We wandered out to the pulpit for a day of sport climbing. The weather was glorious, warm with just a hint of a breeze. The day started off pretty soft Tom, the SECOND BEST climber in Queensland rests on his way up 'the' 21 warmup
(due to the weight of the medal he was wearing)
Pat jumped on the 19 and started his day with a clean record.

I traversed out of the big belay cave to the 2nd pitch of Mugwump. Tom followed and did some of the most spectacular belaying of me on the route. It was amazing, Tom onsight flashed a grade 23 belay flawlessly.

The rest of the day involved numerous spectacular falls on various 26's, while Claire and Pat messed around on the 21. Later Claire and Pat jumped on a 40m long 17 with a 60m long rope... Pat was left hanging at the top of the climb waiting for Care Bear to return with another rope. Tom and Benno cleaned their route with the only spare rope, then I lead the 19, then Claire took the rope over to Pat.

The just as the last bit of sun disappeared from the tree tops I started the first moves of the Doorkeeper, which I had tried earlier in the day and a bit more than a week before.

Crimp left, foot, jug for right, clip, snatch left to sidepull, right to horizontal pinch, left to crimp, whoah.... hold it and snatch for undercling with left, then big deadpoint to jug and clip

One more bolt, then feet high, deadpoint left, cross though to pinch, aaargh, it felt better last time, set on pinch, try not to cut loose, holy shit I am hanging off it, snatch side pull,

Dont blow it now it could be your first 26.... Oh yes, bring the feet up and snatch with right... one.... two..... I am on the jug, pull rope up, noo fingers are sliding, concentrate dammit, one more bight of rope, now clip, fingers are sweaty, clip the rope dammit, fumble, phew done, move now you'll fall if you stop, up left, up right here we are, grade 10 mantle, c'mon it's easy do it! aargh scared, and up, grab the anchors whoop with joy, YEEEHHAAAAAA

Simon
13 August 2003