After getting back from SA I had four days off and then packed 'Babs' and 'rocketed off' to Switzerland with fellow hobbit, Dan Turner and pale interloper, Mr Ben Freeman. Although the team were ready to crush, we were faced with three of the hottest days in Swiss this year in the first week...this didn't initially seem to phase Dan though, as he floated up Muttertag 8a and shimmied up Body Count 8a+. BF and I slowly melted, along with our skin and at times my patience...keep it cool Trig, keep it cool!
After a couple of days of rain however, temps improved and problems fell. Ben did Foxy Lady 8a and I managed to drag my now rather fatigued 30 somethingness up Nothing Changes 8a and Body Count 8a+. Turnip was still yipping and he did Voigas 8a+...an excellent effort as he discovered 'the perfect go'. The Riverbed 8b managed to hold out, as her greasy little charms sapped our tired arms...one to return for.
Now back at work, swamped with 'data analysis' this feels like a long time ago...had my first grit session though yest. Keen.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Rocklands 2012 continued
It was great to see some beastly performances from wads (Jan Holger? etc) but I was probably most impressed with our own Barney Ventham from 'down south'. He got himself up a brace of classics and nailed Black Shadow 8a+/8b and Armed Response hard 8a+. Barnaby is a really nice guy and one of the strongest climbers I've seen for a while and at only 18, he's a name to watch out for in the future.
I felt like I had a good trip...three weeks is never enough! I managed to dispatch some unfinished business from last time, get something done most sessions and slowly 'drag' how hard I can climb in a session up a grade!
My 'monkey business':
Loads of 7a+/7b...manaaged to flash four 7c's and a 7c+...fun.
A Question of Balance 7b,The Rhino 7b+,Potato Direct 7c,Cedar Spine ss 7c,Last Day in Paradise 7c,Sunset Arete 7c, A Pinch of Herbs 7c,Tea Garden Roof 7c,Rooi Klavier 7c,Rasta Roof 7c+, Black Mango Chutney 7c+,Barracuda 8a, Green Mamba 8a+, Nutsa 8a+, A tea with Elmarie 8a+ and Fragile Steps 8b.
Can't wait to return in 2013...we've booked already...it's not that good honest!
I felt like I had a good trip...three weeks is never enough! I managed to dispatch some unfinished business from last time, get something done most sessions and slowly 'drag' how hard I can climb in a session up a grade!
My 'monkey business':
Loads of 7a+/7b...manaaged to flash four 7c's and a 7c+...fun.
A Question of Balance 7b,The Rhino 7b+,Potato Direct 7c,Cedar Spine ss 7c,Last Day in Paradise 7c,Sunset Arete 7c, A Pinch of Herbs 7c,Tea Garden Roof 7c,Rooi Klavier 7c,Rasta Roof 7c+, Black Mango Chutney 7c+,Barracuda 8a, Green Mamba 8a+, Nutsa 8a+, A tea with Elmarie 8a+ and Fragile Steps 8b.
Can't wait to return in 2013...we've booked already...it's not that good honest!
Rocklands 2012
Wow! Great three week trip to South Africa with Ceri, Tom, Kate, Emma F and Michelle.We had much fun, sends a plenty, great conditions and excellent steaks! I'd been looking forward to this trip and had managed to train consistently, albeit with a slight wobble at the end of term. All was as hoped for and more, after our last trip to Rocklands in 2008. I was however, slightly worried that this time it would be rammed with homs and travelling beasts but we managed to avoid any scenes, often climbing at major areas with only us and a couple of other teams.
With the benefit of being on a longer trip I opted for a bit of cruising around in the first week, trying to chill 'a bit' and check out some areas.But during the last two weeks I hammered it...which is never easy, trying to not get too tired, save skin and make progress on projects.I'm always slightly torn...try a couple of hard projects and risk getting little done or drop a grade or two and nail stuff quickly (in the end I opted for the latter, I'll maybe try some 8b+s next year!!!).
We generally tried to climb two on, one off, with early starts and then walking back looking at the stars...mint. Although the pressure was on sometimes by being on a big trip, we all climbed well and dispatched some projects. Tom did a pack of 7b+,7c and 7c+ classics (Caroline 7c+, Cedar Spine ss 7c, Sunset Arete 7c etc) and Kate blitzed some 7a/7a+s and got close to nailing a 7b. Ceri got her 'war face on' and did some 7a's and a 7a+, she also managed to rid herself of an old nemesis by eventually cruising the classic 'The Roof is on Fire'.
With the benefit of being on a longer trip I opted for a bit of cruising around in the first week, trying to chill 'a bit' and check out some areas.But during the last two weeks I hammered it...which is never easy, trying to not get too tired, save skin and make progress on projects.I'm always slightly torn...try a couple of hard projects and risk getting little done or drop a grade or two and nail stuff quickly (in the end I opted for the latter, I'll maybe try some 8b+s next year!!!).
We generally tried to climb two on, one off, with early starts and then walking back looking at the stars...mint. Although the pressure was on sometimes by being on a big trip, we all climbed well and dispatched some projects. Tom did a pack of 7b+,7c and 7c+ classics (Caroline 7c+, Cedar Spine ss 7c, Sunset Arete 7c etc) and Kate blitzed some 7a/7a+s and got close to nailing a 7b. Ceri got her 'war face on' and did some 7a's and a 7a+, she also managed to rid herself of an old nemesis by eventually cruising the classic 'The Roof is on Fire'.
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