Richard's blog

Tag: climbing

  • A two Jersey cycling event and then too tired to climb.

    A two Jersey cycling event and then too tired to climb.

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesYesterday I had a morning ride because I wanted to participate in the Tour de Zwift event. Yesterday the track was London and I was riding slowly for the first half, conserving energy. Eventually, when I got warmed up I started to ride harder and harder until I was overtaking quite a…

  • The Klettersteig Rider 3.0

    The Klettersteig Rider 3.0

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    richard
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    Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe Klettersteig Rider 3.0 is a dual system via ferrata kit. It has a carabiner like standard via ferrata kits have and a “rider” system. The “rider” system fixes to the via ferrata cable and progresses with you. As you get to a part where you need to switch you move…

  • Documenting climbing feats

    Documenting climbing feats

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesDocumenting climbing feats is an interesting challenge because you deal with issues of accessibility, projects that can last for months or even years and in some cases you’re dealing with the prospect of the climber understanding the problem, and then achieving his goal. For two or three years I really explored ideas…

  • The Dawn Wall film

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesOne of the reasons for which this film is so powerful is that it’s written in the way that Heinrich Harrer wrote about the Eiger. It’s documenting not just a single attempt but the entire process. In doing so we get to know the people well. It gives us some context about…

  • Indoor Climbing and the Apple Watch

    Indoor Climbing and the Apple Watch

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesIndoor Climbing and the Apple Watch are a bad mix. They are a bad mix because the Apple watch has an unprotected glass screen. The screen is so exposed that last Thursday I shattered the screen without realising until I got home and tried to use it but the capacitive screen did…

  • Improved Belaying – perfecting our technique

    Improved Belaying – perfecting our technique

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesBelaying is a core climbing skill. With good belaying a climber can climb as fast as he is comfortable to climb, as if without a rope and yet have his fall cushioned at be safe at all times. The belayer needs to be active. He needs to observe and be attentive. I…

  • The Drapel Climbing wall near Aigle

    The Drapel Climbing wall near Aigle

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesThe Drapel Climbing Wall near Aigle is a nice place to climb. When I was there yesterday we were in the shade of the trees unless we were climbing. The temperature for this week is at around 25-27°c daily which is nice. These are almost summer temperatures, at last. The parking for this…

  • Climbing in Bramois

    Climbing in Bramois

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesClimbing in Bramois is a pleasant and practical experience. This is a climbing area with numerous walls and routes. There are single and multipitch routes ranging from 3-4 up to 7 and 8. The climbing area is within a gorge with nice rock on both side and a river running through the middle.  This…

  • Admiring the Tour D’Aï from the Via Ferrata de la Cascade

    Admiring the Tour D’Aï from the Via Ferrata de la Cascade

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesThe weather was clear so I was admiring the Tour D’Aï from the Via Ferrata de La Cascade. I was in Les Diablerets as I am one of the volunteers at the FIFAD film festival. I turned up three hours before I was needed and as I had all my climbing gear, except…

  • Getting Up Getu – some impressive shots

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesGetting up Getu is short documentary climbing video about Alex Honnold and Felipe Camargo climbing a beautiful roof climb. The most spectacular aspect of this video is the size of the arch that they are climbing. In two or three shots you see the size of the rock formations compared to the…