Cromlech Hit

Since getting back from Lundy the weather (in North Wales at least) has been very wet. I just about managed to do Right Wall E5 6a before what feels like weeks of non-stop rain. It was good to finally do Right Wall. I had been thinking about it for quite a while. It didn't disappoint, I found it pretty hard and scary but an amazing experience.

I got a sequence of moves wrong going left from the first broken pocket, I just about manged to reverse back to the pocket but after that I was fighting pumped forearms all the way up. I could't stay for as long as I liked on halfway ledge since it was getting dark and I was getting cold rather recovering. The top run-out past the portal was terrifying. Pumped and overgripping I was extremely glad to get to the rampline of better holds which lead into the top crack. Abbing down the route after, it looked like it might be possible to get an offset nut in just below the portal once at the portal. I found two gold size 4 cams extremely useful low down and a blue size 5 pretty handy higher up.

Sophie Whyte cursing Right Wall earlier the same day. Photo: Luke Brooks

For past five years, towards the end of the summer I seem to have done big route on Dinas Cromlech :

Cemetery Gates E1 (2007) , Cenotaph Corner E1 (2008) , Left Wall E2/E3 (2009), Resurrection E4 (2010), Right Wall E5 (2011), ?? (2012).

It's a bit scary to think of what next year might have in store!

Its been almost six years now since I started climbing. I feel very lucky to have discovered such an enjoyable and absorbing activity that has given me so many unforgettable experiences, taken me to many beautiful places and connected me with lots of amazing people.