UKC

Here's a poser.

How many genuine UK 'a cheval' pitches are there?

1. That so & so at Black Rocks

Can't think of any more

In reply to Greenbanks:

Last but one pitch of Ampitheatre Butress!

Luv Barra! xx

In reply to Greenbanks:

forgive my naivete but what is 'a cheval'? I'm imagining a position in which one has to 'straddle' rock.

In reply to Clare:

Legs dangling either side of the rock.

There's a pitch on the Clach Glas-Blaven traverse.

In reply to Clare: yep that's it. Think like the belay before pitch 3 of little chamonix. Guess that doesn't count as it's only the belay although you do spend a long time there when climbing as a 3.

In reply to Clare:

Like riding a horse darlin'

Luv Barra! xx

In reply to Greenbanks:

How about?

1. Little Cham, Shepherds (the saddle belay)

2. The Direct, Milestone Buttress (getting around the block on its LHS) Did this yesterday in the rain and ended up sat astride the rock trying to figure out what to do next

In reply to Swirly:

that was exactly the one I was thinking of, but, as you say, it's a belay stance rather than climbing.

In reply to JonC:

That's how I did that move but it's still 1 move rather than a pitch though.

Maybe skeleton ridge, I've seen a picture of someone walking along but he was seconding, it would take big balls to do that when leading.

In reply to Clare:
that was exactly the one I was thinking of, but, as you say, it's a belay stance rather than climbing.

Yeah but you can just string the last 2 pitches together and then it's part of the climb... (if a brief one)

In reply to Anita:

I like the fact that there's a french (and thus sophisticated (!)) name for what seems to me to be a spectacularly inelegant way of moving on rock - the sort that would have me unable to move for fits of giggles...

In reply to Greenbanks:

Clipperty Clop at Ramshaw

In reply to Clare: Yeah, was on holiday when I was 15 with a mate and her parents. My mate is into horseriding and we went out one day with a late 40's spanish horse riding instructor. I can't ride for toffee so was lumbering along at the back trying to trot with my mate and instructor riding off into the distance. After a couple of minutes the instructor appeared back shouting at the top of his voice. 'Ah to trot is easy c'mon you do this' (him demostrating how I should move) 'it's like making love'....
I was 15!!!! and mortified...

In reply to Greenbanks:

Only about half-a-dozen in the whole of the UK? Now there's a tick list (by the way, I wouldn't have included the last but one pitch of AB - unless you ain't got a head for heights!

In reply to Greenbanks:

I've had the misfortune of being beind someone who insisted doing the Crib Goch ridge A Cheval !

In reply to Greenbanks:

I can't remember whether I needed A Cheval on Spantastic on Skye...

In reply to Greenbanks:

Yes, but it's traditionally done that way!!!

I obviously didn't do it that way... ;op

Luv Barra! xx

In reply to GrahamD:

Good set of thighs, uh?

In reply to Tyler:

About time someone mentioned that, the obvious choice really.

In reply to Fiend:
You can A Cheval some sections of Commando Ridge

In reply to Clare:


I have always associated the use of this term mainly with Alpine climbing - and so the the fact that it's French seems appropriate.

In reply to Greenbanks:

I think there is one on that very popular crag, Scafell Pinnacle. Seem to remember some pictures in Abrahams books of it. Also one on the Nose on Pillar, another popular crag

In reply to Clare:

I've heard one francophobe refuse to use the term, preferring to use the phrse 'monkey-humpiung' to describe his method of vertical 'progress'.

In reply to Swirly: Hi, I did that route last Tuesday but at the block I went to the RHS and actually thought the move was a little like the move on Little Chamonix except I did it stood up and not sat down, though strange as it may sound the last time I went on Little Cham I did the move stood up and not on my bum. Must go back to them both and sort out whats going on there

In reply to Greenbanks: I can't remember the summer name of it but Cool Water Sandwich on the far west buttress of Lliwedd as a similar pitch to that on Amphitheatre Buttress.

Ben

In reply to Swirly:

Ah, that's what your supposed to do there... my calf got really sore standing/balancing on one leg!

In reply to Greenbanks: As Swirly alluded to - Skeleton Ridge. The last pitch has changed from the earlier description and is now an arete followed by a definite 'a cheval' traverse to the mainland. Did it back in August. It would be a brave, (not to say crazy) leader indeed who walked along it.

In reply to Greenbanks:

The belay at the top of Old Salt, stanage far end. I seem to remember.

In reply to Greenbanks: And always keep your eyes open for a cheval rests - The Axe on Cloggy and Lourdes at El Chorro spring to mind.