His phone beeped. The message read:
"You'll never guess what, I've just found the most hideous dirty roof crack ever!"
Fellow debauchee Pete Whittaker had spotted a line. Tom gave us the low-down:
"As expected, the line is horrible. 20-25ft of horizontal offwidth, to a flared pod finish and a final hand crack. It's stuck away in a damp cave at Harborough Rocks in the Peak and certainly ain't the most aesthetic line ever. However, it did fulfil our desires to find something truly disgusting."
Both athletes failed on the crux around 5 times each, before Pete nabbed the first ascent. Tom followed suit with a swift second ascent despite some very damp crux holds. Tom was impressed by Pete's repertoire of moves, saying:
"As usual the youngster proved his apprenticeship on the rock has been well served and he offered up a variety of foot stacks, arm bars, heel-toe cams and inverted leg bars. He's named it Gobbler's Roof for fairly obvious reasons!"
Gobbler's Roof - E7 6c
- First ascent Pete Whittaker 23/04/09,
- Second Ascent Tom Randall - 23/04/09
- Third ascent? Probably never!
Pete Whittaker is sponsored by Patagonia , Five Ten , The Edge Climbing Wall, Naked Ape , C.A.M.P and Tendon Ropes.
Thanks go to Ian Smith for the superb photograph.
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