The Heason Head Game

Unreported from earlier this month, Ben Heason visited the climbingparadise of Tonsai in Thailand. Spending a couple of weeks soaking upthe sun seemed a fitting way to end his 8 month trip round Australiaand New Zealand. Having already spent 4 months in Tonsai on previous trips Ben had littleleft to keep him busy, but he still managed to get a few notable (ifunorthodox at times!) ascents under his belt before returning toSheffield. Using the fitness gained from climbing in the Grampians shortly beforeleaving Oz, Ben managed a couple more 8a´s on-sight (making atotal of 8 routes either flashed or on sighted, graded 8a and above overthe past 8 months – good job it wasn´t 6 of 6 in 6 ;-)) as well asanother 7c+ on sight. On the red point front Ben managed to climb the pumpy “Tantrum” 8a+, ina few tries, and also climbed his second 8b “Cara Cangreso”. But yet again, he turned the most heads by his solo ascents on theintimidatingly steep, 15m high Tonsai Wall. As well as casually soloingthe classic 7b+ “Tidal Wave” as a warm up on several occasions, Bensoloed the following routes: – “Baby Gorilla” 7c “Hang Ten” 7c “Old Chicken Makes a Good Soup” 8a “Cara Cangreso” 8b On some of his solo ascents top outs were possible through the pricklybushes that top the crag, and on some he resorted to taking a rope toget back down.On Cara Cangreso he had pre placed a rope in the belay of a neighbouring 8a, which he then traversed into after reaching the chain. The solidhighball Font 7c start leads to a pumpy 8a up the long, reachy wall above, with a precarious, balancy rockover providing the mental crux. Click Here for further details of his previous soloing antics in Thailand

QuellePlanetFear