Aidan Roberts has had a productive first week in Rocklands, SA, climbing several 8B's or above very quickly. The highlights include quick ascents of Power of One (8B), Bloody Mary (8B+) and Fred Nicole's Oliphant's Dawn, which he climbed on his 3rd attempt.

On his fourth consecutive day climbing, Aidan wrote: "Today was my best day yet! An early start brought me to Oliphants Dawn, I knew this was a hard boulder and anticipated a few sessions. In hindsight I feel I should have given it a good flash burn, dropping the last hold on my 2nd try! Thankfully it went down 3rd try, psyched!"

Climbing day 4 Today was my best day yet! An early start brought me to Oliphants Dawn 8b+, I knew this was a hard boulder and anticipated a few sessions. In hindsight I feel I should have given it a good flash burn, dropping the last hold on my 2nd try! Thankfully it went down 3rd try, psyched! I then headed to The Coop and had a full day of climbing where I was able to do a bunch of 7's along with Patience 8a, The Beaten Path 8a, The Buying Power 7c+. I then finished the day off with Night Visions 8a+, the hard crimpy thing to the right of this (8something) and Antidote 8b. It was a fight to be climbing all day but I enjoyed every bit of it and hope for more great days like these. @thenorthface @thenorthfaceuk #neverstopexploring

A post shared by Aidan Roberts (@aidan.roberts98) on Jul 15, 2018 at 11:50am PDT

Oliphant's Dawn was first climbed by Fred Nicole in 2000 and it was 12 years before it was first repeated by Nalle Hukkataival. Adam Ondra said this of the problem: "After one hour of sessioning I walked away having done none of the moves. And I heard that a bunch of people walked away with the same result. All my esteem to you, Fred!"

This is Aidan's first trip to Rocklands and it comes at the end of the competition season, which saw him make semi-finals in Vail. He has four weeks left in Rocklands – try and leave something for a return trip, Aidan!

Climbing day 5 and 6 ⚬ I feel tired! After such a big day on Sunday my fingertips were bruised but my body was just about funcitioning. Yesterday I took a tour of sassies and was able to send some classics like Shosholoza 8a+ (pic) and Ghost in the Darkness 7c+. I could also flash Pinotage sit 7c+ and The Art Project 8a. To top the day of I could quickly send Red Meat 8b and put up a new line in the cave (can post vid at some point). ⚬ Today I felt a little broken and did not feel myself on the wall. I was able to do a tour of some classics at roadside where I could flash Nutse 8a, Pendragon 8a then got Caroline 7c+ and Out of Balance 8a 2nd try. Now I must rest my fingertips and hopefully will feel strong again 💪 📸 @nathanphillipsclimbing @thenorthfaceuk @thenorthface @edenrockclimbing #neverstopexploring

A post shared by Aidan Roberts (@aidan.roberts98) on Jul 17, 2018 at 11:19am PDT

Aidan's Ticklist from his first week:

Röyksopp (f8A) 8A – Flash

Full Tony Tick 8A – Flash

A Tea with Elmarie (f8A) 8A/+

Gogoan 8B/+

Power of One 8B

Witness The Sickness (f8A) 8A

Gliding Through The Waves Like Dolphins (f8A) 8A

Deep Turtle 8A – Flash

Bloody Mary 8B+

Oliphants Dawn 8B+

Patience (f8A) 8A

The Beaten Path 8A

Night Visions 8A+

Antidote 8B

Shosholoza (V12) 8A+

The Art Project (f8A+) 8A

Red Meat 8B

Nutse 8A

Pendragon (f8A) 8A

Out of Balance (f8A) 8A