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Climberists, what's the longest time you've taken to succeed on a project?
At L' Elephant n Fontainebleau on Tuesday I finally succeeded on Black 22 after 27 years of trying!
This was my 33rd trip to 'bleau and I reckon I must have attempted that dyno 300 times at least.
Despite being weaker, older and fatter I somehow convinced myself that it was going down. I totally visualised all the moves and stuck the hold.
There was the usually crowd at the bottom, and I got a big cheer when I managed it. Waved my arms about on top and shouted "Hat sieben und zwanzig Jahre gedauert" got a bit of a laugh.
Really pleased to be able to still improve slightly after all that time. I guess that's the advantage of never having been any good originally 🙂
Son2 had a few good goes at the problem next door, but didn't quite succeed, so is dead set on a return in summer on the way to the alps.
Happy days.
Inspire me people, with tales of old punters doing their thang....
Not quite 27 but I got a local trail KOM recently after 2 years of trying. A clean run is never guaranteed and it favours dry spring time conditions. I'm not one for Strava bagging generally, but that was satisfying.
I'm impressed!
We went to Font once on the return from an Alps climbing trip and I couldn't climb anything, as shagged after a weeks climbing and biking.
I've never 'projected' a problem or route. I just get miffed that I can't get up stuff that I used to flash - I blame it on the polish, not my declining abilities. 😁
24 years between seeing Graham Ettle do White Magic on 'The Edge' and doing it myself. Several failed attempts, none of which even got as far as that famous pitch, mainly due to weather/conditions.
Karl seconding the top pitch, different from what Ettle did in The Edge but the best way.
Nothing like the same league but, I went climbing yesterday after a several-year absence.
Predictably I've lost what little strength and ability (and bravery) I ever had but I did better than I expected and, y'know, I went and did it in the first place, so I'll take that as a win.
Well done. Years ago I visited Fontainebleu for a couple of days on the way back from a trip to Chamonix and then down to Boux. I should have just gone straight to Font. It's brilliant.
y’know, I went and did it in the first place, so I’ll take that as a win.
This is absolutely key IMHO. Me and my mates gave all got to the slowing down, making excuses stage in life where every ride/session is presaged by tales of decrepitude and inability.
I've learned just to set that aside and just think:
" I'm here, I'm out, I'm trying. I'm already ahead of everyone at home sat on their arses. Let's go"
Om, Prayer Wheel Wall, Stoney Middleton. One of the hardest and the shortest climbs I ever did there. Loads of attempts until I memorised every move and shot through it.