGenoux vibes - tough, technical, interesting, progressively harder, and the crux at the top. Didn't feel up to trying this the first session, but did everything easier so now it's time to #TryHard !
#Climbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #IndoorClimbing #WeAreSpiderClimbers

A few shots from the rather fun Tricam workshop day with Rise and Summit at Wintours Leap on Saturday. Leads on Swallow's Nest (VS 4c) and African Killer Bee (VS 4c) including placing some of said (rather versatile as it turns out) pointy devices. Not shown; the faceful of hail I took 3/4 of the way up Swallow's Next - mostly, I suspect, because Kev was rather more concerned for my safety on the suddenly very slimy and rather exciting upper section than taking pics 🤣 Thanks for that, Kev! Also nice to have climbing pics that don't feature my backside!
Pics by https://riseandsummit.co.uk/
#climbing #climbingismypassion #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad #wyevalley #wyevalleyclimbing #wintoursleap #tricams

Well, I kinda assumed Plump Hill was soft, what with it being very slabby and all, but Shorn Cliff is definitely "proper" trad routes, so either the grades are soft there too, or I'm getting better; this VS 4b actually felt not too bad, and I'm even placing slightly less gear (probably still too much, though....)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #wyevalley #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #wyevalleyclimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Hardest lead of the day for me. Another epic line, if not quite as striking as the apparently famous Jean Jeanie just to the left. Definitely tougher, despite being the same grade on paper. Such an impressive face of rock and so many interesting lines up it. Weirdly, I almost found this harder than the HVS on the diagonal crack just above, which I managed to second clean despite a couple of awkward gear retrievals.
#Climbing #TradClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Kendal #LakeDistrict #LimestoneClimbing #TrowbarrowQuarry

Back from a trip to the Lake District. On the negative side, I didn't get three days climbing... On the super-positive side, I did get two days of Mountain Training Development Coach training with the ever-excellent John Kettle PLUS a day of climbing at Trowbarrow Quarry. As a bonus, also a nice stay at Lyndhurst Guest House in Kendal and a play at KendalWall on their long autobelays.
#MountainTraining #Climbing #TradClimbing #Coaching #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Kendal #LakeDistrict #LimestoneClimbing

Some days, your get-up-and-go feels like it got up and went... But on some of those days, you can still find a little try-hard if you look under the cushions.
3 long, pumpy, 7a tries in quick succession is maybe something of a record for me... Especially with a couple of equally long and pumpy 6c(+) roofs (one on the stal-roof, one in the cave) thrown in. Getting close on the black and the other two definitely go fresh!
Some nice catching from Shan
=Climbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #IndoorClimbing #Bouldering #IndoorBouldering #TryHard #WeAreSpiderClimbers

Little bit frustrated with my project at the moment, but it's such a good route and so close to my limit (on the "wrong" side) that I'm keeping at it. Probably I'm nuts; there's another new "7a" just round the corner that I got all the moves in 2 sections on my flash attempt... But where's the fun in that? 😂
#WeAreSpiderClimbers #climbing #indoorclimbing #climbingismypassion #tryhard #projecting

So I haven't posted a project update in a while... Partly because I've not had the occasion to get on it (read: in part distracted by shiny new climbs), but also because my last attempt was dire. I wasn't going to post this, but then I thought; failing is absolutely part of the process of climbing better, so why hide it? Plus, I guess it's kinda funny? Good spot from Jeremy :-)
#climbing #indoorclimbing #WeAreSpiderClimbers #climbingismypassion #climbinglife #whipper

On a day when I had WAY low motivation and energy, I figured, "Yeah, may as well at least see if I can stick that crux move again on toprope... Probably won't even get TO the crux today, but what the heck..."
Turns out it was actually a pretty good day! Just goes to show; climbing is really good for your mood and excercise gets your energy up! (Or maybe that was the adreneline rush from the whip at the end... Excellent catch by Jeremy Donaldson)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #indoorclimbing #WeAreSpiderClimbers #whipper #projecting

The rather fun and picturesque "Equals Not" (VS 4b) at Fairy Cave last week with my bestest climbing buddy @SueLambooij
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad #LoveAGoodHex

The rather fun and picturesque "Equals Not" (VS 4b) at Fairy Cave last week with my bestest climbing buddy @SueLambooij
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad #LoveAGoodHex

The rather fun and picturesque "Equals Not" (VS 4b) at Fairy Cave last week with my bestest climbing buddy @SueLambooij
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad #LoveAGoodHex

The rather fun and picturesque "Equals Not" (VS 4b) at Fairy Cave last week with my bestest climbing buddy @SueLambooij
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad #LoveAGoodHex

Some pics from this friday's jaunt back to Fairy Cave... This time with the excellent @SueLambooij (unmarked pics by Sue), who suggested this fun, little number; "Equals Not" (18m VS 4b). Moves enough to be fun, gear enough to be solid plus bonus flowers and hex belay (love a good hex!🤣)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Some pics from this friday's jaunt back to Fairy Cave... This time with the excellent @SueLambooij (unmarked pics by Sue), who suggested this fun, little number; "Equals Not" (18m VS 4b). Moves enough to be fun, gear enough to be solid plus bonus flowers and hex belay (love a good hex!🤣)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Some pics from this friday's jaunt back to Fairy Cave... This time with the excellent @SueLambooij (unmarked pics by Sue), who suggested this fun, little number; "Equals Not" (18m VS 4b). Moves enough to be fun, gear enough to be solid plus bonus flowers and hex belay (love a good hex!🤣)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Some pics from this friday's jaunt back to Fairy Cave... This time with the excellent @SueLambooij (unmarked pics by Sue), who suggested this fun, little number; "Equals Not" (18m VS 4b). Moves enough to be fun, gear enough to be solid plus bonus flowers and hex belay (love a good hex!🤣)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Some pics from this friday's jaunt back to Fairy Cave... This time with the excellent @SueLambooij (unmarked pics by Sue), who suggested this fun, little number; "Equals Not" (18m VS 4b). Moves enough to be fun, gear enough to be solid plus bonus flowers and hex belay (love a good hex!🤣)
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

The first climb from #FairyCaveQuarry last Friday week with @HelenFinn. Another crag classic it seems and definitely worth a climb. 38m of balancy slabbiness.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

The first climb from #FairyCaveQuarry last Friday week with @HelenFinn. Another crag classic it seems and definitely worth a climb. 38m of balancy slabbiness.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

The first climb from #FairyCaveQuarry last Friday week with @HelenFinn. Another crag classic it seems and definitely worth a climb. 38m of balancy slabbiness.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

The first climb from #FairyCaveQuarry last Friday week with @HelenFinn. Another crag classic it seems and definitely worth a climb. 38m of balancy slabbiness.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

The first climb from #FairyCaveQuarry last Friday week with @HelenFinn. Another crag classic it seems and definitely worth a climb. 38m of balancy slabbiness.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Great day out with Helen Finn last Friday at #FairyCaveQuarry. Maybe the curse of it raining every time I go there has been lifted, maybe not; it didn't actually rain, but despite the forcast it almost did! Nice venue, great routes, fairly comfy grades. This 35m VS was well worth the 3 stars it gets and just at the right challenge level for me to improve my gear placements under a bit of pressure.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Great day out with Helen Finn last Friday at #FairyCaveQuarry. Maybe the curse of it raining every time I go there has been lifted, maybe not; it didn't actually rain, but despite the forcast it almost did! Nice venue, great routes, fairly comfy grades. This 35m VS was well worth the 3 stars it gets and just at the right challenge level for me to improve my gear placements under a bit of pressure.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Great day out with Helen Finn last Friday at #FairyCaveQuarry. Maybe the curse of it raining every time I go there has been lifted, maybe not; it didn't actually rain, but despite the forcast it almost did! Nice venue, great routes, fairly comfy grades. This 35m VS was well worth the 3 stars it gets and just at the right challenge level for me to improve my gear placements under a bit of pressure.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Great day out with Helen Finn last Friday at #FairyCaveQuarry. Maybe the curse of it raining every time I go there has been lifted, maybe not; it didn't actually rain, but despite the forcast it almost did! Nice venue, great routes, fairly comfy grades. This 35m VS was well worth the 3 stars it gets and just at the right challenge level for me to improve my gear placements under a bit of pressure.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Great day out with Helen Finn last Friday at #FairyCaveQuarry. Maybe the curse of it raining every time I go there has been lifted, maybe not; it didn't actually rain, but despite the forcast it almost did! Nice venue, great routes, fairly comfy grades. This 35m VS was well worth the 3 stars it gets and just at the right challenge level for me to improve my gear placements under a bit of pressure.
#climbing #climbingismypassion #MendipHills #rockclimbing #tradclimbing #MendipHillsClimbing #limestone #limestoneclimbing #trad

Well, didn't try my project at the end of sesh for a change! TBH I wasn't expecting to send (yep, that was probably part of the problem), but I was a little dissapointed with my focus all day and my precision sucked - a bad finger/body position is where I fell (good catch, Shan!). On the up-side, though, my movement was more relaxed and I didn't feel especially pumped approaching the crux, so small wins!
By the way, experimenting with a new font after constructive feedback from @optilude so please let me know if it's more readable!
#climbing #climbingismypassion #WeAreSpiderClimbers #indoorclimbing #projecting