Today’s great plan was to give Grand Alliance (the ultra classic E4 of Black Crag, Borrowdale) a shot!
“Before”; Starting Prana
I thought I’d warm up, and check out how strong the fingers felt, by repeating it’s neighbour, Prana, an amazing E3…
When I last climbed Prana the crux was reaching a crucial positive hold just as the rock got REALLY steep and some way above the last runner. The crux was in the same place (it would be 😉 ), but somehow, just above that, I got my feet in a muddle and my fingers couldn’t keep me on any longer! Of course being above the crux and well above the last runner I fell a LONG way!!!
When I eventually came to a stop I learned two things:
- Sky diving teaches you a bad instinct when falling off rock – turning to face the ground! Exciting. 😀
- I’d knackered my left thumb. Almost all the skin had been ripped off the side – ouch! 🙁
Not good news – and the end of my climbing for the next couple of weeks.
But it wasn’t the end of Laetitia’s climbing day, she enjoyed another route with Sarah while Ian helped me dress my wound…
“After”; Ian helping with wound dressing
Laetitia climbing Troutdale Pinacle Direct
you should try reaching for the crimp on prana when you are as tall as me 5ft 6in and the reach on grand alliance is further cheers ps nice web site
Hey Keith, good to hear from you! 🙂