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Dec
29
2007
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Rockall: Last Unclimbed Face? In The Atlantic! |
DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - I spotted a story about the ownership of Rockall on RTE news tonight. I’d never even heard of it, but the photos excited me. As I dug deeper, the story got better and better.
Rockall – The most isolated speck of Rock, surrounded by Water on the Surface of the Earth… the pebble thrown by Finn MacCool.
The British Navy landed in 1862 to survey the rock and the next person was was Royal Marine Sergeant Brian Peel in 1955, an experienced rock climber. They had landed to claim the rock for Queen Elizabeth so the Soviets could not set up a spy-base to watch over the British nuclear missal tests in the Atlantic.
Sergeant Peel climbed down to the waterline to collect seaweed and other specimens for naturalist James Fischer. The marine said the descent had been straightforward, but admitted he had misjudged the heavy Atlantic swell.
“I did not get up the rock in time and a wave went right over the top of me,” he said.
“I had to grab a handful of seaweed, ram it in my mouth and get up the rock as fast as possible.”
This photo shows them raising the Union Jack. It is reported they were dropped on the top by helicopter.
In 1985 Tom McClean ex-SAS reclaimed rights to Rockall for Britain by living there for 40 days in a survival pod on the summit. You can see a photo of it on the top below. Why haven’t I come across Tom before?! I must find his book, savage portfolio!
He lived on Rockall for 40 days in order to re-affirm Britain ’s mineral and oil rights to the rock. He spent the time on a ledge in a survival unit 5ft x 4ft x 3ft for 40 days against all that the wild Atlantic could throw at him.
The next landing appears to be from these boys who tried in 2003 and succeeded on a second attempt in 2005 to climb the rock from sea-level.
From what I can see they went out in an inflatable and then using whatever method possible got a guy up the route of least resistance who dropped static lines for the other climbers to ascend.
So my questions is - could the sheers face (route 1 marked) be lead on-sight? Deep water solo?
Despite all bird-shite and the minor issue of an un-predictably heavy swell, who’ll be first to climb the tip of this volcano?
I’ll tell you what - I’d love to be involved in that expedition!!!
BTW - I found out where RTE got its photo uncredited. Bit naughty for a national channel (not that we can talk!).
-Robin-
(Image Credits: Rockall Times, Wikipedia, BBC).
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It was on this atoll that the discoverers, in 1419, took refuge before stepping onto its neighbouring island – the Island of Madeira.
The crux of the Fort remains in immaculate, immemorial conditions with sunrays protruding from the Fort’s portholes and serving as light. Taking one whiff of this aged Fort empowers any guest to travel back in time when swords clashed and sailors took to sea. This makes it the first and the oldest dwelling in the Atlantic thanks to the strong devotion and compassion of its actual owner.
On the islet the stoned steps can still visibly be seen sculptured from the rock. Not far away, the stoned triangle, amidst the deep blue sea, stands as a remembrance of when the discoverers anchored their ships. This triangle has instigated many queries amongst archaeologists for the fact that it isn’t the most feasible or suitable means of anchoring a vessel or caravel. Might this be Colombus’ route? Might the Chancellorship of the first world treaty, established amongst countries, be that of the treaty of Tordesilhas? Or might it be pointing in the direction of the sea route to India or America?
One of the vertices points towards Sagres from where the courageous discoverers had parted. Another one points towards Africa, while the third is directed towards Antilles. Then the question remains…might there have been another military or civil meaning to all this?
Since Funchal was the first city in the Atlantic this islet was undoubtedly the first Port of this great ocean and the most Occidental, or western, of all of Europe, having taken on an important role in European maritime expansion.
This hoary isle was for many years a podium for the ingress and egress of everything which Madeira imported and exported including the fifteenth century “white gold of Madeira†(sugar), and later the eighteenth century wine.
As quarantine was mandatory for everyone who visited this island, legend has it that the great discoverers would also reside in the Fort due to the safety which it offered to its guests. Christopher Columbus and Captain Cook are just a few of the illustrious figures mentioned here. Other distinguished guests included pirates, military personnel, artists, politicians, among others.
Until 1776, this islet was documented, on the official maps, as the Islet of Diogo (name of Christopher Columbus’ son). From then onwards, and by the provisão régia (Royal Charter) it was physically linked to the island of Madeira having been concluded during the reign of D. José, from which the name is dubbed after – Fort of São José.
Between 1801 and 1807, the British occupation used the Fort as a military stronghold and penal complex.
In 1888, the government decided to lengthen the Port of Funchal and as a result, the Fort of São José had been forgotten by the Madeirans once again.
In 1903, the government puts the Fort up for sale in the public marketplace due to a great governmental crisis and uses the money of the purchase to conclude and recuperate the N.S.C. Fort
In later years the Fort of São José would be used as a coal depository and warehouse. It was considered one of the most important reference points in Europe and of the New World in 1921.
In October 2000, the Fort of São José was purchased by a Madeiran whose intention was to restore all of the dignity for which the Fort was worthy of, having been once considered a laudable contribution to the world.
In order to recuperate the Fort archaeological work is currently being carried out at the premises and visits are now allowed. The tour includes four small partitioned areas, the natural conduit and the solitary confinement.
This islet, located in Europe, had once been subject to communitarian inquiries and as a result, Portugal had received funding; funding which had never been granted to its present-day owner for the fact, “that the Fort had never belonged to the European Union.†Nevertheless, after almost six centuries the Islet remains sturdy and upright, without any governmental funding to back it up!
http://www.fortesaojose.com
Come and visit the Fort of São José!
NEW COUNTRY 2008
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