London – the Severe climber

Back to Climbing (Concrete)

September 2, 2020September 2, 2020the Severe climber

It was really good to get back to climbing after so long. My weekends away climbing, and weekend visits to the climbing wall all stopped with the pandemic lockdown. I’ve missed it in so many ways. Over the long weekend I took the chance to go climbing on the concrete boulders at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park, and it was brilliant. The best bit was taking my son climbing again, and seeing him climb really well.

Leo climbing up The Arches boulder at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park. Copyright: Valerie Van den Hende.

Leo climbing The Trunk Route on the Dumbo the Elephant boulder at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park. Copyright: Valerie Van den Hende

Me climbing on the Dumbo the Elephant boulder at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park. Copyright: Valerie Van den Hende

Leo climbing up a Font 2 problem on the back of the Dumbo the Elephant boulder. Copyright: Valerie Van den Hende

Climbing on The Arches boulder at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park. Copyright: Valerie Van den Hende

The Petit Block at Fairlop Waters Boulder Park. Copyright: Valerie Van den Hende.

Climbing in a Covid-19 world took a little getting used to. Using liquid chalk (with 70% plus ethanol) for the first time, putting on far too much, and managing to get it over a lot more than just my hands. Read more →

My Climbing 2017 in Pictures

December 30, 2017December 28, 2017the Severe climber

Me climbing Bones (V0 4c) at the Cioch Top Boulders at Curbar Edge.

Snow falling on the tops above the Vale of Edale in the Peak District.

Climbing problem number 12 on the yellow circuit at Canche aux Merciers.

Me trying to do the crimping and smearing start of problem 7 on the orange circuit at Roche aux Sabots. This photo was taken by my 3 year old son.

Climbing Eeny (VB 4a) at Stanage Far Right.

Me climbing at the Stronghold Climbing Centre.

Me trying to climb Easy Groove (V0 4c) on The Grooves boulder at the Roaches. Seconds after this photo was taken my left foot slipped and I flew off the rock.

Climbing Joe’s Portholes (V0+ 5a) on Joe’s Boulder at the Roaches.

Me climbing Clammy Wall (V0 4c) on the Clammy Hands boulder at Newstones.

Me climbing an unnamed 4C problem on the Wavelength Boulder in Llanberis Pass, while Katrina spots me.

The Llanberis Pass, with the Wavelength, Pieshop and Utopia bouldering areas on the mountain side.

Me climbing Tiny Slab Left (V1 5b) on The Tiny Slab at Burbage North.

An icy Corn Du in the Brecon Beacons.

Me on the summit of an icy Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.

Sgwd yr Eira (a beautiful waterfall that you can walk behind).

Stronghold Climbing Centre review

June 13, 2017the Severe climber

The Stonghold Climbing Centre has a cool name and describes itself as London’s largest indoor bouldering space. But is it any good?

London’s newest climbing wall is hidden away down a quiet street a few minutes walk from Tottenham Hale station. The Stronghold Climbing Centre is housed in an old warehouse that had previously been home to a charity recycling and reusing domestic furniture and appliances. These workshops have been replaced with a big, open and light climbing space and a range of good facilities. Read more →

Climbing Concrete

March 22, 2014September 2, 2020the Severe climber

A brightly shining sun and unseasonably warm weather last weekend meant that Valerie, baby Leo and I could swap our weekend climbing wall trip for Fairlop Waters Boulder Park. These are nine boulders of sprayed and carved concrete almost hidden in the trees by a lake in East London.