Will Smith
LocationYork (originally from the Boro)
Best Climbing Experience
Any winter climbing I manage to do, especially in the Lakes! I think the fact that conditions are so fleeting makes it feel even more special when you're on a route. Particularly memorable winter routes: Tower Ridge, No. 3 Gully Buttress, West Buttress (Beinn an Dothaidh), Clogwyn Du Gully Left Hand, Dollywaggon Chimney (minor epic). Bigger stuff: getting to the top of Mont Blanc without puking and a winter ascent of Mount Fuji in beautiful weather. Also, loads of great days out on Yorkshire Grit and (my home turf) the North York Moors.
Favourite Climbing-Related Discussion Topic
Annoying pessimists by being optimistic about the winter climbing conditions in the Lakes. People generally seem keen to make out conditions are worse than they actually are. For example:
Pessimist: "Nothing, a bit cold today then rain coming in on Thursday. Forget the Lakes, Scotland is your best bet."
Optimist (me): Went climbing that weekend to find rock hard neve in the Helvellyn gullies and even the odd bit of ice.
Optimist: ...something could be climbable early on Tuesday...
Pessimist: Don't be daft, it is going to be pissing rain at all levels on Saturday night.
Optimist: Climbed V Corner on good water ice and thick neve at the top.
Reluctant admission from pessimist: I am as discerning as anyone about winter nick. I can see most of the North and Western Fells from my house, drive to work and from my office. I was as sceptical as you maybe. But having seen Will's images, it is fairly convincing to me.
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Logbooks Volunteer
Moderator for 5 crags, checking missing climbs added to the logbooks: Brown Cove Crags, Launchy Gill, Scugdale - Stoney Wicks, Mount Fuji, Strans gill
Photo Gallery
First pitch of V corner, Helvellyn in good nick
© waps100
Early season conditions in Gully 1, Helvellyn
© waps100
View of Chardonnet on the way up from Albert 1er hut to the Trient plateau
© waps100
The final steep bit on Tower Scoop
© Will Smith
Mountains near Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
© waps100
Swirral edge, red tarn and striding edge
© waps100
Preparing to get squeezed on Alcove Chimney (VS 4b), Barker's Crags, Scugdale
© waps100
December snow on Helvellyn
© waps100
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I've voted for 69 photos, average vote 4.6.
(68% superb - 28% good - 0% average - 2% poor - 0% rubbish)