The Velcro Incident.

We finally received our new toys from Canada. Thanks Rachie & Dave!

Red is sporting 7 shiny Black Diamond Quicksilver draws. 

The Giggler bought a Black Diamond Primrose harness package (incl. biner, chalk & bag and a belay device). I told the Giggler on Friday that she must wear in the harness and accessories just like you would shoes. So on the weekend she did just that and experienced a Velcro incident (I’ll let the Giggler explain it in her own words).

The Duke has a Gri-Gri which matches his Ducati colour. I also got a (blue) Gri-Gri.

Red: As you know you need 8 bolt plates (extra in case you drop one). Get a couple of 90 degree angle brackets too. The Duke does not need a Figure 8 – I have three in my possession.

Re-soles: A number of us require resoles. Try and get them done ASAP – takes about 10 days and the Pulpit trip is in a couple of weeks! Take them to K2 or Kathmandu – tell them you want Kenny to do them (he is local).

Blisters in the Sun.

Tonight we were missing Faz, who is off marking maths exams. Crazy German girl hog tied Irish on a pig spit and baked him in the sun over the weekend. Irish now has 3rd degree burns on his back and front. Stoopid Irish. Probably won’t see ‘em for a few weeks until his skin grows back. See a doctor Irish and get the doc to graft your butt cheeks on your back or chest

Ledges of Death.

I lead Brickies Butt Crack (17) to setup a top rope. Red topped over but by the end of the night had no energy spare to practice a lead on this route.

Nice went up next and nailed the face start and then proceeded to the first ledge (of death). The traverse proved tricky and saw her take her first outdoors fall – a good fright to get the adrenaline pumping, but a textbook fall (if there is such a thing). Nice passed the ledge to arrive at the orange wall. She ran out of juice about three quarters up the orange wall. No fear of ledges, no giggling and hang dogging on the rope will see her surpass the Giggler in 3 weeks (the Gigglers words).

The Giggler giggled her way up Brickies, only stopping on the ledge for a good 15 minutes of giggling. During which time, The Chad and I swapped belay duties.

Snake Mantle.

Eventually Mr Erotica set up on Snakes in the Grass (16/20) only after been told numerous times to do it straight away before it gets taken.

Most people did the mantle which is the crux (hence the grade of 20). The rest is not worth doing after conquering the crux.

The Giggler stopped just below her Evil Black Ledge of Death.

Solo <—> oloS.

And I thought no one was listening when I promised that the Olos Slab (25) would fall by the end of 2006. Well guess what we are setting up on til it falls! The Chad is taking 50-1 bets. Its looking like a winner for the bookie at the moment.

Gilligan, Mr Erotica, The Chad, The Duke and Red did Olos (15/21). Most cleaned it and others took the variant head wall finish, a much more interesting finish.

Crimes & Surrender.

Uneventful from my point of view. There was no retreat from Surrender (19). Everyone who climbed it (The Chad, Red, Mr Erotica, Gilligan, the Duke and I), cleaned it.

However, the crux of Crimes and Misdemeanors (22) still proved to be my nemesis. Got a little higher, but the one finger dimple hold could not hold me up there long enough to pop my right foot higher to position myself for the next desperate finger hold. Damn you trash talkers! I heard you all bagging me. The Grasshopper is quite proud of my trash talking disciples. However, it wasn’t enough to get me off the crux – my only response was a "Grrr"