North Wales, UK (Team Geared Up)Dave MacLeod has updated bis excellent blog with a recount of what it felt like to send 9a and also some thoughts on his recent lecturing in Spain, international views of sport climbing and trad and also a plug for his wife’s new business venture - just in time for Christmas!

*Dave*

Image credit: http://www.davemacleod.blogspot.com/

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - While The Great Climb was cancelled due to weather, Dave posts on his blog that he’s completed the Hell’s Lum climb that was to be done on the day.

It’s the most dangerous lead I’ve ever done, and right now, I’m not sure exactly how I feel about it.

Falling off from the crux or above would have meant death. 80 feet to the gully bed. In the moment of the lead, I screamed at myself twice at the top of my voice because the reality hit me of where I was and what I was doing.

The BBC filmed it on the day, and while the live broadcast didn’t happen the footage will be shown on TV in the near future.

To Hell and Back E10 6c *** 80m
The route climbs the big smooth vertical wall right of the waterfall in Hell’s Lum, crossing Chariots of Fire higher up to finish up the smooth overhanging headwall. A fall from anywhere on the second half of pitch one is unlikely to be survivable.

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Dave takes a minute at the top of ‘To Hell and Back’ E10)