Terry’s postcard arrived a few days ago (sorry for the delay in posting, I’ve been to Norwich π― with work this week) – the card is sporting the now traditional contemplative Kats…
I’m not sure about the watch story, but Terry’s exploration of the cragging opportunities around the Grimsel Pass area of the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland is a complete certainty; his appetite for rock climbing puts the rest of us to shame!
Hey Kat’s, I may get around a bit but wish I could climb as well as some of you Kats!
Talking of the Grimsel Pass, as you know, its mostly granite around there. The weather was dubious but one day John Hollands and I decided on this 9 pitch 4c reasoning that it shouldn’t be all that hard and any bits of wet might be coped with. We had made a
fatal[Ed] misjudgement!John is no sloth. He probably got the hardest move and it was touch and go.
Me with my big mouth and eyes got the longest sustained pitch, having decided to run two into one. At every move, I thought I was going to come off. It was a big smooth slab with only undulations both for the hands and the feet. Doesn’t look too grim looking down in the pic but I was worried stiff.
We concurred it was hard from start to finish. It wasn’t until in the pub that night that I took more pains with the German translation. The route had been climbed at 4c, true enough, but had been ‘rationalised’ (ie straightened out) in 1992 and was now 5c+
We agreed it was our best route π !
I knew you weren’t buying a watch! π
Looks like a great route – luv :love: slab climbing, especially with bolts! π
Did you ever get to the Amone Slab?
We didn’t but Keith and Fiona did π Hopefully post will ensue β
I think I went to Vallorcine that day π