It's just over a year ago since I climbed my first 8a outdoors. Having focussed primarily on indoor training for the majority of my climbing career up until that point, it felt like a big achievement for me. When you first break into a grade it inspires confidence in your ability to climb more routes of the same level, and since completing my first 8a in Siurana last April, I have now climbed 12 in total. Whilst climbing in Ceuse last year I broke the 8a+ barrier, which both took me by surprise yet also made me wonder whether I was... Continue reading

YAASSSSSSS!!! So I've finally ticked my first 8c :D To be honest, probably from a severe lack of trying more than anything. I haven't really been focussed on ticking 8c, I prefer to consolidate a grade before jumping ahead of myself. This style of attack at climbing improvement in my opinion is much better than simply throwing yourself at harder and harder climbs, so this 8c for me came at the right time. I had just climbed my 13th 8b+ of the last year (a good consolidation number :P) and it was definitely time to step it up a notch. The... Continue reading

Two days ago I woke up, lazed around the campsite until 1pm then walked up to the crag. This was the day I wanted to tick off my 8a+ project "Dolce Vita", and from my first try the session before I had worked out all the moves, but felt as though it would take time to knit them together. As Robbie's finger was freshly cut from his 8b project, our German friend Marten was on hand to belay and Robbie resigned himself to taking pictures and videos (absolutely amazing ones at that!) We warmed up on a deceptive 6b and waited... Continue reading