10th / 11th April

So this weekend we had a good turnout again, on the saturday we headed to Gull Zawn, this time I got shot down early and backed off trying 'Gneiss Gorilla' E2, then I decided to try 'Titanium Stripper' E3 but ended differing between 3 routes and finishing up the E1 'After the Goldrush', I have to mention a thankyou to Andrea for seconding up my zig-zag route (I think the constant change in routes left her a little dizzy), all in all very bad style from me.

Luckily for team 'send stuff' we had foreigner Adam over who doesn't back down so easily like myself, he spent the day trying his project but after he was done he had a quick top-rope attempt on what looked to be a blank direct start to 'Corridors of Power' E3, it turned out to be not so blank of holds and Adam was off before I even had time to get him on belay! Although the route was easy(ish) climbing (easy if you're Adam) Adam described it as 'bold', his first estimate is possibly E4 5c, my first estimate is that I NEVER want to climb one of Adam's E4's!

Also doing the team proud was Mark Page who led 'Rat Trap' seconded by Dean a.k.a the 'Chimney master', the 'Chimney Hunter' or the 'Chimney Crusher', and Olly and James W continued to gain experience & sunburn doing the first pitch of 'Shot in the dark'. Dean was especially pleased to make it to the top although he did leave half the gear in as he was in such a rush to top out! Mark found the route amenable but would like to see an ascent by someone not as tall as himself to see if it is the 'desperate struggle' the guidebook says it is!

Day 2 we headed to the main area at Mont Herault but first off Mark gave us a tour of the island, in this 2 hour tour we saw some good potential bouldering and a very nice-looking wall that Mark had discovered and named 'Tiger Wall', if anyone's hungry for F.A's then they should head there, or anywhere in Guernsey will probably do.

First off I tried 'Cosmo's Crack' E3 but fell off, Adam then went on to send it with ease. Big Nathan led 'Jam Sandwich' VS, for anyone who's never watched Nathan lead climb I highly recommend it, his disco leg is ridiculous. The route was seconded by Mark and little Nathan. I then sent 'Reptile', the island's first E2. To finish off, Adam tried 'Joker's Arete' E3, however the problem with this route is it is mostly protected by a rusty old peg which is probably 24 years old! Although this didn't put Adam off climbing the route, it did stop him trying his hardest on the crux so in the end he backed down (getting into some crazy positions downclimbing), it was still very impressive to watch!

as usual pictures are on facebook

See you all next weekend, Chris.