UKC

Brits climb Baffin Big Wall

© Baffin Big Wall Team
Twid Mark and Stu on the summit  © Baffin Big Wall Team
Twid Mark and Stu on the summit
© Baffin Big Wall Team

The UK Alpinists Mike 'Twid' Turner, Stu McAleese and Mark Thomas have completed a 1400m first ascent on Baffin Island.

Their route Arctic Monkeys (VI A4 V+) climbs a huge granite wall to reach a previously unclimbed summit via 31 pitches of vertical rock and 350m of mixed snow and ice climbing.

The wall is situated in the remote Stewart Valley 100km North of the small Inuit settlement of Clyde River.

This expedition was first mentioned on UKC back in March in this UKC News Item.

In an email to UKClimbing.com Mike Turner said:

"The climb took 21 days to complete with 18 consecutive nights in portaledges. The team experienced extremely cold temperatures, average -20, regular snow showers and wind. The climb consisted of a sheer pillar with consistently difficult and involved aid climbing. The climbing was serious and always involved resulting in the team having to climb every day for 21 days in all weather conditions."

UKC hope to bring you more info when the team get back to the UK.

The huge face  © Baffin Big Wall Team
The huge face
© Baffin Big Wall Team
Mark in a portaledge high on the route  © Baffin Big Wall Team
Mark in a portaledge high on the route
© Baffin Big Wall Team

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4 Jun, 2010
I read about these Baffin Island big walls on the internet some months ago & just reading & looking at the photos scared me. They have done well (and they are Brits)
4 Jun, 2010
Wow fantastic effort guys, just the kind of thing I aspire to but will probley never do! Would be great to have some more pics ect.
4 Jun, 2010
5 Jun, 2010
Fantastic achievment guys, looks awsome and scary, not my cup of tea but, very impressive, I`ll buy you the beers when you get back. mills.
5 Jun, 2010
Great work. Looks like there's so much undiscovered climbing there?
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