UKC

MacLeod completes Scotland's Hardest Sport Climb

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What a year so far for Dave MacLeod; hard mixed Scottish, cutting edge bouldering, Rhapsody (see UKClimbing.com's report here), plus one of the most useful online presences at his website (here), climbing blog (here) and coaching blog (here), and now the hardest sport route in Scotland. Has there been any cutting edge UK climber in recent times who has been so productive and constructive on and off the rock and ice?

Earlier this week (the 10th) MacLeod redpointed his project at the Anvil a huge (30m high) schist boulder in the woods on a remote peninsula on the east bank of Loch Goil (Argyll and Bute).

Dave reports on Bodyswerve 8c:

"The route is 25m long but the difficulties are in the first 15m. It's 8a up to half way and then a 9 move really sustained boulder problem. As you will see from the pics its really steep. It takes an hour to walk in, but it's worth it for the lovely setting, quietude and excellent climbing. There are about 15 routes there. The crag classic is Spitfire 8a which is proving really popular (for attempts, so far only Niall McNair, Dave Redpath and myself have got up it).

The big roof already has one 8b+ (Bodyblow) from me a few months ago and more projects all in the top end 8s. Bodyswerve was climbed in the pouring rain as its perma-dry."

In other MacLeod (portrait) news this week he was pleased to announce that he had signed a sponsorship deal with Scarpa (www.scarpa.co.uk) whose new rock shoes he climbed Bodyswerve in.

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12 Oct, 2006
He's a bit unstoppable at the moment!
12 Oct, 2006
On fire alright. Wonder what he will produce this winter?
12 Oct, 2006
Give that outfit he's wearing on Bodyswerve I think he'll be too busy helping Santa this winter to get much done.
12 Oct, 2006
I liked one of Dave's quotes from last week "I miss feeling fit" FFS Bill
12 Oct, 2006
What outfit? You mean the Mountain Equipment t-shirt?
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