Ascents in The Totem Pole

won't forget this one for a while -- if anyone wants to get on this, will gladly second!!

Deserve all the stars!!! There are some deep lock offs on crimps as well as some delicate balancy moves on the arete. Super fun and pretty hard!

Belayed with the sea swelling under my feet and a sea lion sunbathing not far away. Otherworldly.

Truly grateful to have the time, skills and amigos to get to the top of this thing. Ridiculously good all the way. TR to the crux then lead to the top.

The best. I had a good fight on this, pulling as hard as I could but eventually succumbing to flash pump and the difficulties of onsighting at a cruxy section. That was the only fall I took though which im super stoked about but due to time constraints and there being a party if three ahead of us there was no chance for a second shot. Ultimately just such an awesome day out, pulling the best moves in a wild location. I ended up sort of accidentally skipping the belay ledge and topping out on the very summit of the Tote to cheering tourists. I then slung the summit block to belay Harry right up to the too as well. No real dramas, just a good day of rock climbing.

Watched Harry absolutely cruise up this for the onsight which was insanely awesome and then did it pretty easily when my turn came, despite being absolutely smashed by a huge wave as I swung across. Belayed from the mainland which was great too and meant I stayed mainly dry until I started to climb. Mostly very well bolted but an #0.5 camalot straight off the belay is super useful so you don't land in the ocean and then a medium (BD #6) nut and a #0.4 camalot up high on the easy climbing. An amazing pitch all up but it would probably be 22 at Piddo

Cleaning up another six year old dog. I used to write essays about days like this.

Only second pitch, took on the rope 3 times, what a classic route and position

Got the tick on tr solo second shot, then walked the highline off it and back, full value fun!

Great pitch in its own right

Surreal looking rock, haven't seen anything this beautiful before. Awesome climbing in supremely good cinditions. Thank you Jeremy for your patient belay.

2.pitch - Fantastic. Thank you to Jeremy, Martin and Claudio for your patience. Sooo happy I worked it all out, it was supreme. Particularly the faceted top section . Love you Tote!! You changed my life.

Did 24 variant Pitch 1, second, and led pitch 2. Took a few falls before figuring crux. Freezing day. Stellar route.Best 2 pitch route in the world!!!!

Yewwww onsight. Maybe I didn’t want to fall in the water so I held on extra tight? 😅 climbed this in a 3. Dropped the rope for Henry to pink point on the first pitch then he did the same for me on the second. Great day out, probably the best!

Fell at the start lowered and went for the red point. About half way up After going left go back right and slap the Arete. Took a sit figuring this out. Would love to come back for this such a sick long route. Henry’s red point was sweet to watch!

Perfect day to do the Tote.. fell once with a foot slip, then to top clean. Life feels very real down in that chasm!

Pitch 2, after doing Deep Play. Said it so many times already, but the fact this caliber of a rock climb is in such an epic location is really special. I will never forget this day. Onsight minus 2 quick falls in the crux.. I think calling this pitch 23 is a massive understatement, but that's just me. Numbers Shmumbers anyway, just go climb it! Amazing.

2nd shot. oh so close to onsight, should have rested a bit longer after seconding deep play rather than jumping straight on.

Our first pitch was deep play, only used a couple of nuts and and a small blue cam, otherwise all bolts! So happy that training has paid off.

Head down getting blasted with water... absolutely radical

Such a awesome climb!! Great moves and rock much to my surprise. Drew the short straw as someone had to second it. Was on belay for ages in the frezzing cold then couldn't get warm enough. One fall at the 5th bolt and straight back on to the top. Been on my to do list for looong time. Will be back for the sharp end for sure.

Tried the original but bailed and did this. Pretty cool line still.

spoooge

Stunning moves up such an unlikely piece of rock. Full value.

Dreamy location and a wild day out. Deep play was damp, glad we had the stick clip to manage damp sections and when we weren’t sure of the big run outs. Tyrolean / rap in were amazing, as was belaying from the top of a skinny outcrop in the wilderness.

What a route! awesome climbing, got the first pitch clean but got spanked on the second, so much fun!!

The weather was perfect, the swell was small and the rock grippy (Despite being wet). With the first wire placed on a sketchy start, I couldn't help but think that Tom was going scuba diving if he fell and the wire popped lol. Tom, being the boss that he is just cranked hard and pushed to the end of the first pitch with only a single fall. I followed him up next with quite a few rests, feeling very out of my comfort zone I managed to get to the top. Amazing rock quality and style of climbing!

The quality of climbing and the sandpaper sticky rock makes this climb a mega classic on its own, being a pillar in the ocean between two cliffs just makes it all that more special. I found the climbing to be extremely hard and felt very out of my depth. Committing moves and cool types of climbing on this bad boy. I will never forget this day and feel very privileged to have been able to share this climbing adventure with Tom. Thanks for all the photos/videos Martin and Nick.

Wet Wet Wet

Tricky Lots of good gear easy climbing

Cute climb

Kind of onsighted this but stopped at third bolt to bring belayer up out of the water... just as good as the second pitch!

Mega.... stoked!! I’ve done the easy top out as this links into the free route right at the top. But still a flashlight in my book as the climbs already over well before the top.