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Monkey Fist -- a TR of sorts 24-Oct-2010 At 11:29:29 AM Zane Priebbenow

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Great read Hargs! Get back on it please, ASAP. I can’t wait for the next instalment.
My place is located in a remanet Sydney sandstone gully bushland setting. The cliff our house is perched on has a large cave of about 10 meters high that is perfect for rainy days. Only drawback is the complete lack of holds. I’ve been considering advancing climbing grades to the next level with a mindset shift from rock features to colour pigment transition in the rock for purchase. Haven’t quite fingered it out just yet but with each rainy day the solution grows nearer.

The large gum in the backyard has seen a few frozen waterfall ascents over recent years protected by slung branches in place of ice screws. Plenty of branches for tool hooking and the thick dry bark makes for solid placements. I know those arms-crossed-head-shaking bewildered expressions only to well Hargs… “You idiot, your a 10 year old” she mumbles to herself as she passes beneath the tree to take out the rubbish, or to perform some other equally unimportant domestic duty when free hanging pillars have formed on the backyard tree and WI8 first ascents are there for the picking!

Completing the bridging moves from the french-doors into and up the stairwell void between the lounge and first floor has always been a sticking point for me – or lack there of – it’s a friction issue. I’ve considered repainting the household interior, this time with a rough sand texture, but is that just bringing the climb down to my level? I mean for all I know the original wall texture could have been rough and I might just be restoring it to its original state. And anyway some builder went and installed a set of stairs in an otherwise perfectly good bridging chimney; if that’s not a cardinal offence then surely a lick of textured paint is acceptable by comparison, isn’t it?

I’m thankful for Chockstone though. It’s the most wonderful of self help group I’ve found to date, I gain great comfort from the group therapy sessions in particular and feel I’m making headway with my condition. I think I’m ready to commit to the Chockstone 12 step program! Just need to find the right sponsor.