UKC

David Lama climbs Avaatara, 9a, in the Baatara Gorge, LebanonVideo

© Lama coll.

David Lama  © Lama coll.
David Lama
© Lama coll.
David Lama has made the first ascent of Avaatara, 9a, in the Baatara Gorge, Lebanon. According to the video, he was the first to climb here, and hence, the route is the first way out of the hole.

Certainly looks like an amazing place.

A photo taken from behind a waterfall that showed the gorge inspired David to climb there. 
In reality, the gorge was much more spectacular than in the photo. Three natural arches, a waterfall that falls into a dark hole 100 meters below, the blue and orange limestone and the intense green of the plants immediately made me think of the surreal landscape in the movie “Avatar”.

The crux of the route features small, sharp painful crimps, and David says that, two days after he had sent, his fingers were still completely destroyed. “Avaatara” is not for the fainthearted.

David Lama is sponsored by: BMW, GORE-TEX, Glorify unbreakable, Kästle, La Sportiva, Leki and Mammut


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8 Oct, 2015
Given the numerous complaints on his facebook links and elsewhere why are you still saying "according to the video he was the first to climb here" I know it's true but its also true he wasn't the first to climb there and some people are clearly pissed off he's claiming that (and with the style of ascent he used for his route).
8 Oct, 2015
I think that this has been discussed even before it was 'News'. http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=626103
9 Oct, 2015
What a dire thread that was. It's good to see so many UKC experts on climbing in Lebanon. Can a Lebanese local from the national Lebanese climbing or mountaineering council answer some queries to enlighten future UKC ranting one way or another: 1) Is the gorge a trad venue or sport or a mixture of both? 2) Were there any existing routes in that sink hole and if so how many and were they trad or sport or a mixture of both? 3) What is the local Lebanese concensus about Lama's route? Is it seen as a positive thing or a retrograde, unwelcome step and future routes should be established on a trad only basis?
9 Oct, 2015
Yes, but some were the same people as on here and they are clearly the green ink brigade.
9 Oct, 2015
It's not part of the green ink brigade to point out he and his well funded sponsors somehow failed to overlook all previous activity there. The climbing world is pretty interconnected and even from the point of view of modesty (apparently not David or Red Bull's strong point) most might say we are not aware of previous activity rather than claiming firsts. The combination with yet another scandal indicates more a tolerated blight on climbing than unfair potshots.
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