Posted by Mark Thomas on March 28, 2006 at 17:29:02:
In Reply to: Re: Salvation posted by adrian nelhams on March 25, 2006 at 10:31:53:
Im not going into debate over acceptable winter conditions, but let me say, I wouldnt be so stupid as to set up a route that requires frozen turf to succesfully cimb it and make it safe. The day was cold and the route was frozen, the mud in the top cracks was just awsome every placement was a winner. sometimes you cannot judge a route by having a little poke at some random turf on the far side to that where I was climbing. I chose to climb this particular line as it offered mostly a vegetated groove and overgrown cracks, whereas the classic summer lines didnt offer these. My route required solid turf and muddy cracks, thats what I got, looking down on the route revealed it to be also white with good hard snow on the ledges. I have no doubts about the style in which I climbed Salvation or about the condition that it was in. To do the route in wet conditions, soloing would be crazy, I dont think that I am, some people may think otherwise. Its a shame that people find it appropriate to make such statements as done about Mark Edwards and Dave Birketts ascent of The crack. Its the same debate every year. I enjoy my climbing and will continue to do so, maybe in the future I will just keep my new ascents to myself. Cheers Stephen, feel free to post this on the frcc website, I wont have anything else to add in the future regarding Salvation,
regards
Mark thomas