Jim Pope

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4th RP!

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yhfe3tOJ38

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56H0i0wATWQ

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2018/01/kale_borroka_8b+_onsight_by_jim_pope-71446

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-QULAqOdJI

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/B14czh3DgPR/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C9kfKuItEav/

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2024/07/jim_pope_makes_first_ascent_of_hard_ashop_edge_project-73733

[3] https://www.instagram.com/p/C9wrCMmMHqD/

[4] https://www.penninelines.com/emails/jimkindred

[5] https://youtu.be/oU2N2K5vvpc?t=739

Also climbed in a weight vest a la Malcolm Smith.

References

[1] https://www.flickr.com/photos/156943872@N06/51115242638/

References

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

[2] https://youtu.be/nrfaAPsNo7g?t=22

References

[1] https://youtu.be/okkyOpLC6UI?t=66

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARarpgePnJM&t=984s

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARarpgePnJM&t=514s

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DE5WOnSNHaD/?img_index=1

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-URShyOw68

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlUD_QYxqms

References

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwO2PG6RLqM

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/gritstone-extras-110626932

For me [it] was maybe my best moment bouldering ever. It's not the hardest thing I've climbed but it's a boulder I've always wanted to do. In terms of how it looks it's the sort of climb that attracts me the most: quite high, really nice arete, not that many holds but just enough that you can climb it.

I saw Ty[ler Lnadman] climbing it really fast in Between the Trees, and when I saw that i was like "I wish I could climb this boulder". [1]

References

[1] https://youtu.be/vC8Yci1lXOE?t=680

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/wagyu-8a-uncut-124404377

References

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

[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/125570162

[3] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/04/jim_pope_makes_first_ascent_of_cloud_gate_8b+-73937

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kreADPGfqY

References

[1] https://youtu.be/okkyOpLC6UI?t=211

References

[1] https://open.spotify.com/episode/7B9rJNcDW03gtbSr5v2u9S?

References

[1] https://vimeo.com/710538541

References

[1] https://youtu.be/vC8Yci1lXOE?t=190

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy3oyATt8zQ/

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/121269000

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CCjZpVlD5wl/

References

[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/jim-pope-on-of-131806092

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C53smFWt6jZ/?img_index=1

References

[1] https://youtu.be/b0aOIFnjbko?

Jim's first route on El Cap! 12 days on the final push.

On the crux pitch:

I took fifteen to rest and warm my feet up, then gave it a rip from the bottom. All the muscle memory from my rapid-fire attempt yesterday must have gone with the wind, the moves felt clunky and foreign, and I barely made it through the crux. On the foot kick, I had so little body tension that I just dragged my whole body across the face rather than kicking. All of the tries yesterday had worn sores on my back and hip bones, which ached through the paracetamol I'd had for breakfast. At the rest stance the wind was so strong that - for the first time on the climb - I felt intimidated and scared. I didn't want to be there; my thoughts were so negative, I was just imagining myself falling on the same move again, and all the work from the last few months being for nothing, defeated by a damn hill! I hung low on the jug, resting my feet a bit, and looked down at the trees in the valley. The sea of green conifers was split up by tendrils of yellowing oaks and maples that grow around streams and water run-off from the hills. It's not often while I'm climbing that I look down and take in where I am, even though it seems an obvious thing to do! It felt wild with the wind.

I told Sam I was going for it and began stepping up, slowly weighing each foot, putting all my force through them, and being cautious about the transfer of weight when I changed feet. Without all my layers on, I stuck better in the groove, and with the new beta, I was above yesterday's high point. A couple more sketchy presses and I reached some actual handholds. I was so scared of my feet popping that I practically campused the last two metres to the anchor. I was so exhausted, too tired to say anything. The pitch was a real mental battle for me, so it was a huge relief more than anything. I think if I had fallen again, I would have spiralled big time and maybe not have had it in me to finish the pitch. [1]

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/freeing_the_magic_mushroom-16646

[2] https://substack.com/home/post/p-176766303

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2018/10/meshuga_e9_6c_by_jim_pope-71756

A very spicy ascent. Near the top of the route, well past the point where you'd consider falling off safely, a foothold broke and only Jim's ability to hold a one-arm lock off saved him.

References

[1] https://youtu.be/sfDPJIbOk84?t=2516

I had a short recce on top-rope while Ben got reacquainted with [Surreal Appeal] – so probably around 45 minutes including the warm-up - after the drive over from Sheffield. I then belayed Ben on his send and then I went straight after him. [1]

On the grade:

It's always hard to put a grade on something, and especially trad where the grade is even more subjective given you have to take into account how dangerous it felt for you. Personally, when comparing it to other routes I’ve done, I felt like I’d had an E8 6c experience. [1]

References

[1] https://www.climber.co.uk/news/pope-gets-second-ascent-of-prisoners-of-the-sun/

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2023/08/jim_pope_headpoints_olwen_e9_6c_and_onsights_strawberries_e7_6b-73415

First go. Jim had previously flashed Eye of the Tiger which shares some climbing with The Final Round, so although he climbed both lines on the first attempt his ascent of The Final Round was not a proper flash.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C0mcrJpNUxf/?img_index=1

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8M82PMt6zi/

[2] https://youtu.be/oU2N2K5vvpc?t=482

Pete Whittaker:

I'm flipping well psyched that it's been repeated again. I think Jim did it really quickly too - he went on it one day, then came back and did it the next, but Jim is a beast isn't he?! [2]

References

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

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/03/jim_pope_makes_3rd_ascent_of_dynamics_of_change_e9_7a-73913

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/04/baron_greenback_e9_7a_for_jim_pope-73954

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/DI4DuPwoG_F/

[3] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJOYs9CNJlS/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/B2gxSg4DtiV/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/CjJB5X8jbgx/%3D

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CX1svrnoIcA/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJI5dyCGt1Y

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C79e5hstIAo/

[2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/156943872@N06/53860590267/in/dateposted/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DIPBS00tsXj/

[2] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2025/04/baron_greenback_e9_7a_for_jim_pope-73954

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz616MitVbw/

References

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

Climbing the left side of the arête.

References

[1] https://www.ukclimbing.com/news/2023/08/jim_pope_headpoints_olwen_e9_6c_and_onsights_strawberries_e7_6b-73415

[2] https://www.instagram.com/p/CvsKsmuqG75/

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdMCqMtkxGw

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/C7goiyEtFTg/

I first tried it ground up in 2019, but fell off the crux and broke the cam placement. Going back a few weeks ago I threw a rope down the line and found no gear fit in the slot.

This made it feel quite a lot bolder than it used to, but also meant I'd practiced the psychological crux of Dynamics of Change.

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/jimpopeonarope/p/DHEhUBst0ME

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/reel/DH_nWT7tyip/

References

[1] https://www.instagram.com/p/DM53MUOt_xS/

References

[1] https://jimpopeonarope.substack.com/p/attraverso-il-pesce

Also climbed in a weight vest a la Malcolm Smith.