LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - An interesting post appeared on climbing.ie during the week, and a suitable debate has followed. The author is ‘Arther Aggs’, specifically not ‘Arthur’, any idea who this is? Is it an anagram? maybe, so from now on I’m going to call him ‘Garter Gash‘.

Hi all, just to let you know, and give you warning that you will see me over the winter digging holes at the top of most of the main popular climbs around the quarry. I am going to be putting in some metal stakes for belays. All stakes will be tested for suitability and once finished will be clearly marked and identified as to the details to contact for further information. I hope this will open up climbing without the continued strangulation and suspect dependancy of little yellow bushes.

Garter Gash has proven he’s not a fly by night staker! and come back with some great answers to his critics including the statement:

Consultation will be taken with the MCI, all passing trade in the quarry and the council.

Looking forward to finding out who it is, and your opinion, so get voting YES/NO:

-Robin-

(Image Credits: Both Creative Commons Licensed, Fantastic “B&W of Dalkey Quarry” by Phil Pankov and “Lee at the Top of Dalkey Quarry” by Padraig Woods)

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - All Climbing Blog alerted me to the video featured on UKClimbing of Rob Lamey on the first ascent of The Heel Hook Look 25m F8a, a deep water solo on Little Orme.

The Heel Hook Look climbs across the obvious right-to-left rising break on Craig y Don Lower, Great Orme, Llandudno, North Wales.

Sorry to echo the same story, but some people won’t have picked it up and we like a bit of video now & again!

-Robin-

DERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Just picked this interesting offer by ITV up via the BMC’s website! Are you a single guy? Passionate about keeping fit and being active? Believe in a healthy, clean-living lifestyle? Up for a challenge? ITV is making a new dating show and wants to find single men aged 30-45 who love being active and keeping fit to take part. ITV is especially interested in hearing from climbers and mountaineers.

If this you and you’re up for a challenge please get in touch with ITV. Email or call with your phone number and a picture of yourself as soon as you can. Contact Sarah.Rubin@itv.com / 0044207 737 2801. Or call Hedi on 0044207 737 8842.

-Bren Whelan-

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - RTE News are reporting one of the worlds top free solo climbers has fallen off a cliff face 21m into the sea off Valencia Island in Kerry. Hopes look very unlikely he’ll be alive as he fell yesterday.

All we know:

• From United States
• He is understood to be one of the leading free solo climbers in the world.
• Gerry O’Brien of Valentia Coastguard said it was very unusual for people to be rock-climbing in that particular area.

We’ll bring you more as we hear it. His identity is unknown, but the Irish climbing community must know whoever it was was in the country.

UPDATE: More details coming in…

• believed to be in his thirties
• finished a climb with another man when he slipped
• Name confirmed as Michael Reardon by climbing.ie

Now it clicks. Michael had been to Ireland a few years ago and I remember him climbing or at least asking for solo advice around Dalkey Quarry.

Here’s a video including the dalkey shots from January:

Michael has been featured a number of times on Team Geared Up, as most recently putting up a new potential E7 route in the Burren a few weeks ago. It’s desperately sad it’s ended this way. Our thoughts are with Michael’s family & friends, a large number of which are in the Irish climbing community.

Update: Latest report in. Michael was washed off the base of a sea-cliff after potentially slipping on some seaweed after a successful climb.