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General Climbing Discussion

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Hardest Australian Trad Onsight 8-Oct-2012 At 3:21:26 PM ithomas

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Let's be done with all of this philosophy and re-engage with the really critical issue - where were Bryden's boots in late 1962. In 1974, Keith Bell and I saw a very old and incredibly tatty pair of climbing shoes hanging on a bolt at the base of Elija on Bluff Mountain and that is where Rick White and Ted Cais assured me they should be - not at the base of Leiben as some have claimed. That observation doesn't prove anything! KUU was climbing in the 'bungles in 1962 but he can't remember or chooses not to remember if Bryden climbed Leiben in rock shoes and I think that is a sensible position to take. Even if Bryden used climbing shoes on Crater Bluff, Ted Batty almost certainly did not and that in itself is pretty incredible. Let's not even ask Bryden to scan his megabrain. What is gained by revising the best story in the history of Australian climbing? As far as I am concerned (Bryden's memories not withstanding), Leiben was climbed by Bryden Allen and Ted Batty in 1962 - in sandshoes.