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Topic Date User

Buffalo 11-12 Feb 06 13-Feb-2006 At 10:48:22 AM gemmaw

Message

On 13/02/2006 nmonteith wrote:
>[cross post from Chockstone News page]
>A very strong team from Canberra has blitzed the North Wall over the past
>weekend. Using a rap in
>and climb out approach (sport aiding?) they managed to climb several of
>the hardest aid routes in
>Australia. On saturday the 11th of February they casually warmed up on
>Holden Caulfield (M6) then
>moved onto the infamous HB testpiece Copperhead Road (M9). Chris Fitzgerald
>spent more than
>seven hours inching his way up this frightening 50m long pitch which involves
>serious copperheading
>miles above good gear.

Just to add to that, in November last year Chris and 2 others aided 'Clouded Queen' from the ground up (with some variation on the lower section), Chris leading the crux pitch of 20 hook moves. Then on 26-28 Jan, Chris attempted to solo-aid (from the ground up over 3 days) 'Clouded Queen', linking into the crux pitch of 'Copperhead Road' . On the crux copperhead pitch, Chris dislodged a huge flake which would have previously been used for gear placements. Faced with the lateness of the day, a new blank section which he didn't want to resort to drilling, and other factors, Chris retreated at this point vowing to return.

On 11 Feb, Chris managed to get through the new blank section on the crux pitch of 'Copperhead Road' by hooking.

A fantastic effort from Chris and co. Well done!!!