Everest is my Everest

RSS Feed Homepage

Indoor Bouldering
2007-03-15 00:36:00
Today's climbing was alright, with an easy 6a completed, as last week, and a more difficult one, which I was unsuccessful with last week, also completed. I also got quite far on a very balancy, white route, which is a 6a also, but I shall try again next week.The pink 6a+ route, had been taken down, which upset me, but I attempted the route that took it's place and that was ok (I did half of it).I did some very interesting bouldering, and my bouldering session was largely successful, and so I was very pleased with that. I did a lot of routes that were marked up from a previous competition, and I managed to get some of them first time, so I imagine I would have done quite well in that competition if I had been in it, although I think it might have been a youth competition, in which case, I would have beaten a lot of children.I found out that I am able to go on the Torquay trip, this weekend, so I am looking forward to climbing outside again. It's very different to the inside climbi...
More About: Ring , Indo , Door , Bouldering , Erin

Injured Leg
2007-03-12 19:46:00
Here is a rather blurred photo of my injured leg, which I sliced open on the side of a climbing wall, because I was climbing up the corner across two panels, and when I slipped off I fell sideways and grazed my shin.It looks a lot worse than it was, and scabbed over pretty quickly.Wednesday's climbing was excellent, and I even managed two 6a routes, which I was really pleased with. They both had a slight overhang, but it wasn't a continuous overhang. I again attempted the 6a+ that I have been trying for weeks and weeks, even though it might be more like a 6b or 6c. I will continue to try it, as I can do most of it, and giving up just seems a bit pathetic.In mountaineering news, the alpine trips I planned, may have to be put on hold as I don't have enough money for the trips or indeed the kit. I really want to train on the side of mountains (obviously, as I want to climb Everest) but as my target is 2012, I think I will still be able to raise enough funds to train and then attempt...
More About: Injured

Website and Music
2007-03-07 14:19:00
I almost considered not climbing this week, but I am going to.I was considering staying and working on 'blog promotion' but I figure, I can do that later when I get back.My Everest quest is still on track, I have found some new sites to check out, and they look very promising indeed, teaching basic mountaineering skills in the snow and things like that. The links will be here, when I get back to my own computer, as will the links to the climbing magazines I found and the photos from the bouldering if I get more than the one I currently have.This weekend I discovered that my sleeping bag is only rated as a three season (-6 C) and I would require a (-40 C) expedition sleeping bag for a big mountain climb! I priced it up at about £400, which is a wee bit expensive I think.On Monday I missed climbing (sad face), but instead I went to a gig - shiny toy guns (happy face) and that was like exercise, because it was a mini-rave and I jumped all the way through it. Oh and I the girl-singer...
More About: Music , Website , Site , Webs

Bouldering Competition
2007-03-01 19:32:00
The competition was lots of fun. The climbing walls at Warwick are huge and there are loads of them, and a bouldering area. It was more like a climbing centre than just for the university; however the public can use it as well. It was really good to get away from the normal walls we climb on, and try something new.The competition consisted of twenty problems, with 10 points for completing it on the first attempt, 7 for the second, 4 for the third and 1 for any more attempts. Some problems also had a bonus point if you reached a certain part of the course.The other advantage was that there was a separate competition for people like myself who had only started climbing this year.Some of the routes were very very easy, and some were very very tough. Problem 1 was the easiest and problem 20 was the most difficult.I managed to get 69 points, which I was really pleased with. I was ecstatic when I got my first 10 pointer, but then I went on to get six 10 pointers (on the first six problems...
More About: Competition , Comp , Ring , Petition , Bouldering

Monday Aching
2007-02-27 00:15:00
It's Monday and I am aching already, my fingers are in shreds. I promised myself I wouldn't post a picture of my hands until they one day bleed, which I'm sure they will. My second finger of my right hand really needs to toughen up though, I think.Despite this, my determination drives me on. Today's climbing was ok, and I found a new route, to practice up (and across), but 'the circuit' is still defeating me. I also looked through a climbing catalogue of various places to visit, and I was inspired by the summer climbs and the winter climbs (especially the winter climbs) - I just need to sort out the summer trip now, book my flights, etc...On Saturday I found a new climbing magazine called Vertical - which seemed more like a mountaineering magazine than a rock climbing one, but I still bought the rock climbing one, because it had a 'free' insert. I will look for a link to the Vertical magazine website for the next update.I don't think I will go climbing tomorrow because the ...
More About: Onda

First Lead
2007-02-22 00:51:00
This weeks climbing has been alright but not brilliant (like last week). On Monday I improved 'the circuit' which was a good feeling, and I am improving each time, so I expect to complete it quite soon, however I didn't do much else after that.Tuesday, a short work-out was ok with a few weights lifted. I am building up slowly though so as not to hurt myself, despite this my arms still hurt today. However, today (Wednesday) I have been climbing again. The 6a+ was a pain, with me cheating once, but this time in a different place to last week. Therefore presumably, I can do it, but just not all together. I'm sure it's a common problem.I did my first indoor lead (which has been a while coming) but it was lots of fun. Quite strange, but lots of fun. I also attempted belaying a lead climber, which was less fun, and quite tricky. I think I need a new karabiner and belay, as mine is a Variable Controller (VC) and hence gets a bit stuck when belaying lead. Other than that the day was go...
More About: First , Lead

Mountain Rescue
2007-02-18 23:31:00
I went home for the weekend, and rather than do any work, which I probably should have done, I instead watched a very interesting programme about Britain's Worst Weather. It was all about snow and avalanches, etc. I had earlier been thinking about my adventures, and how I might get a job afterwards, if I spend years tarting about with climbing missions and backpacking around the globe.I did get some ideas, but when I saw this programme I thought that mountain rescuer would be a great job. I always wanted to be a lifesaver when I was young and 999 was on the television (WINCHMAN!). It's probably really difficult to be a mountain rescuer, and I don't know how you become one, but I thought it was a good idea.I also bought my skates, and thought about those, because they cost a fair bit of money. They should arrive by Tuesday I reckon, and today I have booked a cycling tour in Paris. That should keep me extra fit on my Easter holiday (as will the pari-roller).Please continue to...
More About: Rescue , Mountain , Mount

Climbing Fingers
2007-02-16 00:01:00
I thought my first post on my new blog would be easier than this, but the fact is that my fingers are raw from climbing earlier, and typing is quite difficult for me right now. Please excuse any typos. This week has been excellent though, and I have made a lot of progress (by myself and with help from others), so the sacrifice is worth it. I will have a few days off now, (and might spend some time looking at skates to buy), but next Monday I'll start again on 'the circuit' dun-dun-duuuuuuuhhh.. [plus I have something else new to try next week]Please continue to support the rest of my site at www.edsumner.blogspot.com Many Thanks, Ed. p.s. view here..all my sites, my links (and my affiliate links), my articles..(www.sumneri.co.uk)
More About: Climb , Finger , Climbing , Fingers , Bing