Ascents in North West by Almar Postma

Another burn, another learn.

Short person's version: from pocket and underclink, feet high and wide. Left to sidepull crimp, right to round-spiky crimp. Top of "penis-hold" is good for right hand. Feet high for pocket throw.

Getting warmer.. (warm up 2 for the project)

Warm up for the project

Warm up numero 3

2nd Warm up

Warm up

Great route!! Weird funky start into easy ramp that quickly hits the weird reverse-grab undercling & pocket to crimps crux. Beautiful moves to the rail-mantle and more crimps, finishing to an easier runout finish. Will have to come back to clean it (before the sun hits!).

Good warmup. Again shame the rings are back so far. I guess it couldn't be helped.

Actually quite a nice warmup climb. Tricky enough in parts.

You are climbing well, think you are up for it, then get spanked again! This time couldn't quite stick the pocket and crimpy crux bad feet.

draw cleaning time

The obligatory warmup for the crag.

Next warmup.

Short warmup for Van Diemens

Quite a fun linkup. Definitely recommended!

A nicer warmup. Are the holds getting more polished over the years..

Always a pumpy warmup on the small holds.

A powerful start through the first two bolts, then some very good climbing with a tough finish. Couldn't quite get the throw out to the finishing hold. Will come back for this one.

A long pumpy airy traverse, heaps fun! Just watch out for the loose and cracking block at the start of the heel hooking traverse!

Couldn't quite make it through the last crimpy edges.

Barely made it onto the broken hold with the tick for the right hand and just about pulled through the last crimps. But made it. Hard 23!!

When at Millennium Caves, you warm up on a 23!

Would have 3 stars at any other crag, but amongst these classic it gets 2. Beautiful moves, great holds and an awesome climb!

I'll be a Monkey's Uncle! A very bouldery start on slopers! Beautiful moves up to roof leading to some tough aping out to lip, to failure.. I'll have to come back and work on this one..

This climb deserves the the 3 (or 4) stars it gets! Did the original start from the shared bolt on Two Tribes, much nicer than the direct start.

Warming up

Chased the setting sunlight up the wall to finish the day.

Ticked the 23 delicate slab mantel start move again, super fun 20-22 climbing above to finish.

A fun addition to the wall. Probably a bit soft for 21. Reachy moves through the lower crux, probably not 21.

Super-duper thin climbing! Ultra delicate moves through the crux! Which I'm assuming follows the draws around right through the 2 big pockets before you hit the crux, Mike? If you are short add 2 grades, if you can reach it, probably still hard 22 slabbing. The direct version probably goes at 24 through some finger pockets and micro slopers.

Super thin and delicate slab climbing. Loved it! But possible a shock for those climbing at the grade. It's most likely a 21.

Delicate moves diagonally left then trying to avoid the escape onto the arête moving right to the rings.

Quick afternoon trad to get up to Tannin. Again the night drew in too soon.. another day..

Stuart did the 1st pitch, I lead the 2nd. Great climbing and great getting back into trad

Put the two starting protection pieces in and it just got too dark to climb it.

Stuart likes to place the gear safe. Very very safe... Rested getting a nut out.

Stuart reconned it can be done in one pitch. Seems he's good with managing rope drag.

Better, got to the last move eventually but fingers and arms too sore. Licking wounds on the way down. By the way the first 3 bolts are a bit rusty. They might need replacing..

Possibly my worst attempt. I'm back to square one.

Hung up the draws on some new bolts! Oddly enough the rings are a bit higher on a massive bolder at the top of the climb. I'm sure it's safe though..

Usual second warm up.

Giant bolt plates on this warm up. Seems it's getting a bit harder at the start over the years as the holds get smaller and smaller.

This is an awesome climb! Anyone climbing around this grade should jump on and climb this climb

Got it clean this time. A hard 22, bouldery crux, Gotham City seems easier in a way.

Short pumpy climb

Good step 18. Shame about it only having one ring to rap from. We traversed over to Commissioner Gordon to rap down safely. Seems other did the same. Put another ring in guys!!

Fun climbing! Worth the stars.

Cleaning gear duties. The rings are a little far for this climb to down for cleaning.

A great climb marred by some suspect rock. Particularly on a wet day. I was just waiting for holds to pop!

More warming up. More rain. Rock dry.

Warming up under rain and hail. Dry at least.

Great climbing over the two roofs. Shame the tops of most of these climbs are a bit easier than the guts. I found this 24 easier than Uranium-234 (23)?

Got it! But what an effort on that move..

A one move wonder, but what a move. Took me 3 or 4 goes to get past the crimp and slopey pocket to throw for the side pull jug.

Another bash.