UKC

Above the Manifold Valley sits Thor's Cave. Within its caverns weaves a line of bolts stretching sixty metres from its furthest recess to the lip. This is Kyrie Eleison.

It translates to 'Lord, have mercy', which could have been a warning,

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For anyone who's not seen them, can I recommend Oliver's "solo aid in Yosemite" YouTube videos. Some spicy moments in these. The video of the Hook or Book pitch is particulary tense!

FYI It's Latin not Ancient Greek! Entertaining read though.

FYI: no, it's not Latin. As you should be able to tell from the unfamiliar syllables.  It's a transliteration of Κύριε ἐλέησον.

“FYI It's Latin not Ancient Greek!”

Kyrie Eleison is the transliteration of the Greek Κύριε, ἐλέησον.

My apologies!

I did it decades ago. My mate was more experienced with aid so he led, but at that time, the bolts on the last (aid) pitch across the roof to the lower off thread at the lip were worn ultra thin so he threaded slings through each to spread the load more than clipping krabs straight in.

The big question was would the bolts take my extra 2 stone when seconding. They did but we visited the cave not long after and it was all shiny new bolts across the roof. Somebody must have had a real trouser filler unzipping several bolts 😁

As in the article, don't miss the swing out of the cave from the lower off thread - it's ace.

Question: can anyone own up to having done the last free pitch (VS 4c in Paul Nunn IIRC) outside the cave from the thread to the top?

Great story. Do you think if the weather had been good that you would have discovered your lunacy of loving aid climbing? Was it always lurking in the dark reaches of your soul? Any more aid routes you want to do in the uk? Diwedd groove on cloggy, Parliament House cave stuff?