A perfect mountain

Bits of rock can look pretty much the same, it doesn’t
matter where you are in the world. Big features, crazy formations, caves,
pinnacles, whatever; up close and pulling hard, rock is rock. In a place like China
you need to escape the system and explore the view, just to know where you are,
or you might as well have stayed home!

Petzl needed some filming for their new helmets and reverse
4, the stuff needed for a multi pitch. I was called in, partner to be Stephanie
Bodet. Hardly a work day! Steph is one of the true legends of rock climbing and
one of the beauties that would appear in the climbing mags winning competitions
in the 90’s. The pleasure and privilege was all mine! We climbed a 6 pitch
route ‘Pussa Yan’, a bunch of 6c’s and 7a’s. Bolted but with a touch of spice,
some loose stuff and a trad feel. But a true mountain, with exposure and a real
summit. But the real beauty was watching the view unfold as we inched higher.
Taking in the scene, and the country from the belays as the mist swirled and the
birds soared. I can look back on a bunch of hard routes at the end of the week,
but this will be one of the days I remember most, a day where I was definitely
in China.