#limestoneclimbing — Public Fediverse posts

Last Monday was a "getting my trad on" day at Wintours Leap on the Fly Wall with Mark. I'd actually seconded this route before and remembered it felt quite burly in places. What I hadn't remembered, despite the guide's warnings, was that the top pitch required quite so much big gear - having run out of big hexes, overcammed my remaining big cam, and placing both a decent Tricam and a slightly dodgy nut in smaller placements, it still felt a bit run out towards the top. Still, comedy gear, confidence and a touch of hubris will see you right...
#Climbing #TradClimbing #TradIsRad #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #WintoursLeap #WyeValley

Thoroughly murdered by the menacing Avidya and not wanting to end on a frustrating-if-interesting dogging session, I plumped for something a little more in my wheelhouse for my last route of the day rather than Jeremy's maybe-even-more-menacing "Avidya Direct". Just as well, really; there are definite elements of tiredness to be seen! Did actually manage a bit of breath control en-route, though, which helped a lot - maybe all that time listening to John Kettle wasn't wasted!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Ban-Y-Gor #WyeValley #FindTheZen #PracticeActuallyHelps

Of all the people I climb with other than myself, it's usually Jeremy that pushes me to try hard stuff. Last Wednesday was no exception and Ban-Y-Gor is full of hard stuff - the "6a" we warmed up on was thoroughly sandbagged, for example... After spending quite some time working out Gordonzola and then sending it this, described in the guide as "expect to work for it", was probably a little optimistic. Insanely hard moves (especially for the alleged grade!) and I couldn't find a sequence to the traverse that worked for my strength and reach. Still, on less mind-and-body-blasted reflection, there were a couple of unlikely things I could try. The press and mantle after, which I finally figured *how* to do after lots of swinging around, left me so core-thrashed I couldn't actually *do* it - a shame as the roof section looked fun. One of those routes torn between "No £$&!ing way am I doing that to myself again!", and "Maybe if I try fresh and do something weird, it might go!". Being generally bats, I'll probably end up on the "ouch"-side... If nothing else, there's always the direct start and the Good Friday Agreement that shares the same start to try - Both harder on paper, but oddly looking more achievable than that blank section on the traverse... By the way, this video represents around 5 minutes out of almost 45 spent dogging the route!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #Ban-Y-Gor #WyeValley #TryHard #Whipper #FallingIsLearning

Last video from the Gower series ("Oh, Goody!", I hear you cry!) and the last day of the trip; feeling a little thrashed... A few fairly easy climbs back at the Three Sisters to finish off a great trip, including this one. It's not as good a route as Scissor Sister next to it, or even Sister of Pain on the other side, but it was a fun route to end on. Thanks to Helen, Alesia, and Sarah for company and belays and especially to Sarah for doing all the organising!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #GowerClimbing #GowerPenninsula #WheresMySkin

Castaway cove has is possibly the most photogenic cove on Rhossili beach with some fantastic routes in it, and I've done quite a few now; this is the hardest so far and lives up to the great movement of the others. The only problem with Rhossili is you're always racing the tide and this was a quick pit-stop on the way back from Mermaid - the last route of the day. Thanks go to Alesia for the spotting attempt as I wheel-spinned my way up to the rather high first bolt - from my perspective it didn't feel quite as sketchy as it looked (I'd actually allowed for possible barnacle-related foot-slippage with very good hands), but it was definitely a hairier start than I'd imagined! Looks like I'm running out of excuses to not try the harder routes in the cove next time I get there!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #GowerClimbing #GowerPenninsula #RhossiliBeach #BarnacleFeet #ShouldaClipsticked

Next up from Sister 2.5 on the Gower is "Schmills and Boon" on the tiny, top section of the area. A short, little number with an obvious (though not to read apparently) crux that packs a punch... Didn't help that when I actually sent it, I was crimping on some sort of vegetation that was gradually sliming my hand off the hold. Thanks go to Helen for a solid catch and putting up with me faffing around with the start a lot.
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #FindTheFlow #GowerClimbing #GowerPenninsula #Whipper #FootworkNeedsWork

Another route from the Sister 2.5 area with Helen & Sarah - the hardest one I did and it'd be fun to go back and try some of the harder ones - and another one with nice moves. Again, actually felt kinda easier than expected - good day, getting stronger, or soft grades, who knows? - as, looking at it, I sort of expected a fall. The crux took a little working out, though!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #FindTheFlow #GowerClimbing #GowerPenninsula

It's been a while since I've posted anything - partly because I haven't had a lot of outdoor time this year so far. That changed last week with great trip to the Gower with the White Spider crowd. This was day 3 at the three sisters area - in this case Sister 2.5 - with Helen (on tradding my gear to the wall) and Sarah (on belay). Probably the best weather of the trip coming after a tent-straining gale the night before, and moves felt easy and flowy. Got love a climbing day like that!
#Climbing #SportClimbing #LimestoneClimbing #ClimbingIsMyPassion #FindTheFlow #GowerClimbing #GowerPenninsula

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

"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

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