In reply to Duncan Bourne:
> (In reply to mmmhumous)
> Ah don't you just love eliminates.
Yep, they're not the most obvious or distinct of lines. Lots of discussion in the pub afterwards.
> I would say (from the video) that you should be further right for "Icebreaker" (away from the potential safety of the arete)
The hardest and boldest way up we found, was esentially what's shown in the vid, (but staying within a foot of the pebble ie eliminating the sidepull and small ledge), but this felt far too much like an eliminate problem than an actual route.
To my mind the, there were three ways up the wall and slab, left to right:
1. staying between the sharp and blunt aretes (based on the UKC and BMC route descriptions I think this is probably the correct line for Fifth Horseman)..... HVS 5a felt right for this.
2. The route as climbed in the video, which I'd grade at VS-E1 and 4c to 5b (dependant on height/ape index and whether or not you use tricams in the pockets -
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.454145779970.61873.518064970&...
3. Using the Pebble and the blunt flake, which felt around 4c. Adjective grade wise, with tricams on the slab (or a side runner in V-corner) Severve feels about right, without, maybe VS?
At least it's marginally more sensible than Windgather..
"am I off route?"
"yep"
"you're not looking"
"if you're asking, you're off route"