Dave Thomas

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References

[1] Peak Limestone North, First Ascents Supplement /file/bc3fd0e4-a3ee-a736-1cbf-d68af9f0910e/peak_lime_north_first_ascents.pdf

An outrageously bold piece of climbing.

Dave briefly checked a loose block on an ab rope, as well as a few moves around the block. [1]

There was a moment when I had to drop down on to this rail that goes through this iconic, what I call the railway tunnel part of the route, and I had to hold this hold together. It was shifting, like a pack of cards balanced on top of this rail in lots of little bits, but it was the hold I had to use and I basically had to just grip it together and hope it didn't disintegrate. Thankfully it didn't and I dropped on to the rail, aped along it and stuck a foot in the break at the end and hung out backwards laughing...absolutely amazing! [1]

On the style of the ascent:

I'd been looking up from the cave with a view to just doing it as a lead anyway, but could tell from the ground that the large block on the lip could well be loose, so thought I'd better give it a look. I'd done Caveman a couple of times...and just thought the direct would be cool as a single pitch blast from Moonraker.

Abbed it, and knocked the block off, so wanted to see if it would still go, but just tried that one move - a completely stupid way, with weight on the rope, and thinking "That'll do". No aspirations of soloing it at that point, so wasn't sure where the large block beneath was.

Arrived with Frank Ramsey, and had already "joked" about soloing it. Got to the move on the lip, and realised it didn't climb as I thought. It may not be too bad - edit. It's probably easy, but just one of those "Oh flip" moments; biggish move - but I was just in commitment mode, and in a bit of a rush! 😁 [2]

[1] https://youtu.be/yri_x9Z9KG4?t=1453

[2] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,31629.msg650019.html#msg650019

First bolt-free ascent.

References

[1] Mountain 127, page 44 /library/11116/mountain-127

References

[1] Mountain 127, page 44 /library/11116/mountain-127

When I got there Lord was wet, there was a big wet streak running down it...and it was a case of waiting for it to dry out, hoping it would dry out in time to do the route...I left it as long as I could and when I set out I wasn't sure whether it was in sufficiently good condition.

With Martin Perry. Memorably captured in the film Hard XS. [2]

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/nine_moments_in_the_making_of_hardxs-757

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbw0lsMxKE

References

[1] https://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,347.msg2810.html#msg2810

Dave was very close to the flash, falling after a hold broke at the end of the crux. [1]

References

[1] Mountain 127, page 45 /library/11116/mountain-127