I'm a woman

I'm a woman
Photos copyright Laurence Gouault
No reproduction on other media without the photographer's permission.

Monday 26 March 2012

Resurrection and the light, by Stevie Lazarus Haston.



It's nearly Easter, and I feel the need of some religion. Finding the biggest free climbable roof does that to me you know. Being unfit this new challenge has come at the wrong time but so do visitations from God. Timing they say is everything but clearly I have no organizational ability or planning capacity. Still when you see a fifty-meter roof covered in big holds you can't help give it a go. So a go consists of breaking your back, filling your eyes with dust from upside bolting and generally hurting your self. Luckily I have  some friends  with me who are sharing the work and pain.  We have bolted some great routes and taken some big falls. The big bruising fall I took was a surprise as I was in full rampant route mode, breaking a big hold, I took a crushing fall, still I finished after a rest. Bruises, cuts and abrasions, a big hook, I have for aiding, has buried it self in my arse and it suppurated, I had a block on my face, I was a mess but we have done fifteen new pitches some of which are world class. My own supply of bolts is gone and the two Maltese clubs are keeping me supplied now. There is so much rock on the three islands that the work will never end. Some of the work will have to be in talking to the various conflicting bodies who seem to wage war on climbers. The local climbers are trying to develop sport for locals and visitors and are plagued with problems, I pray that it is sorted out in favour of our sport after all it is good for tourism and locals alike. These problems have kept me at work on my favourite cliff called the Underworld, there are nobody there who bothers me just me my mates and my great sport, oh yes and the biggest, crassest roof I have ever seen. Wish me luck with the burly roof and the bureaucrats?



Underworld roof

The roof

Tools of the trade






Saturday 17 March 2012

More routes in the Maltese Cave, by Stevie Haston



Here more photos from Simon Alden, more routes, boys are working hard bolting...




Wednesday 14 March 2012

Big Cave in Malta, by Stevie Haston

Stevie has discovered a big cave in Malta, he started bolting a huge roof, more news to come soon, here some photos.








Thursday 8 March 2012

40 years Dream, by Stevie Haston





Today I did a new trad route on Gozo that I saw when I was a child. I did it with Simon Alden from the Malta Climbing Club. Also the route is easy, it's very loose, friable and scary. 140m in 5 small pitches, it reminded me of Gogarth. I also saw some crazy wall which will probably go with ice axes. Thanks Simon for the pictures.

Stance of the first pitch


Friday 2 March 2012

Gozo, projects and 9's, by Laurence&Stevie Haston

Off to Gozo for two months and half, a bit of bolting, some amazing lines...Mark Mcgowan will join me soon.
Went to Sabart cave and projects are still there, gorgeous and keen to train again, back on the road for 9's maybe....

Top a King line, photos Simon Alden
Proper King line, photo Simon Alden
http://www.maltaclimbingclub.com/