Ascents of Gentlemens Drag as various tick types

working the route, the best trad 23 in the mountains

The shots for the day. Another session or two should see it go clean. One of the blue mountains great finger crack lines. Will be back for more laps.

one day!

Surely the world's hardest rock climb? I dogged this so hard it was basically an aid ascent. However this was an improvement on last time when I bailed and shamefully asked the gorgeous angel Ashley 'I am an angel' Brennan to get my gear back and set up a top rope. Also mega shoutout to Aurora for the most patient mega belay. Hopefully my shrieks of fear were mildly entertaining. I suppose I am now actively projecting this

Dropped it near the top. Good hard go, but pretty bloody pumped by the end. It really keeps going. Feels as hard as 24s I've been on

Gave it a red hot crack however became terminally pumped on the last few metres of thin crack.

Holy thumb pump.. janicepts 2.0. Exact same outcome for me. Fought through all the crack difficulties til launching into orbit off a grade 16 face climbing move right under the chains. I was more lactic acid than man. Another reminder of the tax you pay for onsight preservation as opposed to taking rests. Mindblower was classic and thankful no broken ankles from barbarossa. Nice day at the cosmics with yim and nicole

wow, just wow. This is a Yosemite quality line. Went 2/3 up on my onsight attempt just above #3 pod (actually I'll leave #3 on the ground next time and will bring second #1), couldn't manage the pump and had to sit on gear. While the top third of the route is not particularly hard or insecure it is very sustained with limited opportunities to recover, and you really need a bit of juice left in your forearms for that sting in the tail final. Felt on the harder side of 23 for me mostly coz of endurance

Dogfest

Dogfest

A pretty average dog attempt. Found it pretty scary, but at least now ive placed the gear on lead.

Still dropped it on the toppy. Insecure, but it feels like it should go.

First proper whip on gear, slowly building a good headgame. Great climbing and very well protected.

Just a first go to check it out, but its all there. Seems very plausible as a lead, will be back soon.

The moves are lovely and the crack a stunner, just remember the gloves and tape as the couple of hand and finger jams that are there are pretty painful.

there should be a 'top rope dogged outta my mind' tick type. or just 'flailed'. this was a wild day none of you will understand, except maybe Mr. Buns. Not sure even Ash understood the gravity of paradigm shift of mine, but I will attempt to articulate it here.

today i top roped a trad climb somewhat near my limit of climbing. like above my limit but near it. this is not something i have done in the recent past as i have tried to hold myself to some bullshit ethic (or rule i guess) that i have made for myself. i hold no one else to them (tho Tom maybe cops the occasional greasy). but today, with ash being my hero and rescuing my (oh and his lol) gear, he set up a top rope and i got to climb without fear. it was strange. it was novel. but i think it was fun. and with a few too many internal epics resulting in my catchphrase, 'fuck this i'm selling my rack', it was nice to just climb and try hard moves well beyond my capability. So Ash, thanks dood. Not just for pushing me to get on this climb, but also for suggesting i can my stupid ethics, park my ego at the door, and just have some fun. this shift in thinking, i believe, will lead to less resentment for this sport i think i actually like. (and hopefully make me finally delete that draft FB post i'm saving for when i finally do commit to selling my rack)

TLDR: this climb is hard, but i will be back

full on smack down. but also didn't have the patience (heart or head) for it. bailed and sent in ash to clean up my mess. and set up a top rope.... :0

Great climbing but had 3 rests to get the crux right just after the rooflet. So fun.

Really enjoyed having a go at this on top rope.

Very tough, especially up top. Managed most of the way clean but took a fall after ending up in an awkward sequence I couldn't back out of. Also needed to sit on gear a few times in last 1/4. No more rest spots.

The effects of very poor sleep the night before were quickly overcome with the adrenaline of taking a 6+ meter upside down flogger after the last roof.

(Stitched up an otherwise safe fall by glancing a cam with my foot and going for a flipparoo)

With my headgame hit worse than my head, I retreated into Jeffrey's hammock for an afternoon of sleeping, eating chocolate and not climbing.

Dog log. Woof.

I guess this has to go before finals, lest my enthusiastic tail-wagging gets flagged as a breach of academic integrity (sub-clause 3(b): attempting to communicate during an examintion).

Awesome route - look forward to another round

Well above my level but amazing to try on a second!

A happy dogging.. They sure do exist, stepping up to a trad route knowing very well it's most likely going to spit you off requires a bit of extra motivation. Plus was my 4th day in a row climbing. Took a big whipp about 3m from the anchors, had a good shake out then finished it. Feel like this one will stick in my mind till I solve it.

Still awesome and challenging when you don't remember any of the moves or gear

Awesome climbing! Laced it up waiting for a really cruxy move that didn’t arrive so pumped out completely. Two falls but felt really doable next time. Can’t wait get back on it.

it would be pretty cool to come back one day and feel confident on this. was great to TR and do all the moves though

Beautiful climbing.

Interesting pumpy cool climbing. Too hot for second shot.

A super fun lap for photos. Always a pleasure!!