The Walk of Life | E9 Trad climb at Dyers Lookout

https://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/crags/dyers_lookout-674/the_walk_of_life-113057

A route with a complicated history.

An indirect line called 'Dyer Straits' was originally climbed by Ian Vickers that used quite a few pegs. James Pearson then removed the pegs and added a direct start suggesting the lofty grade of E12. The route was quickly repeated by Dave Macleod (who was injured at the time) who suggested a downgrade to E9.

Media

James Pearson
Added at 22:12 on 27 December 2020
Dave MacLeod
Added at 22:12 on 27 December 2020
Charlie Woodburn
View this post on Instagram

Added at 12:02 on 10 February 2021
Ali Kennedy
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Added at 12:02 on 10 February 2021
Angus Kille
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Added at 21:09 on 19 September 2021
Angus Kille
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Added at 15:09 on 03 September 2021

Ascents

7 recorded ascents.

Climber Style FA Ascent Date
James Pearson Lead (Worked) ✓ 29 Sep 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxIhHb8TePA
Dave MacLeod Lead (Worked) 01 Jan 2009 (approx)

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2009/01/dave_macleods_tendon_therapy_the_walk_of_life-45540

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPUeQFtjYO0
Dave Birkett Lead (Worked) 01 Jan 2010 (approx)

When everything settles down as regards the grade and the hype that surrounds it, it will be heralded as a modern extreme classic of the 21st Century.

https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2010/05/birkett_repeats_the_walk_of_life_-_full_story-53538
Charlie Woodburn Lead (Worked) 25 Nov 2010

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJW8zcNDcAt/
Ali Kennedy Lead (Worked) 17 Sep 2017

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZMG3hxgc4f/
James McHaffie Lead (Worked) 01 May 2018 (approx)
Angus Kille Lead (Worked) 31 Aug 2021

The route was particularly intimidating, something about the wall makes it seem like it doesn't want to be climbed. It feels like the rock is conspiring against you and never offers enough holds to let you relax into the climbing, and despite all of the cracks, barely any of them hold good gear. Apart from the first 15 metres, it's not actually dangerous but you would fall quite a way before any of your gear holds, so you really don't feel like falling and going through the process again. It's unusual that being fitter or stronger or even bolder isn't enough to make the climbing feel easy, you still have to be focussed and committed, which is hard to maintain for 50 metres of runout slab climbing – progress up the slab is hard-earned and it felt really unlikely I would make it through without running out of skill/luck. Looking back I probably could have just worked the route a bit more and not tried to lead it so soon, but I wouldn't swap the experience I had for any other. [1]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTW-ruKjHK5/

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CT-Cm6kIhtR/