Christmas last minute
Two more days for getting in orders in time for Christmas from my webshop. Any orders placed before about lunchtime on Thursday will make the last posting to arrive by Christmas.
Thanks to everyone who's ordered so far : )
Two more days for getting in orders in time for Christmas from my webshop. Any orders placed before about lunchtime on Thursday will make the last posting to arrive by Christmas.
Thanks to everyone who's ordered so far : )
Posted by Dave MacLeod 2 comments
Labels: Velvet Antlers
Posted by Dave MacLeod 4 comments
Labels: Glen Nevis, Scottish bouldering
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Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: Glen Nevis, Scottish bouldering
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 5 comments
Labels: perspective
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Claire's job has got a lot more interesting lately! All the pics and story are on Claire's blog
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 14 comments
Labels: A muerte, perspective, Siurana
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: new stuff, Velvet Antlers
Posted by Dave MacLeod 1 comments
The 'To Hell and Back' programme is online now on the BBC site.
You can watch it here
Posted by Dave MacLeod 3 comments
Labels: To Hell and Back
I've just confirmed a speaking date in London on December 10th. I'm going to be talking about dangerous trad climbing, E10 and why being safe is actually a risky life strategy. Claire will also be talking a little about sprint belaying. Afterwards I'll be showing the film Committed.
If you'd like to come. All the details and online tickets are here
Other dates coming up are:
Glenmore Lodge Dec 1st - clinics for climbing with tools and seminar aabout training for winter climbing.
Sheffield Climbing Works Dec 9th: Safe is Risky lecture.
details of these are here
Posted by Dave MacLeod 2 comments
Fading energy yesterday on Afrodita. But I found a new hold on the crux and linked one move higher than before despite nearly falling asleep before my last burn of the day. So progress has been made. I enjoyed watching Keith fight for a long time with a nasty finishing move on a lovely long 7a+. He stuck it out and made it to the chain. Entertaining viewing.
Resting today. How is it possible to spend nearly a whole day making tea and going to the hypermarket? Now I must get a couple of hours work in. Tomorrow it’s back on the small pockets of Campi qui puigi.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 3 comments
Enjoying shade and cool on Un Rato de Cada Postura 8a, Siurana. Photo: Emma Sutton
Another day on the testing wall of Campi qui Puigi in Siurana. First off I climbed a lovely 8a, Un Rato de Cada Postura. I made a tiny, miniscule amount of progress on a hard route for me, finding some beta that might work for short and weak Scotsmen who can’t pull hard on pockets. We’ll see if it helps next week when my skin is better.
Today I was back on Afrodita, a massive 8c+ I had a day on last year. It was nice to feel stronger on the moves than one year ago and on my second try I could climb it with two hangs. Tomorrow I will try to make that one hang??
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Redpointing ‘Luxury’ 8b+, Cova boix, Margalef. Photo: Emma Sutton
Yesterday we travelled over to the lovely valleys of Margalef to climb on the conglomerate waves. Emma, Caroline and Keith climbed route after route in full sun. Impressive. I ate bread and hid behind shady trees. But later we nipped across to the dark side of the valley and a lovely overhanging crag where I was able to climb a stunning 8b+ in the evening. I was a little frustrated to miss the ‘1st redpoint’ by missing a hold right at the top. But three tries is still good for me and it was a good feeling to get pumped and fight hard. I am on the first rung of the return to fitness ladder, or maybe it was just that the campsite shower was hot for the first time in some days.
Siurana Ambience
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
It’s the morning after I arrived in Spain. I’d love to have something positive to say, but I reckon it’s the worst I’ve ever felt at the start of a climbing trip. Sleep deficit has well and truly caught up with me. Yesterday I tried to climb by myself on a shunt while the others visited a different sector, but fell asleep putting on my rockshoes and woke up 2 hours later. Today I’m feeling more human after a decent night, but it’s going to take some time to get in better shape for climbing. Thankfully, time is something I do have.
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Dougald's interview with me is in this month's Climbing mag is online now - here.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 1 comments
I finally finished Claire's new website today after some more all nighters. Tried to train at the ice Factor wall tonight, but was in a sleepy haze... zzzzzzzz
I'm certainly relieved to have that one nailed. yesterday was one of the most hardcore keyboard bashing days I've had, finishing after 6 this morning. It'll be a week or two before we can launch it yet. But my part is done.
On Saturday I go to Spain for some limestone, but it still seems a long way away, much more to be done before I leave.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 5 comments
Labels: new stuff, Velvet Antlers
Posted by Dave MacLeod 87 comments
Labels: To Hell and Back
Posted by Dave MacLeod 1 comments
Labels: To Hell and Back
Posted by Dave MacLeod 22 comments
Labels: To Hell and Back
We managed a to squeeze in a walk in between the madness
I had a lovely day climbing with Ruaridh and Ellen in Glen Nevis showing them the delights of the bouldering there in crisp autumn sunshine as birch trees around us shed their leaves. We ended the day climbing near a bouldering project of mine beneath pinnacle ridge, looked at for a long time by several aspirant crimping demons. I thought it would be the first Font 8a in the Glen.
They asked if I would be having a go as we were there, but I said no I wasn’t in good shape after the days and nights on the road. But of course, I couldn’t resist and went for a quick shot, if only to confirm why I failed to hold the crux swing so many times before. First shot, not really focused, and my legs almost swung back before my grip gave out. Hmmm, another go was in order with more focus.
This time I felt I had strength in my body for the first time in ages and held the swing and grunted to the top. As with so many projects, they go much easier without the pressure of expectation.
A beautiful little overhanging wall, no longer a project.
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: perspective
Posted by Dave MacLeod 2 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Labels: new stuff
Posted by Dave MacLeod 2 comments
Labels: The Anvil
Posted by Dave MacLeod 10 comments
Labels: Lake District
Posted by Dave MacLeod 3 comments
Labels: new stuff
Posted by Dave MacLeod 0 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 1 comments
Labels: Lake District
Posted by Dave MacLeod 1 comments
Labels: perspective
Posted by Dave MacLeod 4 comments
Posted by Dave MacLeod 5 comments
Labels: Lake District