I've just returned back home from an amazing 3 weeks in Asia. The first few days were spent in Hong Kong watching Fiji run loops around all other oposition in the Rugby 7's tournement. Then we headed off to Thailand with a couple of mad days in Bangkok before flying off to Krabi and then the climbing paradise that is Tonsai! So instead of writing an essay about the trip thought I would just put loads of pictures up documenting it! Enjoy.....
Ed Update:- Over the past month and a half since we returned from Turkey we have been trying to get out as much as possible on zee Gritstone. The weather has been far from helpful but there have been a few decent days between the 10 bad ones!
I have slowly been ticking my way through some brilliant problems that the grit has to offer. First up was a great session up at Row Tor were I managed to make the 3rd Ascent of Dave Mason’s ‘Pink Lady’ (8A). It’s a must do problem with some very hard tension moves on some pretty small undercut’s. As there was still enough light I went down to finish the day by ticking ‘Domes Sit Start’ (7C) which has now turned out to be my favourite problem on the grit. A great day with some video footage to come!! Next was the Roaches, I had been meaning to go and try Tetris for ages and finally decided to go and check it out. We arrived, the boulder was completely dry and I managed to make a quick ascent of Tetris (7C) followed by a surprised flash on Columns (7C+), Great Day. After those two amazing session’s on the grit, the weather crapped out again BUT this didn’t hold us back as I decided to go and meet up with Ted and Ethan and hit Stoney, the place of all dreams. Surprisingly the conditions were incredible and around 30 problems went down between us that day. Some of these include Arm bandit (7C), Denses White Ladder (7C), Pete’s Power Pull (7C+), Nasty Traverse (7C+), Jerry’s Problem (7C+) and an un-named 7B+.
After talking with Ethan and Bails we all decided to go and check out Turningstone edge near Eastwood Rocks but on the other side of the valley. Our aim was to try and climb ‘River Of Life’ (8A). As we arrived the conditions were awful. The rock was all wet and the psyche was low. We decided to try and dry the holds and see if we could dig out some of the moves. After around 30 minutes of drying we realised that there was potential for climbing on it. We all gradually worked out the beta and finally I managed to make a send of it. Ethan and Bails were very close to sticking the crux and will deffo get it next time! Good effort Lad’s!!!
Photos taken by Adam Bails
Gasper’s Week; Just Last week my good friend Gasper Pintar from Slovenia visited the UK for 1 week. We had already decided to take him up to the Plantation on the Tuesday. He started off by ticking ‘The Green Traverse’ (7A) and then Dope on a Slope (7A+). He and I also had a play on Deliverance (7B+) which shot us both down but was fun to try. He also got a send of the classic Not to Be Taken Away. We all then finished off the day by trying ‘Brad Pit’ (7C+). I had about 400 goes with loads of different heels from different makes of shoe which didn’t work. Gasper then kindly leant me his La Sportiva shoes which stick on like a babe in the wood. I FINALLY sent the problem all thanks to Gasper’s shoe. Thanks mate, you legend!!!!! After a hard and long day up at Stanage we decided to take a rest day by having a really hard board session. Fantastic preparation for Friday’s venture.
Last but not least, we all headed down to the Churnet to check out the amazing looking Ina's Rock. This is a truely awesome piece of weathered sandstone hidden away in the woods, with two classic highball/solo's side by side. With a big team and even bigger loads of crash pads I've ever seen, we were ready for action! First line to go down was Thumberlina (highball V6 or E6), this is a brilliant line up a smooth wall with a wierd pockety start involving a big heal hook. Then some positive crimpers and a final scary lunge right at the top! This got 5 ascents in good time, including Gaspers first E graded route! Next up we moved all the pads over to the left and got stuck into the harder Cornelious (V9 or E7). Anyway Dave showed the way with a stylish ascent followed by myself and then Bails! What a great day!!
Dave sending Cornelious
Pads galore!
Me on the crux stretch!
Oh yeh and here are a couple of cool vid's that Ethan made a few weeks ago.
Geeza! Shisha innit Antalya rest day Psyched! Snow... Sunday market Lunch! Real Lunch Serefe We got wet! All goood First day syke! Crags from campsite Was up!!!!!
We have just returned from an amazing two week trip climbing at Geyik Bayiri, in the Antalya region of Turkey. This was our first time visiting the country and what a very special place it is! We had an absolute blast of a trip! None of this would have happened without our main man Andre ‘The Hammer’ Hedger, who was the driving force of the trip and the one who gave us the inspiration to head that way and check it out.
So, the start of the trip involved a quick dash down to London town where we all met up and stayed the night at Chez Andre’s. The next morning involved an early start, with a taxi ride straight to Gatwick, then followed the usual airport shenanigans and then boom, we were on our way heading east. Destination=Antalya !! After a rather long 4 hour flight (we didn’t care, we were going to Turkey baby!!) we arrived in the city of Antalya. It was pretty late on, but an organised taxi was waiting for us outside to take us the last bit. We arrived at our final destination of the Climber’s Garden in the dead of night, quickly putting up our tents and then hitting the sack! The next morning we awoke to an amazing view of where we were going to be based for the next two weeks. There was rock everywhere we looked!! And best of all, the main and best sector (Sarkit) was less than five minutes from our tent! It really was a climber’s paradise. We then met up with Dan G, a great guy and friend of Andre’s who had already been out there for over a month and knew the place pretty well. He then joined the team and off we went ROCK CLIMBINGgggg!! The first few days we took it pretty steady, ticking off some of the classic’s and then gradually stepping it up a gear to send some amazing routes! Weather wise, it was pretty chilly for most of the time and we did have four days of torrential rain which were a right off and dampened our moods slightly. Not to mention soaking everything in our tent! Apart from that, all in all it was an amazing trip. One of the highlights was spending two of our rest days getting more of a cultural experience of real Turkey! This included a stole round the local Sunday market, a rub down at the Turkish Baths, smoking strawberry Shisha and consuming large amounts of kebabs, Turkish delights and Bazlama’s.
Here were some of our favourites sends of the trip: Ja Ja City 7a+, Back on the funky planet 7b+, Sarkit Souls 8a, Colonist 8a+, Okrimono 7c+,Geyikbayiri games 7b+, Skyline 7c, Plastik fantastic 8a, Gizmo 7c, Turkish Airways 8a+, Milestone 8a, Trio de ligoville 8a, Fun in the sun 7c+, Black moon 7b+, Family affair 8a+, Serpedon 8b+, Ikarus 8a+, Freedom is a battle 8a+, Richfest 8a, Chain erection 8a, Parrelle universe 7c+, River dance 7b+, Neptunalia 8a+
A BIG UP most go out to Andre, Dan, Ali and Ethan P for making the trip propa good gezza!! Serefe homies!!!
Also a MASSIVE thank you to Peak Ales who made the trip happen.
Here's a sweet litl video Andre made from our trip!!
Boooom!
Towerblocks above the stadium
Chinese dragon celebration
Hong Kong skyline!
Zimbos beating the Canadians!
Hong Kong stadium
Hong Kong island
Now thats a hat!
The Thais like there brights colours!
Bangkok tansport
hmm maybe not
Monks in orange
Grand Palace
Bangkok at night
Towerblocks above the stadium
Chinese dragon celebration
Hong Kong skyline!
Zimbos beating the Canadians!
Hong Kong stadium
Hong Kong island
Now thats a hat!
The Thais like there brights colours!
Bangkok tansport
hmm maybe not
Monks in orange
Grand Palace
Bangkok at night
Elephant riding in Au Nang!!
Early morning sea fishing!
Elephant riding in Au Nang!!
Early morning sea fishing!
Tonsai and Railay beach
Longboats
Dum's kitchen
7b+ on Tyrolean Wall
These guys knew how to climb!
Wild moves on Tantrum 8a+
Our family abode
Sex Power 8a on Tonsai wall
litl one
Throwing funky shapes
Phet Maak 7c+
One of the crag inhabitants
Baby Gorilla 7c
Warming up
Now those are Stalactites!
Classic Tonsai route Tidal wave 7b+
Tonsai beach
Low Tide wall
Paradise!
Tonsai and Railay beach
Longboats
Dum's kitchen
7b+ on Tyrolean Wall
These guys knew how to climb!
Wild moves on Tantrum 8a+
Our family abode
Sex Power 8a on Tonsai wall
litl one
Throwing funky shapes
Phet Maak 7c+
One of the crag inhabitants
Baby Gorilla 7c
Warming up
Now those are Stalactites!
Classic Tonsai route Tidal wave 7b+
Tonsai beach
Low Tide wall
Paradise!
