Another goods days training in the cave with myself and paul both reaching a high point on our project "Smackdown" M7, it seems near impossible to extend the route any further but as they say everythings possible, I had a little go at trying to make a half descent video today, so hope you enjoy it....
Untitled from
Tommy Harris on
Vimeo.
With the forecast looking grim it was a great opportunity to head down to some local caves for some training on the tools. Myself and Paul set off early to beat the rain to get to our sheltered training ground for the day.
The rock seemed pretty cool to train on apart from being a little loose in places, I took a look at a steep over hanging wall with wishful thoughts thinking it was way beyond us, the placements were non existent and where there was, they were very small. we climbed a vertical wall just traversing from one side to the other, this had some pretty nice moves on and although the forearms were getting pumped it was nothing to hard, the cave height was only around 5 metres high so the only way to climb was to traverse but this was still entertaining and gave some technical climbing.
I headed on round to the overhanging wall again for another peep, noticing a tiny ledge i decided to see if the axe would hang on it, it did, so starting from a good ledge i tried the first move, chricky, not many feet placements, mono crampons would have helped but smearing in stickies wasn't to be, the ideal move would have been a fig 4 but rough ground beneath put me right off that.. I didn't hang the move but I was now pretty excited and wanted to play, after a closer look and play we managed to work out a sequence across the wall, myself and Paul took turns trying to be first to get the route done, the climbing is pretty tough with very small placements and allot of campus moves, I came close a few times but was unable to get the last couple of moves, Paul also done really well considering this was his first taste of dry tooling.
Paul's axe popped causing him to hit the deck pretty hard, i didn't mean to but I just burst out laughing, I asked if he was OK and he was, I'm sure though if he would have been alone he would have cried...
I had another goes before taking that fall myself, I didn't even get time to know I was falling before I hit the deck, It bloody hurt and was the end of today's climbing, a sore bottom, ankle and elbow was enough for today, Paul was hurting with headache, and back so we decided to call it a day. I am pretty psyched now and want to get back on this, its great training for Ice fest in January but it would also be cool to link this route up considering it looked impossible at first.
A coffee and cake in Wareham ended a great days training... Thanks Paul....
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Warming up on the tools
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Paul Getting used to the new vipers
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A dry toolers are a little mad
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Paul on the easy traverse wall
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Paul trying the steep Project
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Delicate moved on small placements
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Paul looking strong
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The right axe is in the most unprodictable placement, has an abbit of ripping out
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And when it does, it flipping hurts.... ouch!
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Close to the end, two moves from getting it.
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Paul just before disaster....
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Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are
naught without prudence, and that a momentary negliance may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; Look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end
