Britain´s Lucy Creamer has just returned from Ouray, Colorado, where she dabbled in a spot of ice climbing. Having previously managed the odd trip to Scotland and the Alps she quickly put up a new M9 and became the first woman in the world to do so (we think!).Lucy called the route Mighty Aphrodite, and it follows an existing M8 for 3 bolts before embarking on traditionally protected crack-line that Jeff Lowe says had „been left for future generations“! It is protected by 6 pieces of gear, most of which are body weight only. Lucy practised it on a top rope three times, but did not manage it in one push until she led it, towards the end of the trip in bad weather and warm conditions! She rates it as her biggest overall climbing achievement yet! She had been in Colorado for 4 weeks and already climbed a number of M8´s. Ice climbing is not all Lucy can do though… On arrival back in the UK last week, she popped down to South Wales for the second round of the BICC´s and promptly won! In the last year she also managed to Onsight Ghost Train, E7 6b, at Pembroke, and had a very successful trip to the Dolomites with Airlie Anderson, the highlight of which was the first female free ascent of the Brandler Hasse route on Chima Grande (18 pitches, F7a+ on traditional gear and pegs).
