Ascents by Josh Ellis having Distinct route

Thought it might go, it did not...

At night after some beer Laos, as is tradition.

Got fully lubed.

Second ascent! Visionary by Jack Heenan, to both bolt and figure out the outrageous moves. 100% would not of onsighted, only flashed thanks to beta from all the boys. 8m of rock but 15m of climbing!

Spicy potato.

Absolute limit lol

Bloody nails!

Another shite day. Blew the onsight, had a melt, lowered down and repeated the crux like 3 times while fuming. Did the full crux sequence from the ground then freaked out at when the rope went round my leg and grabbed the draw, had a helmet on, should of just fell on my head. Think I’m done climbing for this trip, it’s not fun anymore.

Good but heady climbing. Mega onsight by Jordan Edwards!

5 go’s total making it more attempts than any other climb in Laos this trip. After slipping out of the knee bar two more times, I came down untied, retied and channelled the dark side of the force to finish it in the angriest, ugliest, ice-skating, campusing style possible.

So good, but probably too hard for me this trip to be honest.

Didn’t love this crag tbh.

Got surprisingly far on the onsight, found it a bit of a grovel though, made me appreciate how good “special forces” is. Probably won’t spend any time on this one.

This Dan don’t dyno. Thanks to Jordan Edwards for being the sacrificial beta sheep, I owe ya one.

One more beta change then done.

Missed by one move on the flash go. Had Matt spraying me down but should’ve just watched him climb it first rather than climbing the pile of choss to the left. Two more goes out of frustration to try and tick but fingers were too cooked after a day hard crimpin. Poor decision making on the ground cost me the flash and 3 unnecessary pitches worth of skin and energy. Massively pissed at myself as I knew better at the time. Do better.

Top is shite

Miles off on the onsight, went with a fair amount of try hard second shot. Really nice sustained and varied climbing.

Insanely physical warm up!

Bit gutted I dropped the flash, was pretty close, think I just rushed a little. Went pretty smooth second shot. Decent boulder with many sequences available.

Went up to set up a top rope for beer crate stacking, ended up going to the top! Felt pretty chill when finding the right holds/knee bars.

Actually really good and the most obvious line here. Slipped outta’ a knee bar first go, lowered and got it second shot. Classic stitch up sending Jordan Edwards up on second to clean it!

Hardest onsight in Thakek 😂

Awesome, sustained and at the grade almost the whole way. You definitely need every cm of an 80m.

Proper tufa wrestling

Not too bad when not climbing like a wanker…

Rest day

Rage ground up redpointing on crossly crimps didn’t work.

Bit pumpy

Nice onny by Tommathy swift! Turns on a bit at the end!

Cool sustained crux. Probably even nicer if not hungover…

Outrageous terrain for the grade! Well worth a look. Even more exciting at night over a fire a few beer Laos deep!

Xmas eve roof party night climbing fun!

Xmas eve roof party night climbing fun!

Stella climbing for the first 2/3 of the climb, followed by an obnoxiously sharp/hard/dirty section. Climbed up to the second bolt on the face on the onsight then had to stick clip past the unclimbable terrain. Don’t know if something had fallen off but don’t think the top has been climbed for a while, pretty grubby and zero chalk. Unfortunate as the bottom was so good. 😢

Sorted it out today first go, don’t know what the fuck I was doing yesterday. 😂

Max Messenger made it look easy, I did the opposite…

The only way to make the grade is to basically climb around the crux, going direct is many grades harder (more like 7a+). Top felt kinda’ choss also Caroline Chang stitched me up by not actually putting any draws on the last clip and anchor.

Not the hardest climb or flash I’ve done but this was a big deal for me. I Remember looking up at this route back in ‘19 in awe. It was far too hard for me to even try back then, so it felt like quite a big milestone to put it away relatively easily first go today.