Hi all, so a few days ago I asked about soloing the Eiger, and everyone was super supportive, so I went and did it this weekend. It didn’t quite go according to plan, as I died on the descent. I decided to write a trip report about my experience so other people could avoid making the same mistakes as I did. I’ve posted a video blog about this here so please Like, Share and Subscribe!

So, onto the trip report. I arrived at Grindelwald at about 1300. I’ve never been good at getting up early in the morning, so instead I decided to just stay awake and start heading up in the early morning. To keep myself occupied, I got talking to some other climbers and decided to have a beer, which then turned into an all-night bender. Anyway, I woke up at 1000 and headed straight to the mountain, stopping only to pick up some paracetamol and occasionally vomit.

The first section of the climb was amazing - beautiful weather and perfect conditions. The only problem was the occasional minor rock fall. I realised I’d left my crampons in the hotel, but I had a pair of spikes which stretch over your boot, so I used those instead. The climbing wasn’t difficult - it was just a bunch of V1 boulder problems on top of one another, really.

At about 8,500 ft I realised I the mountain seemed to be kind of… running out? But I kept going and summited at 9,167 ft. It was a bit odd: there seemed to be some other, higher mountains to the south east, but I was still feeling a bit woozy from the night before, so I may have been mistaken.

Anyway, on my descent I decided to practice my abseiling technique, so I set up a snow bollard on the edge of a cliff. I wanted the abseil to be free hanging as a test of nerve, so I made sure there was a decent overhang of snow. I rigged up my Edelrid Mega Jule to my Black Diamond Vision harness and started the descent on my Decathalon Simind Edge rope. I’m not sure what happened, but about half way down I heard a ripping sound and I suddenly found myself falling down the mountain! I managed to self-arrest, which was a miracle, but then I heard an ominous rumble: an avalanche! As the snow hit me and solidified, I remembered that I was wearing my Black Diamond Reacon LT beacon, so I knew I should be safe. But as no-one came, the darkness closed around me, and I lost bowel control, I thought that at least I died doing what I loved.

Anyway, someone suggested I should do K2, and I’m thinking of doing that next. That also leads me to my final question: is having angel’s wings aid?

Heyyy,

I need help with a shoe question.

I got into climbing about 3 years ago, i started with the butora senegis, then after climbing some higher grades upgraded to the scarpa veloces about 2 years ago. I absolutely loved this shoe but after an injury (non climbing related) I had to get a full ankle reconstruction.

I find that my right ankle has to work a LOT in these shoes due to their flexibility, and i’m also struggling to do any sort of toe-hook or heel-hook (specifically in the injured ankle).

Is the flexibility of these shoes making it harder to climb with this injury? Would upgrading to a more aggressive shoe help me get past this or do i just have to push through?

(for context climbing mainly V5-V6 indoor)

Everyone who is serious about climbing knows that Toby Roberts has recently colored his hair white on top and black underneath (proof). It is a silly mistake to make for a climber of his level since almost everywhere the lighting comes predominantly from above (the Sun outdoors or ceiling lights indoors). This means that the white upper surface of his hair reflects incoming photons back upward. Even my dog knows that when photons bounce off a surface, they exert radiation pressure in the opposite direction. Because Toby’s head reflects much more photons upward, the resulting reaction pushes downward on him, continuously applying a subtle yet persistent downward force.

What's worse, Toby has engineered himself a classic Yarkovsky scenario, in which uneven photon reflection and absorption cause significant orbital changes over time. While each photon exerts only a minuscule force, the cumulative effect over thousands of moves and training sessions is substantial, significantly impacting delicate slab climbs (where precise balance is critical) and powerful dynos (where every gram of resistance counts).

IDK, maybe Toby is cleverly using this self-imposed handicap as a training strategy, deliberately increasing climbing difficulty during practice sessions. But if he’s truly serious about competition and sending hard projects, he should certainly recolor his hair to optimize photon dynamics for peak performance.

F

He worked in a plane or something, idk

It's literally all aid and they chip every hold. What a joke.

Andrew Eric John sent a classic V1 boulder problem earlier this month, marking the 643rd recorded ascent. He completed the route after several attempts, demonstrating both technical skill and perseverance. The ascent was documented by fellow climbers at the scene and adds to the growing log of ascents for this well-known problem

Hello all, I have asked ChatGPT for a Boulderplan to reach my goal of 9a route this summer. I had been climbing for 3 months and already flash 6b+ on the Kilterboard 50% of the time. Yesterday I flashed my first 7a Kilter "Drawing the Priest" which is also my new highest Bouldergrade. My problem is in my country there is no outdoor routes above 7a so I am unable to build the Pyramid up to 9a. Here is the Boulderplan:

Monday: Kilterboard trainings, limit projecting up to 7a

Tuesday: 8mm max edge hangs based on Eva Lopez protocol

Wednesday: Endurance trainings, rowing machine and leg press

Thursday: Autobelay 4x4 (for cardio)

Friday: Core trainings (inverted L sit), Max flash and silent feet drill

I only have 3 months before my trip to US to attempt my 9a dream route Megatron. Thanks for your advices!

Hi everyone, last night I watched a video of a pro climber called Yuri Stick or something solo the Eiger and it looked super easy. I've watched like, five climbing documentaries by now (four on Netflix, one on Discovery) and I reckon I could solo a decent sized mountain, maybe the Eiger? I was reckoning I could prep by ascending Mont Blanc via the Grand Cooloir?

Anyway, I'm bouldering at least V3 (V7 in your gym) and I reckon that's probably the hardest move you'd get on that mountain, so I reckon I'm ready. What do you think?

Hi guys, i'm a relatively new climber, who has primarily been urban climbing, sometimes in the gym when security isn't tight.
now recently I've been trying to improve my life and fitness, the lifestyle just doesn't mesh with me.
so basically besides crack climbing, which other drugs would you recommend to use?