Climbing:
Page 2 - Photo gallery commentary
Page 1 - Blatant self-justification - Videos - A cunning plan
Commentary:
Commentary to go along with my UKC photo gallery which is now mostly in the wrong order thanks to their software dicking around. You need to be registered at and logged in to UKClimbing.com to see the images, which shouldn't be much of a hardship.
Winter 2006
Swanning around on the essential crux sequence
Fiend keeping the various belayers amused with his tip-toeing antics.
Autumn 2006
Fiend having to stop Lazeing around and actually pull a bit.
Fiend discovering his Achilles Heel is sheltered and sun-drenched grit.
Fiend resplendent in full autumn camo and in classic Rasping mode.
Fiend chilling in one of the hands-off rests on The Rasp.
Fiend, driven to Insanity by his battle with the searing November heat.
Preparing for some Insanity with the time-honoured methods of faffing and over-camming gear.
Fiend swimming in a sea of choss at the same god-awful road cutting
Fiend reaching the limit of his esoteric bollox tolerance at some god-awful road cutting in North Wales
Summer 2006
Basking in the idyllic evening sun at Cheesewring Quarry.
Fiend spotted in his natural habitat - esoteric quarried bollox (but a superb route).
Impaled on Harpoon, Vicarage Cliff.
Earning the post-Ysgo curry: Jawbreaker
One of the very best problems at Ysgo: Spaz Arete
Porth Ysgo: American Rafiki
Porth Ysgo: Unmarked Grave
Porth Ysgo: The Ramp
The very essence of Ysgo: The Incredible Shaking Man
Warming up at Ysgo: Perrin's Crack
Fiend surfing a sea of sweat on the delectably steep Double Scotch, Stoney.
Fiend swearing his way up Galileo, Shining Clough - transcript available on request.
Fiend fiddling with his nuts.
Fiend gayhanding.
Fiend, still under a Delusion but nearly there...
Fiend sweating under his own Delusion, a new route at Egerton
Cleaning and climbing, banter and barbeques, fun, frolics and fresh new routes - the 2006 Egerton meet.
Spring 2006
As usual, the magical crags of Northumberland cast The Spell over Fiend.
Outward Bound on the softest touch in Northumberland...
Fiend extending himself on the enjoyable crux of Outward Bound, Back Bowden.
Fiend heading for the tantalising foliage on Ancient Briton, Jack Rock
A modern Briton on Ancient Briton, Jack Rock.
Fiend scarcely believing he's in the middle of the Rainbow Slab.
Fiend on the reassuringly relaxing mantleshelf, Poetry Pink, Rainbow Slab.
Fiend committing to the first crux of Poetry Pink, Rainbow Slab.
A less climbed Scottish sea stack - The Souter, near Berwick.
Summer 2004
A perfect view from the Cwm Dyli boulders.
A rare nice day near the end of a fucking dismal summer (weather and climbing-wise). Had just had two pretty good days at the Cromlech and the slate with the ever-ready Mick B, he'd left to go off travelling again, and I stuck around to go bouldering in this beautifully peaceful location. Did plenty of nice problems including the fantastic Teryn Roof Crack, a veritable orgy of inverted finger jamming, overhanging fisting and crucial foot-locks, and celibrated with a curry on my own in Llanberis.
Fiend tucking into Brunch, a new problem at Garheugh Point, Galloway
Another new problem, it might have been done before but is certainly not listed on the Garheugh topo at Scottishclimbs.com. Thus, I claim it =). Spent a while at Garheugh getting beasted by the bollox grades and my own fat'n'weakness. Had many goes at this obvious, cool, independent wall, but couldn't get the slap to the edge. Came back a week later, fresh, and found it easy second go, huh. It's named after a *very* vague similarity to the classic Breakfast at Burbage West.
Fiend getting historical on yo ass with his own 1833 Traverse, Galloway
My own problem, first done May 2004, and named due to a historical engraving on the rock. It takes the lip of a very obvious wave of a rock at a delightful cove on the Galloway coast, initially on slopers and then on pockets as the angle increases, with some fun foothooks. A little bit gritty but a classic line, shows what's out there if you explore.
Fiend feeling puny on the appropriately named Weakling's Wall, Brown Crag, Aberdeen
An epic ascent 
. My confidence was *very* bad during that trip but I was inspired enough to give this a try. Took me a very long time, fiddling in gear and working my way up. A good, amenable climb, but one where onsighting is definitely the real challenge, not knowing where any holds are nor where good gear might be found. Satisfying, in the end.
Fiend clutching at straws ho ho on Strawclutcher's Wall, Meikle Partans, Aberdeen
More exploration of the Aberdeen area. This is a cool wee wall, small but well formed, and fairly improbable looking from below. But it all unfolds nicely including a neat, obvious crux on a small crimp. Good stuff.
Spring 2004
Mr Smooth himself, pimping away at Caley...
Errrr yes the title is strictly tongue-in-cheek =). I got dragged onto natural grit in early summer, and although it was far too warm and sweaty for me to enjoy the proper grit feel, we still did some good problems including the notorious Mr Smooth, which was pleasing in it's technical movement. A nice shot from my bouldering guru, I like the geometry and how it captured the esoteric finger usage.
Garheugh Point, Galloway. The thin crack just right of centre is the main slab route Two Tyred. No idea what the coocoon is.
A typical, small, interesting crag on the Galloway coast. The main slab in the background is a fine slice of rock, beautifully undercut at it's base. The rest of the crag is less inspiring, although there's some good bouldering nearby. Ef and I had been here a year ago and done a few minor routes, but the main line of Two Tyred had stood out as the most appealing. A year later I was ready to do it, albeit having to stand on my trainers to (just) reach the first hold after an abortive jump attempt 
. A nice route if very bouldery.
One of the most beautiful slabs around: Ceud Mille a Failte at the lovely Larbrax, Galloway
Fiend higher up Ceud Mille a Failte, Labrax, Galloway
Another place visited a year ago, another line that stood out as particularly good (well, totally inspiring in this case), another successful return a year later. In an area of many hidden gems, Larbrax must be one of the most gorgeous crags around: A series of sheer, austere slabs rising straight from a gentle grassy meadow, just set back from a vast and peaceful beach. The left slab in particular is such a nice bit of rock, I spent a while just looking and admiring it, and this route is the most inspiring - brilliant thin climbing to eventual respite in a pocket (just after the first photo), then enjoyable delicacies to the finish, all with steady micro-protection.
We went there for a family picnic, dog included. The recuperating Ef kindly belayed me on it, Mr Fiend snr. enthusiastically took the photos, and Mrs Fiend snr. hid behind the dog to watch 
. The picnic was nice, we explored around the beach, then I did a warm up and then this route, which went fine. Then we went for a pub meal in the evening. One of the most interesting and memorable climbing days, particlularly finally showing my parents what this wonderful activity is all about.
Ow. Utilising the crucial slanting inverted flared fingerlock on an unnamed classic, Carrock Fell Boulders, Cumbria.
The end of a good day and indeed a great long weekend in Cumbria / The Lakes. This day we'd been to Quayfoot Buttress for proper trad climbing, Dalt Quarry for esoteric sport climbing, and finally Carrock Fell for secluded bouldering! This classic wall was clearly enticing from the road. Two crux moves both involved using painful slots to get one's feet sorted - I couldn't reach an obvious good hold from the undercling so had to give this crappy slot a good fingering to get in position.
Fiend scared but happy, initiating the crux sequence on Rock And A Hard Place, Windmore End, Cumbria.
And thus this is Windmore End. A place shrouded in a mysterious mix of inspiration and suspicion - the large selection of short, well starred low extremes in the guide always had me wondering whether it was: 1. Genuinely great, or 2. 'Orribly overrated. Secret Agent Simmy checked it out and finally I visited with him, and well, it's rather nice, a bit oversold, a bit overgraded, but nice wall climbing in a lovely situation. We had a nice afternoon mostly soloing around and chilling out on the soft grass. This route was the highlight for me, probably worth it's grade as the crux is the very last reach for the top off an unnervingly small edge. Quite satisfying and a great little climb.
Preparing for the battle of the bulge on Calidoscopi, Siurana Village, Costa Daurada.
Fiend enjoying the first crux bulge of Calidoscopi, Siurana Village, Costa Daurada.
First taste of European sport climbing. Overall a good trip, a couple of depressing days of shitty weather, but other than that plenty of great climbing. This was on the best day I had, on the spectacular Siurana peninsula. Funnily enough I'd just failed on the good route to the left of this, had the obligatory tantrum and sulk, and managed to summon the determination to tackle the next climb better. Which was this climb, quite amenable, quite fun, and a good gymnastic start.
Gritstone, winter 2003/4:
The Curbar cairn, early 2004.
No idea who made it but I think it's cool. First saw it late January 2004, was still there a month later - it's really nice that everyone left it alone as I had thought some inane fuckwit would knock it over.
Fiend finally getting his arse in gear on the Appaloosa Sunset rockover...
...and thus able to relax now that's over with.
A route I've tried a few times previously but backed off. I nearly did this time too - for some reason I was determined to avoid the traditional rockover method and do some weird reachy dyno thing that's a lot harder. I'd downclimbed twice to rest, and finally had a brief look at the rockover and realised it was fine. God knows 
. Once that was over with everything felt a lot nicer and it was fun from then on, although I do feel I spoilt things a bit with too much dicking around.
The brilliant and probably underrated problem on the "other" end of The Pebble.
A great problem climbed on a strange day where the conditions were fluctuating ever hour or so. What's so nice about this is that the method and moves are very obvious from the ground, so one can just flow up it.
Multiple choice: Is Fiend: 1) Shitting himself; 2) Cacking himself; 3) Bricking himself; on The Brush Off??
Answer: All of the above =). It's hard for me to write about this as it's a very personal experience. But I'll try: I have been inspired by, dreamt about, and fantasised about such routes for many years. It's only recently after a load of bouldering and an improvement in attitude that I've been able to get realistically inspired and feel I can actually DO them. The timing wasn't quite right on this route, as I'd been distracted by other people, and started moving up the route before I was really in touch with it. The photo was taken (unknown to me), at a point where I was feeling this "timing" issue, and trying to sort myself out to continue. Soon after I had a better rest and could "stabilise" myself to calmly work out the top. Afterwards, it's a quite surreal experience - I have fantasised about such a route for so long, prepared mentally so much recently (including just standing and looking for maybe an hour), that it feels strange to have climbed it. The fantasies have been so entrenched that the line between them and the reality is blurred....sometimes it doesn't feel like I've done it at all....sometimes it feels like I always had.
Fiend flashing the elegant Ripple via inelegant thrashing around.
And something more light-hearted. Okay, little white lie, this wasn't the flash (why describe it as such?? A bit of pride and self-satisfaction that I had done it, that's all.), I'd flashed it a couple of minutes before, and my friend suggested he get some photos of it. This pose could have been the flash, except I had my left hand better for that, before getting the wrong bit of the top and slothering determinedly to finish.
Stealth ninja Fiend camouflaged against Himmelswillen.
Wrong clothes for an otherwise nice series of photos =). Just exploring around Wharncliffe, with the obligatory solo of Himmelswillen. A very nice route of course.
Our hero about to get pressed, compressed, remixed and rewound by The Press.
Our hero's hands after such treatment.
Hohoho what a lark. A steep crack at Ramshaw, what did I expect. A cool and intimidating looking route, indeed so much so that the first time I got to the pull into the crack and had to desperately reverse (via a 1 handed drop onto an angled fist jam - hence *some* of the wounds) to a rest and give myself a stern talking to before grinding up it. The finish is quite entertaining too, rolling into this large slot right on the arete. Like most such things, it's a right bloody battle, but quite satisfying in retrospect, and showing off the wounds is part of that =).
An aesthetically pleasing problem up the beautiful rib on the Very Very Far Skyline.
Truly one of the most appealing bits of grit around, as you'd expect from the furthest reaches of the Skyline. I don't think many people go there, but we did. This problem was the highlight, and it took a while to find the right foot position. Shortly after a blizzard hurtled across the moors, and my friend did the fantastic Staffs Flyer in 20+mph horizontal snow =). Mad, raw weather like that feels good.
Fiend on sighting "Parallel Piped" (E3 5c) at Froggatt - Mild E3 all the way whatever your height!!
Well well. A certain UKC forums poster had been highlighting their ascent of this as them climbing E4 (as it was misgraded in an old guide), and later on had demonstrated a hilariously macho, competitive and boastful attitude (well, possibly a wind-up, who knows...). Which provided the inspiration to look at this route....may seem like a rather silly inspiration, but inspiration can come from many directions, within or without, negative or positive. Anyway, it looked nice (thus, the *real* motivation to climb it), I climbed it, it's E3 and was quite enjoyable.
Fiend in his cute red socks on the crux of In Off. Belay posing by dinkypen.
Higher up In Off.
Ummm not much to say about this. Just a nice route really, although it was a bit too warm for me. I climbed up and down to the low crux a few times before actually doing it - in fact another party had managed to do a nearby route in the time it took me to faff around =/.
Summer 2002 and 2003
Northumbrian sandstone at it's best - the delightful Klondyke Wall, Bowden Doors.
This was climbed on a mission! The weekend before I left to join Ef in New Zealand, I tied up the last few climbs that had really inspired me during the summer. Thus, a 7-8 hour drive round trip from Sheffield to Northumberland for the afternoon. Bowden was as lovely as usual, the route was excellent, a delightful intricate sequence of moves on reassuring edges. I did it a second time for the photos, it was that much fun, and the whole thing was well worth the effort as a leaving present.
Bullet ballet....Wilton 3, Lancashire.
I love the Wilton quarries. Every route I've done there has been at least good, often excellent, and I've had some really enjoyable days there. The best quarried grit climbing aside from Millstone. As is often the case with such places, the general strangeness can have a perculiar appeal for the intrigued. The previous time I visited, there were some broken powertools around this area, this time it was bullets...
'twixt light and shade - Fiend keeping his toes intact on The Pobble, Souter Head, Aberdeen
Starting to explore the great outcrop climbing in the very inspiring North East Outcrops guide. This time I drove up from Dumfries, climbed two days with a nice Scandinavian student, and had a good curry in between. Sweet. Souter Head was nice and this route was a particularly delightful solo on good jugs. I'm hoping for many return visits.
More Northumbrian fun, on the exquisitly positive Corbeau, Corby's Crag
A later trip to Northumberland, which is a deeply wonderful place for climbing delightful sandstone in a tranquil setting. Corby's Crag has my kind of walk-in "1 minute from the parking or sooner if your brakes fail" =). I'd been there before on my own, and managed to tag along with another party for an excellent afternoon, and came back on a later trip. This route, a gently impending wall on gradually improving positive edges, is another one of those obligatory solo things...
New Zealand, winter/spring 2003
Practising for real climbing - sequence on Thimble, Wanaka, NZ
Okay okay, this is definitely valid climbing in it's own right!! An irresistable black wall, adjacent to the main Wanaka carpark, offering excellent crimpy and technical climbing. Climbed above the cushions/mattresses from our campervan =). Actually, I *was* using bouldering as training for routes here, and it ended up working pretty well... Sorry the photos are a bit poor, couldn't decide which to put on.
Ef dancing up the delectable Radiator, Wanaka, NZ
A very fine route this, delicate climbing up a clean slab on good edges and flakes. A good solo by Ef too. Unfortunately the photo shop that transfered this image to disk did a shite job of it, the low quality is all their fault 
The beautiful and serene setting for the excellent Hanging Rock, NZ [Ef's photo]
Beautiful... Ef managed to capture this particularly well. Hanging Rock was an excellent, underrated limestone crag perched above this scene. As with most central South Island limestone, the rock is bulbous, rounded, pocketed and imposing, and the routes are both physically demanding and ferociously committing. We did some great climbs here, the best being Margins Of The Mind, a superb hanging arete undercut by a 10m roof, gained via abseil and climbed with a healthy amount of fear =).
A rare NZ low grade classic - Ef committing Nursery Crimes, Hanging Rock, NZ
One strange aspect about NZ climbing is that there are relatively few classic easy routes. With the predominance of sport climbing, most people seem to jump straight from the climbing wall to the mid-grades. This route was an exception, but a bold solo since it's delicate, rounded, and above a looonnnng slide down into the river.
Bald Fiend, bald problem. Castle Hill, NZ
I liked being bald! A refreshing change, but a right hassle to maintain. Anyway, this typically holdless and bizarre scoop was chosen by Chris The Pilot, flashed by me, and capture on film by BMC Alex. Delicate opposing force palming bridging business.
"That" photo. Where's *my* trip to Font?? See gallery for successful sequence. Castle Hill, NZ
Right. Another BMC Alex photo that won the photo competition in On The Edge May 2003. Most people agree it's not *that* great, but hey ho I didn't mind =). Two things I did mind: OTE got my name wrong, and I asked them to change it and include the word "Fiend", and they refused. Some waffle about online identities and stuff. *Sigh* Welcome to the 19th century. And the prize for this was a trip to Font for two people with Gaz Parry - which I'd have loved. Surely the honourable and decent thing would be for Alex to take me as the winning subject....but no...
Fiend on top of Manicure, Fiend's shadow on Super Slipper, Castle Hill, NZ
Ef with the image skillz again. Castle Hill is an amazing place. Everything you've heard about is probably true but still underestimates it's surreal, inspiring, intimidating, playful, crazy nature. The bouldering is top notch, but so are the somewhat overshadowed routes, even this minor one star route I've just done which involved all sorts of demented pocket pulling rockover mantle sloping nonsense.
Perfect pocket pulling on Turtle Power, Froggatt Edge, Wharepapa, NZ
The other Froggatt Edge. Wharepapa ignimbrite, another very particular rock - sheer, rough, very very pocketed, and sculpted into a variety of enticing shapes. This attractive, steep, juggy and amenable route being a prime example.
Fiend feeling a bit Ripe, Secret Valley, Wharepapa, NZ
Hmmm. This photo was taken by someone who was apparently doing media studies at university. He took several photos of this route all of which were shite apart from this one. The route on the other hand was undeniably good, an immediately appealing blunt rib with more delicate climbing than usual for the area. Secret Valley was well named, completely hopeless to find, but I managed to tag along with a right strange bunch who knew where it was.
Pastoral pocket pleasures on De Sade, Wharepapa South, Wharepapa, NZ
I didn't solo much in NZ, but found a few suitable gems. This is a quality route with typical pocket pulling, but was quite a committing solo as it was pumpy hanging on finding the best pockets. Afterwards I sat in a hollow at the top of the pinnacle and watched cows being herded along the track below to their afternoon milking. A few of the herd saw me and were quite reluctant to go past, so I hid lower. Soon it got to a strange standoff where none of them could see me, nor were even looking up at all, but still sensed something there and refused to walk under the pinnacle, thus resulting in a surreal cow traffic jam =). I like cows, probably more than they like me. The photos were taken on a later visit.
Fiend enjoying elegant ignimbrite on Sharp Arete, Bayleys, Wharepapa, NZ
More Wharepapa fun. This was a trip out with two nice American d00dy youths, one of whom had been bumming out in the local climbers hangout for as long as anyone could remember. Bayleys is a regrettable crag, as it has some fantastic lines "as if they'd been cut by a knife", but is often shaded by trees and not as fashionable as other crags, hence the routes are in poor condition. A pity but an all too common tale with climbing trends.
Might look familiar? A bald Fiend on an unnamed problem, Castle Hill, NZ
Right, this is the real way I did the OTE photo comp winning problem - not sticking to the left arete, but using the right arete too and a highly entertaining hook. Great move although unusually positive for Castle Hill. The rock in the background is very typical.
Fiend thinking a bit....Think Tank, Castle Hill, NZ
The problem that really got me into bouldering at Castle Hill =).Typically technical and excellent, a holdless alcove adjoining a rounded shelf. High foot, butch palming into an Egyptian, push down, tiny dimple, udge left and onto the shelf. I'd got a sweet self-timer photo, on my digital camera which was subsequently stolen, so when we visited again, I had to get a replacement photo of it.
Every good climbing day should end like this. Sunset at Castle Hill, NZ
Don't know what we'd actually done this day but being a climbing day at Castle Hill, it must have been good.
Fiend learning some technique on an unnamed problem, Castle Hill, NZ
Our last day out in NZ, we left a couple of days later. Just a day of exploring in nice cool conditions, and we did a few fun problems before rain came in, including up this bisected egg boulder. Don't know how much technique I actually learnt though =).
Various venues, 2001 - 2002
Fiend braving bleak mid-July conditions on Pocket Wall, Standing Stones
One day later I was basking shirtless in glorious sun over on the Cleveland Hills, before seeing the most spectacular glowing orange moon ever. However this day was the more common combination of occasional drizzle and cold winds. Still we did a few good routes, and this was a pleasant enough solo.
More esoterica - Fiend on "the E1 5c groove", Crag Y, Leicestershire
This says it all....BUT AT LEAST THERE WEREN'T ANY F*CKING BEES THIS TIME! =)
A lovely place... Fiend working out Mind Of No Fixed Abode
Black Crag is truly fantastic, delightfully situated, great lines, and perfect rock, being very sound, slightly rough, and decorated with crisp edges and pockets. Truly if only there was more of it, it would be nirvana. And the walk-in isn't so bad for the Lakes. I managed quite a few routes there in an evening, I can't remember much about this one except it was very nice.
Fiend relishing a solo (after a prior lead) of Angel's Wall, Caley
Proper climbing wall style climbing on grit... One of the finest gritstone jug pulls, once past the start almost every hold is a bucket right to the finishing flutings. Gotta love it =).
Fiend enjoying a moment of hands off tranquility on The Cruel Seaside, Portobello
A very happy Fiend after climbing The Cruel Seaside, Portobello
Okay, okay, OKAY!! Sorry for the bumshot. Really, I am. But the route means a lot to me. I should have clipped into a nut and asked Ef to move out a bit... Anyway, I'd tried this route before, backed off, and had a minor huff about it. Much later I went back with Ef after a couple of very nice days climbing around southern Scotland. Portobello is a wonderful climbing area, but we had wait around for the tide to go out, and I got in trouble trying to put woodlice down Ef's top. When both she and the sea calmed down, I got on this again, blasted through the crux bulge with much cross-clipping of the ropes, and found this sneaky rest to relish the upper section. It's a nice route and the rock is beautiful and we had a really nice day overall.
Some climber hanging the sloper on the superb Outlook Roof, Wharncliffe
This climber is now a good friend and bouldering partner of mine. He has a very, very good and positive approach from climbing which I've learnt a lot from. This was our only day out, exploring Wharncliffe esoteric end, until winter 2003 when we started climbing regularly together. This obscure gem is a great problem, a trail of crimps - and one sloper - out to the lip, with cunning footwork to stay attached.
Ef in fine position on the delightful Left Arete, The Thirlstane
This was on the same visit to southern Scotland, a "rest day" from full climbing days. We went out to the ideal picnic crag of the Thirlstane with my brother who's a lanky, sarcastic, and generally entertaining bugger. Ef led this little classic route, I soloed it naked, and bro seconded it as his first and only route. We all enjoyed the day out, he enjoyed the route but seemed to prefer bouldering above the shell beach.
Fiend just making Joes Arete, The Roaches
A polished Roaches classic. Quite a stretch for me although in cool conditions I'd be able to use the arete to better effect. Homemade bouldering mat from a random scrap of thick foam =).
The benefits of sobriety - Boxing Day cranking on Nicotine Alley, Bowles
2-3 years climbing on southern sandstone taught me to dislike the stuff, with the exception of this ultra-classic traverse. This was a bouldering milestone for me (long before mats and it's general trendiness). I'd done the easy first half a few times, but looked at the fearsome sloping crimps on the finish crux, and thought I'd never be able to do it. Didn't bother me, it was just too hard. Nevertheless, this was a good area to hang out one grotty winter, and after playing around a lot, I actually managed to do the damn thing - quite a revelation!! And very satisfying climbing. I came back several years and did it first go, it's still very fun.
Fiend (1994 model) on the classic Pipe Dreams, Lindfield, Sydney
Another classic steep traverse. I was in Oz for a few months, did some nice climbing, and picked up some shockingly bad ethics. Top-roping, pre-placing, pre-clipping, pre-practising, you name it, I cheated with it. Thus I didn't do half the climbs I'd mistakenly thought I had. Doh. I also picked up bouldering, and this was by far the best problem. It's pretty amenable but nevertheless involves a wide array of roof manouvres. The last thing I did in Oz, and climbed in their early winter as you can tell from my attire.
Ef at the magical Roche Rocks, Bodmin Moor
Funky place indeed!! An isolated tor of interesting micro-granite complete with built-in ancient chapel. Unfortunately there is an eyesore quarry in plain view which spoils things. Not sure whether climbing is allowed or not, but the few mid-grade routes here are definitely worthwhile.
Fiend getting his esoterica tick on Solitude Standing, Ham Hill Quarry
Pretty much as esoteric as it gets =). A strange isolated sandstone/limestone hybrid quarry on Ham Hill in Somerset. I'd been there a few times with a non-climbing friend to chill and look at the view, and finally I had a partner who is quite willing to explore esoterica. Thus I did this route, which is quite appealing but bolder and more sustained it looked. One pre-places a belay rope to avoid a 50° mudslope to finish - I'd cleverly put the rope just out reach necessitating a scary mantle right onto the lip of the slope. Still it was very nice to have finally climbed it.
Self portrait at Earl Crag
Taken after a little soloing trip after I moved to Sheffield and made a determined attempt to climb in Yorkshire rather than the Peak District =).
