Once Upon a Time in the Southwest | E9 Trad climb at Dyers Lookout

United Kingdom / England / Devon / Bideford

Johnny Dawes likely abseiled the line in 1989. Nick White writing in Mountain 129:

Dyers Lookout presented me with the heart stopping sight of someone abbing the most futuristic piece of rock on the North coast. Inevitably it turned out to be Johnny Dawes, who pronounced the line would be E9 7a and "that it would make someone very happy sometime in the future." [1]

References

[1] Mountain Issue 129 (1989), page 10 /library/11314/mountain-129

Contributors
remus
19 contributions since 7th December 2021.

Pics + Vids

No pics or vids yet.


Ascents

10 successful ascents recorded.

Climber Style Ascent Date Suggested Grade
First ascent.
Charlie Woodburn Lead | worked 28th Jun 2011
First female ascent.

With this ascent Hazel became the first British woman to climb E9.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2011/07/hazel_findlay_on_once_upon_e9-63019

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUUyI39FOf4

James McHaffie Lead | worked May 2018
Emma Twyford Lead | worked 23rd May 2018
Maddy Cope Lead | worked 24th May 2018

Anna had very limited experience of trad climbing at the time having only a few weeks under her belt!

The working process was a bit unusual, seeing as it was the first time I was placing the majority of these gear sizes. Having only really placed gear on 5.9s, these micro sizes were completely new to me. [2]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTQwQ_DYVm/

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2021/09/once_upon_a_time_in_the_south_west_e9_6c_by_anna_hazlett_and_tom_randall-72891

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/CUcTnSkD_TD/

[4] https://latticetraining.com/2021/09/17/climbing-my-first-5-14-anna-hazelnutt-ask-lattice/

[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTT2TRhuJQY

[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dNWbndhciM

Fast forward a decade and I accidentally (or was it by necessity?) starting singing Ava Max “Kings & Queens” to myself on Once Up A Time down in Devon. Almost instantly, I just got lost in the words and the movement flow combo. Literally everything just connected together and what (for me) was quite an intimidating climb became ridiculously fun and engaging. I almost wanted the whole thing to never end. [1]

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CUVVcwes1-Q/

I removed the top peg in the hope of revealing a bomber ballnut placement, but there was just flared mud and bugs.