UKC

I've got my own understanding of the word but, what is the definition of "thrutchy"? can anyone give me an example of a thrutchy pitch (Avon/Wye Valley if possible) that illustrates the term?

In reply to H:

A thrutchy pitch refers to one where a lot of thrutching is required to ascend it. Usually refers to chimneys and offwidths. The definition of thrutching immediately becomes obvious if you try to climb one of these pitches. It involves wedging various bits of your body in a crack and ascending strenuously and usually with very little style accompanied by lots of heavy breathing and probabaly swearing. Much more fun than climbing plastic indoors.
Iain.

In reply to H:

Ever been caving? That's what thrutchy is like.

Wye Valley - ok, at Symonds Yat, try "Kipper Crack", HS, 4b.

In reply to H:

A good example would be Obscenity at N Burbage. A 'orrible off-width where the name of the route says it all. You will feel better for having done it - but you're unlikely to enjoy it at the time. Thrutch away for all you're worth

In reply to JonC: thrutchy routes are any that feel like E1 when they are actually V Diff.

In reply to JonC:

Try the chimney pitch of Sinister, at Avon.

Obscenity is a moderately terrible example, since the crux is on crimps over a bulge. Right Eliminate would be nearer the mark, or Straight Ahead on Stanage.

In reply to H:

I have an ex (a non-climbing Yorkshireman) who refers to himself as "all thrutched up" when his underwear has taken a sweaty and uncomfortable grip on his nether regions. I think that describes the sensation of being in a thrutch pretty accurately.

In reply to TobyA:

That's because they are "ungradeable" - as the guidebook writers say - so they go down as a "tradional" V Diff struggle.

I admit I steer well clear nowadays!

In reply to Clare A:

Have you mis-heard your friend? Perhaps he is saying "thrushed" up Actually sounds more like a wedgie to me.

Bob

In reply to Bob:

I would have been alive to the possibilities of "thrushed up" (he is an ex boyfriend!).

I think he meant a kind of all-over wedgie. Anyway, I'm sure you all know what I mean!

In reply to H:
first time I heard it was of the top pitch of Flying Buttress on the Cromlech (just before my leader fell out of it, my first ever climb as a belayer)

Would quote Gwynne's Chimney as on Pavey Ark as a good specimen

In reply to michaelw:

yes - Gwynne's is particularly fun in big boots plus the additional "help" of a rucsac to produce a full-on thrutch.

In reply to H:
Thrutching is the climbing equivalent of ultimate fighting or some other pumped up american blood sport, real gladiator stuff.

It is best described as the only move you can make in an upwards (or outwards/ inwards) motion
when you have already commited every last square inch of limb and hide to the gaping jaws of cliff, and perhaps that little fuse in your brain is vibrating dangerously.....


when only neeeded in microscopic amounts it may be known as 'udging.

hose

In reply to hoseyb:

oh yes, good specimens....

Elder crack -curbar
Loot -Chudleigh
Holly bush chimney -birchens
The offwidth finish to suicide wall -Bozigran
The caving variation of pitch one on shadrach -Tremadog
Sifta's Quid -Roaches
Pitch one of Cyclops slab -Brean down
Roof route (a this struggle)-Rivelin


that'll keep you goin'
hose

In reply to hoseyb:
>Roof route (a this struggle)-Rivelin

'Thin' I meant


curses

In reply to H: Bottom pitch of CD Direct on Sron na Ciche, bad enough when dry due to polish, but offers totally inelegant climbing when wet!!

In reply to hoseyb:

you're too kind - however, I'm not about to rush out and try all these. I'll just keep my eye out for the "Sinister", Avon pitch and maybe the one at Symonds Yat.

thanks anyway

In reply to jim robertson:
monolith crack on clogwyn y bustach? only route where I have been horizontal with all four limbs not touching the rock.
I think Lockwoods chimney is another, you can't beat those vdiffs for a struggle.

In reply to jim robertson:

Not the bottom pitch, surely? I seem to remember the chimney being quite a way up.

In reply to sutty:

Monolith Crack is the best example I can think of. Or the other severe just right - ZigZag? - produced a lot of swearing, too. How is it possible to expend so much energy to gain an extra inch or two of height?

Sinister at Avon is tame by such standards....... I'm not sure it even produced bad language. It seemed to submit a little to girly subtlety, which is more than can be said for the Gribin facet climbs......

In reply to john cox mysteriously deregister: 100% the bottom open groove, which is nigh on impossible when wet, the chimney higher up is also not any fun. Classic route, but if its stylish climbing your after, a no no!

In reply to H:

Thrutchy is when you start a pitch wearing shorts and T-shirt and wish you were in overalls half-way up.

In reply to duncan:

If anyone is interested there is a good picture of me thrutching in OTE95, in (appropriately) the back passage section, on a route called "Minotaur" at Pule Hill. This is a fine example of thrutching but apparently not the way you are supposed to do this climb (but then I do specialise in offwidth gritstone thrutching). There are several fine examples near where I live at Ilkley whose names I can supply on request......

In reply to Dave Collier:
In the Peaks, Silver Crack at Froggatt takes some beating. And gives some beathing as well...

In reply to Paul M:

Silver Crack is a lovely Severe and a perfect intro to thrutching.....

In reply to H: Try 'Strapiombo' on Pant Ifan at Tremadog. Guidebook says "HVS - E3! A frightening experience taking the large chimney. (Older climbers however will be able to rest on most moves of the big pitch and will probably find much of the route to be VD).