Monday, 14 December 2009

Waiting

In the absense of going climbing I've been watching some movies about climbing and have made a couple more short vids myself. I re-discovered Consumed last week which has been loitering on my hard drive for a couple of years unwatched. It's brilliant I think, relentless, underground and dark. Another hard drive discovery gave rise to my, poor by comparison, latest offering:

Moors Extra '09 from Ram Man on Vimeo.



I quite like the vid. Should have zoomed in a bit for the Ch-Ching footage though! Beneath the Breadline might be an FA, not sure, but decent problem. The initial slopey pull on and slaps to crimps are nice . The rest felt every bit as awkward as it looks though the stand up version (given 5c or something in the guide) actually climbs nicer especially with a bit of a font start.

Ch-ching's a decent bit of climbing - enjoyed doing that one. It's a slightly contrived line in that when you reach the first good holds you could escape off right onto easy ground rather than commit to the higher (psychological) crux. Some nice holds and good moves made it feel very worthwhile for me though - Moors 2*? Difficulty-wise, I'm not sure what it is really. I had a couple of pads and I suppose it's right on the boundary of route/highball. Falling from anywhere in the top crux wouldn't be pleasant though as I think you'd do well to land feet first by nature of the moves. Me and Andy G-Chav had had a session on it before I went back and did it and though we both cleanly top roped it after figuring out the moves we were too tired to safely see it away that day. We were both climbing relatively well at the time too so it can't be that easy. I think we decided bouldery 7b/+ climbing at the time. But then you do it and it feels easy so maybe more 7a+/7b. Anyway, decent climb for sure - I think I could get into these types of short solo headpoints, I really enjoyed it.

Back to the present, I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing over the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately haven't got any work and the elbows still don't feel ready to start pulling on rock. I hate wishing time away but, once through Christmas I'll be nearing a two month lay off which will hopefully allow me to get back moving on the rock. Also, things will start happening with the work situation one way or another so I'll get some cash in and kickstart the fund for a good climbing year. If I can get plenty of work here, then great, I'll stick around and head out to France later in the year. If not, I'm off straight to France and will get work there instead. I'm not too concerned whichever way it turns out. It's up to the fates to decide. In the mean time I can't do much else but be patient and wait for healed elbows and work to arrive.

Wednesday, 2 December 2009

inspiration and optimism and that

I'm missing climbing an awful lot but life's not so bad at the moment, I've got plenty of other stuff going on. Well, relatively speaking at least! I'm progressing in other areas, getting work sorted and pursuing some additional ideas and projects - some climbing related, some not. Either way, it's good to be learning and exploring new things and hopefully some of them might lead somewhere.

I enjoyed a pleasant day at Almscliff with Lee, Guy and Zakdog yesterday. I went primarily to get some photos and info for a little project I'm working on but did touch rock and padded and/or mantled my way up a few really nice easy problems I've not done for years.

I've been idly reviewing the year a bit recently too, compiling the odd list along the way. I was quite surprised how many new/possibly new/rediscovered things I've done on the moors this year and more surprised by how many good quality things I've got lined up to do/try when the elbows and weather allow. Inspired, nice one. In this vein, I've compiled a wee vid of my most obvious unfinished moors objective:

Route Project from Ram Man on Vimeo.



It'll be in an unclimbable state for a while yet (as might I be!) but looking forward to getting back on it and lots of other stuff on the moors early next year.

Anyway, appointment with physio tomorrow. Hopefully get me accelerating down the road to recovery for when/if the epic rains cease...