UKC

INTERVIEW: Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall on their Motorway Roof Crack - The Great Rift

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 UKC Articles 08 Dec 2021

In early November 2021, after a summer of recce trips and one previous attempt that ended halfway, Tom Randall and Pete Whittaker climbed a horizontal roof crack over 2500 feet long (roughly the length of Half Dome in Yosemite). The line took the pair four days, with three nights on a portaledge. 'The Great Rift' — their proudest crack line to date — was on the underside of a six-lane concrete motorway bridge.

Mark Bullock, who sent Tom Randall photos of the M5 bridge to sow the seed for their latest roof crack project, speaks to the 'WideBoyz' and finds out that this climb was significantly more than just another big tick...

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2
 Alex Riley 08 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

Cool interview, looking forward to the film.

If either of you are reading this, were there any concerns with cams getting crushed on the flexing sections? I just have images of a lorry going over, the cams getting squeezed and then falling out when it widened again.

 raussmf 08 Dec 2021
In reply to Alex Riley:

Would a cam not just engage / disengage with the flex? Granted don't have one in my hand to test right now

 Holdtickler 08 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

Absolute flippin' nutters! Just Incredible! Seriously well done!

 Alex Riley 08 Dec 2021
In reply to raussmf:

I'm not sure

It didn't happen so on that limited information I guess it's a non issue?

 Chris Craggs Global Crag Moderator 08 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

About as astounding as the Fitzroy Traverse and soloing El Cap, respect,

Chris

9
 Red Rover 08 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

How on Earth did they persuade the police to allow them to continue? That's seriously impressive!

 simes303 08 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

Ha ha, that's fantastic.

 remus Global Crag Moderator 08 Dec 2021
In reply to raussmf:

> Would a cam not just engage / disengage with the flex? Granted don't have one in my hand to test right now

I guess the worry would be that the crack would flex wide enough that your cams would fall out. A blue camalot has a working range of about 27mm so wouldn't need a lot of movement. Obviously not a problem in practice though!

1
 Michael Gordon 08 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

An 800m roof crack?! bloody hell

 Moacs 08 Dec 2021
In reply to Chris Craggs:

> About as astounding as the Fitzroy Traverse and soloing El Cap, respect,

> Chris

beeep...beeep...beeep...

What's this meter for again?

1
In reply to UKC Articles:

Great stuff, but I'm surprised to hear them call this the ultimate in their field. What happened to the Crucifix project? - perhaps they did it when I wasn't looking.

jcm

 remus Global Crag Moderator 09 Dec 2021
In reply to johncoxmysteriously:

'Ulimate' in different ways perhaps. This would be the dawn wall of cracks, crucifix would be silence. They haven't done crucifix yet.

1
 Luke90 09 Dec 2021
In reply to remus:

The way they talk about the impact of the flex on their hands, it sounds quite subtle.

 petegunn 09 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

Mega effort and one for the record books - I do wonder how long until this is made an illegal activity though, if it isn't already!? Pete mentions access and Police at the end but no details. Maybe a bit like Fowler climbing the infamous St Pancras station drainpipe!

Post edited at 11:41
 Red Rover 09 Dec 2021
In reply to petegunn:

I'm sure it's technically illegal but coppers often give you some leeway if you are reasonable. I was caught jumaring up a kind of rope treadmill rigged off a bridge in York and I just explained to the police that I was training for a caving expedition and they left me to it. I think the Wide Boys got an enormous amount of leeway for that though!

Post edited at 14:45
 Toerag 09 Dec 2021
In reply to Red Rover:

>I think the Wide Boys got an enormous amount of leeway for that though!

I dunno, it's all about risk - if they demonstrated that they knew what they were doing and had appropriate backup / bailout plans then there shouldn't be a problem.

 petegunn 09 Dec 2021
In reply to Toerag:

They could have probably made a few quid as well, giving the bridge a quick inspection as they went. Save closing the road whilst one of those overhanging crane platforms moves along!

In reply to UKC Articles:

Do you reckon in fifty years' time this might be our Nose in a Day?! I mean, sure it seems a long way off now, but then that's what Warren Harding thought, and it only took a couple of decades.

jcm

2
 FactorXXX 09 Dec 2021
In reply to Toerag:

> I dunno, it's all about risk - if they demonstrated that they knew what they were doing and had appropriate backup / bailout plans then there shouldn't be a problem.

Wouldn't the Police's main concern be about a potential terrorist attack as opposed to their safety?

 David Alcock 09 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

I just want to know if they abbed down for a sneaky pint at the Double Locks each night. 

 TheGeneralist 09 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

I'm intrigued about logistics. Or at least I was. I'm getting the impression from the lack of mention that they had ground support for their kit.

Is that right, or did they do some amazing penduhaul setup?

 Fellover 10 Dec 2021
In reply to TheGeneralist:

I can't see any haulbag or portaledge in the pictures so I guess they just lowered a rope down to the ground support people and then pulled the ledge up every night?

Post edited at 10:17
 marksykes 10 Dec 2021
In reply to UKC Articles:

Bonkers!
Brilliant, but bonkers!
These guys are stars

1
 TheGeneralist 10 Dec 2021
In reply to Fellover:

> I can't see any haulbag or portaledge in the pictures so I guess they just lowered a rope down to the ground support people and then pulled the ledge up every night?

Agreed, looks like it.

Also, want to agree with Marksykes.

Love the WBs.  Everything they've come up with over the years is almost guaranteed to bring a smile.

Awesome. 

Post edited at 11:04
1
 Red Rover 10 Dec 2021
In reply to TheGeneralist:

The are close to the best climbers in the UK and probably having the most fun!

1
 tomrainbow 10 Dec 2021
In reply to Red Rover:

The way things are going weather wise in Devon right now, this will be a DWS before long!

In reply to Fellover:

So an unsupported alpine-style ascent is still to be done.

 deepsoup 10 Dec 2021
In reply to pancakeandchips:

They were successfully trolled into going back to repeat Century Crack in a better style, but I can't see them falling for it this time!


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