Weekend Whipper: CDWS (Chossy Deep Water Soloing)
Chossy rock and deep water soloing---a dangerous combination!
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Will Collett had just watched his cousin Joe climb Octopuss Weed, an E3 6a (5.11b) deep-water-solo route in the Cave Hole Area on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, U.K. Joe had dynoed to a big hold, but Will decided to go static to it.
“It felt a bit loose, but I figured if he could swing on it then I could get away with statically weighting it,” Collett told Rock and Ice. “As it turns out I was wrong. I got pretty lucky not to take the block to the head.”
Look closely and you’ll see Collett deftly bat the biggest rock away mid-fall. Impressive!
Though a bit wet, Collett was unshaken. “I got back on again and confirmed that the route still goes with no change to the grade,” he said. “There is still some loose rock about but it can be avoided.”
Happy Friday and climb safe this weekend!