Lake District Area: Gaskins Not Finished Yet

John Gaskins has been hovering in the back ground for sometime now, but a recent meeting with the "Man of Steel" brought news of a few impressive and noteworthy ascents.

John's most notable ascent over the last few months would have to be a new 8b+(?) at Woodwell, in the shape of a reverse of Anesthesia (see image below). This starts at the far right of the buttress and traverses leftward to a point a couple of hand moves right of the original start, before climbing up to the break – a 7c/+ in its own right! John wouldn't actual comment on the grade other than saying it was significantly harder than the original. Also of note John repeated Greg Chapman's fine gritstone test piece, Outer Reach (8a) at Thorn Crag. A line which over the last couple of years has seen attempts from a number of strong climbers, but until now rebuffed all comers.


Source: LakesBloc.co.uk

Peak District: A Bigger Belly 8a+/b

At Rubicon Dan Varian has added a sit start to A Bigger Trail. Local sage John Fullwood reported thus on UKBouldering.com:

A Bigger Belly - Dan rated it as the hardest thing he's done (had to lose weight to do it!), so it must be very hard and 8a+ minimum. Had a look at it on Tuesday eve, amazing in a very dismaying proper dirty Gaskins' style.

Below: Dan Varian on his new problem A Bigger Belly Font8a+ © Dan Varian


Source: UKBouldering.com