Tom Hudson
I am currently a climbing instructor and route setter for High Sports and the XC climbing wall. I have been working in the outdoor industry since I was 15, I studied outdoor education at the college of West Anglia in Kings Lynn. During this course we would spend 4 out of 5 days out up in the hills, down at the crag and also out on the rivers. It was one of the best experiences of my life.I love all aspects of climbing from spot, trad winter/mixed, bouldering, competitions. I haven’t experienced it yet, but I would love to give big walling and aid climbing a go.
I have just come back from a 3 and a half month climbing trip where I drove from Rayleigh in Essex, to El Chorro, Spain in order to volunteer at the Olive Branch (The place to stay when visiting El Chorro). On the drive down I stopped in Font, Targasonne, Savassona Siurana. After I had eventually got to El Chorro, I had the best month of climbing where I had never been climbing so well in my life. I had just got my first 7b - called “Anack Sunamun”, 4th redpoint attempt, followed by my second called “Un Lait Fraiche Pour Monsieur” which I got on 8th red point attempt. Then a few days later I flashed “Que Tal Mea Tu Padre?” first sb flash (Yeah boy!) So here is my story.
On the 20th of Janury2015 I went for a walk with my friend Simon Smith. The walk soon turned into a scramble we got up to a cole, where we should have turned back. However being caught in the moment, as we were looking over towards Alora one side, and behind us was Fontales and Escalera Arabe; Not that you could see them clearly as the weather was just coming in. We could see the goat tracks leading down the other side. Now to get to there we had to climb down to a ledge around a tree. From here we need to bridge down a gully for around 8 meters to a block then we could have followed the goat track off and down to the road. That's what we said, looking down towards the Olive Branch. Sounds easy enough.
Looking down at the gully I felt the temperature drop. As I turned to Simon and said shall I go first?, there was an ominous eerie feel to the air. Sure he said, so off I went. Bridged in the gully I felt committed. It was now raining, yet I was slowly making progress down. Boom my foot slips. I then proceed to slide down the gully.
WWWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
It all happened so quick.
Sliding down this gully I saw a green flash before my eyes. Feeling like a cat had just jumped on me and scratched my face up. At the bottom of the gully there was a gap in the rock, and my right foot ended up in the gap. Falling over to my left, dislocating my ankle, my momentum flipping over as I put my left hand down to break the fall. It brakes and slamming onto my side, the weight of my rucksack pulled me over and off the block. As I was falling back , and first looked up at Simon, I could see the panic and distant fear on his face as he grew further and further away. Crashing on to my back with dreads tucked in to my BobHat, the back of my head wiped against the block. I lay there motionless and in shock. WAIT THERE! He bellows down to me.
Lying on my back I felt so lonely and helpless. Then feeling the adrenalin rushing around my veins, "just like London's streets and society frantically rushing around with their busy lives". I still remember feeling the rain pitter patting on my face, mixed with the adrenalin and that cool mountain breeze; I felt a warm surge of energy flowing through my body, feeling half as heavy as I did that morning. It gave me the strength to sit up and I took my rucksack off to get at my Lucozade tablets and a drink of water for the shock. I then slowly packed my bag up putting my rucksack back on gingerly, and started to bumble down the hill side. It was raining harder now! The Adrenalin was wearing off, but I still felt warm and light. With every step, the pain got sharper and sharper. I was sliding on my bum down parts. I turned round a corner an there I saw Simon, running around to find me. Both our face's lit up as we saw one another. “I can’t believe that I am still alive".
Location
Essex
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the crux on live by the sword
© Tom Hudson
clean lead. CHEQUERS BUTTRESS HVS 5a. a lovely route
© Tom Hudson
Tom Hudson
© Tom Hudson
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