http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/ The UK's leading climbing and mountaineering website. weekly 3 2009-01-05T00:00+00:00 2009-01-05T00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2009 UKClimbing.com Ltd UKC Articles (mailto:articles@ukclimbing.com) http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1540 Alan James 2009-01-05T00:00+00:00 The Gorge at El Chorro is a huge limestone defile that slices through the mountain range just 50km inland from the city of Málaga, in the province of Andalucia. This striking landmark is one of the World's most famous sport climbing destinations and was one of the first areas in Europe to be equipped during the development of this style of rock climbing during the 1980's. Since then development has spread to all the surrounding cliffs and walls resulting in a superb set of varied routes from long multi-pitch big wall climbs, to easily-accessed single-pitch sectors. Beyond the confines of The Gorge and its neighbouring cliffs the Andalucian landscape provides limestone aplenty. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1495 Kevin Thaw 2009-01-04T00:00+00:00 Super climber Kevin Thaw looks at a few ascents that inspired him in 2008. This is a whirlwind tour of the World's highest peaks, from Patagonia to Alaska with a lung-bursting trip to the Himalaya thrown in. Stunning photography, video and first hand accounts of some of the year's toughest climbs make up one of the top UKC articles of the past year. "Perhaps you're the rarer breed, into perverse flagellation all because you love climbing when tired; maybe you even love objective danger? Either way, the ability to mentally package the 'last time' so incredibly neatly that emotions are completely erased is an asset. Ready for another round?" http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1554 Robert Walton 2009-01-02T00:00+00:00 Robert Walton takes us on a cosmic journey in his essay - Perfect Partner. With life or death situations, huge falls and gravity defying moves, this is an out of this world story. Ever wondered what a butt thruster was for? http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1484 Tyler Landman 2008-12-30T00:00+00:00 Tyler Landman takes us through his bouldering pick of 2008. Featuring Dave Graham, Paul Robinson, Daniel Woods, Alex Puccio and others. This article combines Tyler's in-depth knowledge of cutting edge bouldering with a selection of videos of some of the World's hardest boulder problems. Don't miss the video footage of The Island (8C), Practice of the Wild (8C), New Base Line (8B+) and more. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1523 Sarah Clough, Kevin Avery, Alan James, and Mick Ryan 2008-12-29T00:00+00:00 Kevin Avery says, "It's that feeling many of us get when we're out in the mountains. "Never again," you might think but within 20 minutes of getting back to the car all the pain and misery is forgotten. Strange bunch aren't we? " Alan James said, ""Messner delivered a lecture that he had delivered many times before and didn't we know it." Sarah Clough contemplated, ""The author Kurt Vonnegut wrote that human beings are gregarious creatures who are not happy in nuclear families, and that we should surround ourselves with like minded people and 'create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured."" Mick Ryan as usual says too much. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1487 Kevin Avery - UKC 2008-12-24T00:00+00:00 Kevin Avery takes us on a global tour of sport climbing, stopping to chat to some of the world leading athletes about their 2008 achievements. With exclusive photos of Jumbo Love - Chris Sharma's F9b, plus video footage of Ethan Pringle and Adam Ondra, this is a superb round-up of sport climbing this year. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1527 Leah Crane 2008-12-23T00:00+00:00 Leah Crane takes us through the most significant female achievements of 2008, including bouldering, sport climbing and of course good old trad climbing. She documents some of the inspirational climbs from the UK and abroad, and details which climbers have inspired her the most. She also interviews Katy Whittaker and Alex Puccio, two young women who have been pushing their limits in trad and bouldering. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1518 Jon Griffith 2008-12-22T00:00+00:00 UKC Alpine correspondent and gear reviewer Jon Griffith takes us through five impressive feats of Alpinism this year, including action from the Grande Jorasses, speed climbs on the Eiger and more. These are interesting and inspirational achievements, documented here in Jon's no-nonsense style. We were inspired by these climbs and climbers and we hope you will be too. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1529 Jack Geldard - Editor - UKC 2008-12-22T00:00+00:00 Jack Geldard takes a look at the year's trad highlights, from Ben Nevis super-routes to Gritstone highballs, with a bit of everything in between. He rounds up inspirational trad climbs from 2008, and also gives a short ground-up overview at the base of the article. Illustrated with excellent photographs and videos, this is an important and exciting record of 2008. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1519 Kevin Avery-Assistant Editor- UKC 2008-12-19T00:00+00:00 Nestled away in the beautiful unspoiled valley of Colsterdale, Slipstones was once once described in the 1989 YMC guide as,"Yorkshire's Best Kept Secret." Well the best things seldom remain a secret for long and this exquisite outcrop is now a must visit venue, enticing climbers to travel from far and wide to sample its perfect problems and spicy micro-routes. So what makes it so special? http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1543 Mark Reeves 2008-12-19T00:00+00:00 Mark Reeves is a photographer, climbing instructor, writer and film maker. Here he shows some of his excellent images of the Llanberis Slate Quarries. Mark's images concentrate not only on the climbing, but capture the dark beauty of these abandoned holes. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1542 Dave Gill 2008-12-19T00:00+00:00 Dave Gill has produced an excellent short clip of a flash attempt of Gaia, at Black Rocks. Climber George Ullrich goes for the flash and gives it his best shot. Dave also takes a quick look at how films have an affect on climbing. Do they spoil an onsight ascent? Either way, this is an exciting bit of footage - not to be missed! http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1530 Pauline Sanderson 2008-12-15T00:00+00:00 Pauline Sanderson reports on the final of the Scottish Tooling Series held at the Ice Factor - Lochaber last weekend. The whole series was a great success. Thanks to the hosts, Avertical World - Dundee, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena:Ratho, Extreme Dream Climbing Wall - Aviemore, Glenmore Lodge - Aviemore and the Ice Factor - Lochaber, and the sponsors: Tiso, Marmot, Grivel, Petzlcharlet, Climber Magazine, La Sportiva and the support of The MCof S. Here's to next year! http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1525 Pauline Sanderson 2008-12-12T00:00+00:00 The Glenmore Lodge event on Saturday was the 4th of 5 rounds in the Scottish Tooling Series. The sun was shining; the competition was on granite walls outside with a backdrop of the Cairngorms in perfect winter conditions. The big question was, were people going to come to the competition or go on the hill? The answer was a short one. They came to the competition. The final round is at the The Ice Factor tomorrow. http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1521 Mick Ryan - UKClimbing.com 2008-12-11T00:00+00:00 As you may know, Kevin Jorgeson, Alex Honnold and Matt Seagul certainly made a mark on their brief trip to the UK. This video shows Kevin Jorgeson soloing hard routes at Rumney in New Hampshire, USA.