Indoor climbing

Even got the red lacing they were my first ever boot. Built to last rather than grip. Practically hob nailed.

@winnifred1849 These overhangs are looking mean as hell!

There's one other overhang that steep, plus alot more at a wide variety of angles. There's one wall that twists from overhang to slab, there's convex and concave barrels (one in the background), stepped overhang, top-outs, big prows, even a bit of vertical here and there. (plus a circuit board, fingerboards and a small gym area) It will be the biggest bouldering wall in Europe apart from Stuntwerks in Cologne. :)

fml.

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ouch, fortunately not on a finger tip though.

Would anyone be keen to do some lead climbing a couple of times a week?

@winnifred1849 nudge nudge wink wink...errr...any further developments ifyoucouldtellustheopeningdatethatwouldbemostamazing!

My time at the site is up as I had another job booked. There have been a few delays, but I'm afraid I don't know the opening date, sorry! Keep an eye on The Arch twitter feed, and on the website :)

https://twitter.com/archclimbing

I'm back at burnt Oak and it's looking good. Opening imminent, will update.

Checking every. single. day. Much excite. Hopefully I'll get some wall time before I have to go away.

Just got back from our first climb in Yosemite. After Six on the Manure Pile Butress. Only a 5.7 but 7 pitches and 600ft of climbing. Stupidly fun...

Hhhhhnnnnnnngh, that looks so good.

When's opening night?

After only 2 days climbing in the Valley I'm all about hand and fist cracks. Never been able to get my head round them before. Once you ignore the pain in your feet they're super fun!
Will be actively seeking them out from now on...

i googled fist cracks

oh my...

sounds like you're having a great time :)

Is there any good riding in Yosemite? My fiancee wants to go climbing there one day, but obviously I'm not joining in because heights.

You can rent beach cruisers to bowl around the valley on. There's 12mi of bike trails around the main area.
We did this on Sunday, great way to get around and work out the layout round here Obviously the scenery is mind-bogglingly great. Haven't come across any mtb trails though. The roads in and out of the valley have the most amazing asphalt I've seen so if you're on a road bike it'd be amazing. Have only seen one roadie and a couple of fixie skidders here so far. It's all about og hhsmtb and knackered beach cruisers apparently.
The bike trails are shared use with peds and bikes aren't allowed on a lot of the dirt paths/really popular trails to prevent erosion etc.

Just htfu and climb....

Rest day today, it was 40°c yesterday and Liz had to bail after our first 400' climb with heat exhaustion. Was fun though as me and our guide Nate went and did a few routes that Liz would have hated(she's all about balance and technical smears instead of wrestling with cracks and chimneys).
Two more days climbing left, doesn't seem enough time here although I'm aching pretty bad already...

Sounds like a good trip! V jealous, did some mild outdoor stuff in Portugal and the heat was oppressive, but the views were stunning. I need to get better at climbing by going more often I think.

You still got that Gri Gri for sells @edmundro? I used one in Portugal and I'm a convert

Yeah I gots it. Make me an offer and it's yours bro. Used like 3 times max. Will drop you a call when we're back.
I'm well into my sprung sticht plate this week. Abseils like a boss. Oh yeah, have managed to overtighten a cheapy screwgate onto my belay loop, well annoying.

good man!

Sadly the crappy wifi here won't let me upload any pics it would seem :/ will persevere.
Haven't taken many climbing anyway.
Did a 13mi stroll around the Valley Loop Trail to El Cap and back today. Stunning weather, beautiful forests, spotted a team of climbers just below the Boot Flake on El Cap.
Endless boulders along the route, mostly mossy and unregarded despite many being the height of UK routes. Walked in my approach shoes so practiced no handed friction smears on all the slabby boulders on the trail.

Obligatory El Cap pics and few others.
The big slab is the first pitch of The Grack, super fun climb, mix of easy hand cracks and no handed fiction smears.
Managed to toprope a 30m 5.10b finger crack on our last day climbing. Without doubt the toughest thing I've ever managed. Those piton scars aren't as deep as they look from the ground..
Done climbing now, bit further out of the park now. Gonna hike Glacier point to Taff point today.

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looks fantastic ed

Unfortunately there's about 5 fires currently raging around the park which makes every activity feel like you've blown a dozen tabs while you're at it.
It's also made the view pretty hazy in every direction since Tuesday.

Tuolume meadows is pretty as well. Wish I'd bought rope and rack as there's tons of short easy slabs up there as a counterpoint to the endless multipitching in the Valley. Next time...

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Once you're out of the Valley and into the park proper there's endless mtb trails. The roads are amazing all through the park and the max speed limit is 45mph and pretty wide. Have seen a fair few scoblengers randoing about the place since leaving the Valley. Some of the climbs seem like they'd be brutal tho...