Benjamin the Rescuer
Here is a little story about how I got the name of 'Benjamin the Rescuer': I see myself as a bit of a hero these days after I rescued my best friend, John, and saved his life. It all started one icy saturday afternoon when my two brothers, John and I decided the weather was good enough to attempt a local crag. This crag is not a known hot spot for climbing as it is pretty much a pile of rocks with some grass covering it but we thought being hardcore adventurers we would give it a bash. On our first recce of the crag we found ourself on an exposed ledge halfway up the crag only accessable from a difficult fence crossing and a energy sapping fern scramble, which had many poisionous insects (native to the Dalmahoy region) and other hideous creatures lurking within. In our attempt to find suitable belay positions John, voting himself expodition leader, took charge and to our shock started soloing up a 45 degree grassy slope. After a diffcult first few feet he seemed to be coping well so we left him to get on with it but then diaster struck. A climbers worst nightmare. We hear a call from John around the corner "HELP! Benjamin I'm stuck". We rush back to John. About 10 to 12 feet up the grassy slope John was stuck he could not accend any further, as it turned into 60 degree well featured rock face, and refused to decend as the grass was a little slippy. After 10 minutes of trying to coax John down with biscuits we realised there was only one thing we could do, launch a rescue mission!!!!!!!! Me and my two brothers, Robbie Rocketpants and Rooster, discussed tactics. After much deliberation and crying from John we decided to solo a nearby Diff. Me, feeling responsible for John as he was my friend, decided to go first. The climb was treacherous with the most part of a river running down the face. Halfway up I cursed John for putting me in this precarious position but the sound of John whaling and crying round the corner spured me on. Then as if a bolt of lightning had hit me I stopped and clung on to the soaking wet rock, through the wind I heard "Save me Benjamin, Hurry!!!!!" followed by a muffled "I love you mummy". I knew at that point I didn't have long before I seen John slidding down the grassy slope far below. With one final push I Dyno'd for a one handed sloper and to my surprise it stuck. John may still have a chance I thought as I toe hooked to a tiny lip and hauled myself over the edge. Drained and exhausted I set up a belay, tied a knot in one end of the rope and threw it over the edge, "Below" I yelled then listened intently for a reply or a tug on the rope. Nethier of which came for what seemed like an iternity but eventually I felt movement on the end of the rope and a cry of "climbing". "Thank god" I thought, John was safe. About an hour later and what seemed like a couple of hundred slips and falls John came in to veiw. Worse than I imagined only one shoe on, white as a sheet and covered in grass stains. He looked like a homeless man and smelt like it too getting a distinct smell of urine as he climbed past me to safety. Once we had warmed John up and he regained some colour. He said to me, with so much conviction I will never forget it, "Thank you, Benjamin the Rescuer". That made risking my life all worth while and I would do it again in a heart beat if it meant saving my best friend John!Best Climbing Experience
Solo of a treacherous water soaked Diff, Big Red (no takes), Classic Crack
Favourite Climbing-Related Discussion Topic
Rescuing
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Watching Fabregas!!!!!!!!!!
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