Weekend Whipper: The Nutcracker
As someone in the Rock and Ice office commented yesterday, this Weekend Whipper is “nut” for the faint of heart.
Become a member to unlock this story and receive other great perks.
Already have an Outside Account? Sign in
All-Access
Intro Offer
$3.99 / month*
- A $500 value with 25+ benefits including:
- Access to all member-only content on all 17 publications in the Outside network like Rock and Ice, Climbing, Outside, Backpacker, Trail Runner and more
- Annual subscription to Climbing magazine.
- Annual gear guides for climbing, camping, skiing, cycling, and more
- Gaia GPS Premium with hundreds of maps and global trail recommendations, a $39.99 value
- Outside Learn, our new online education hub loaded with more than 2,000 videos across 450 lessons including 6 Weeks to Stronger Fingers and Strength Training for Injury Prevention
- Premium access to Outside TV and 1,000+ hours of exclusive shows
- Annual subscription to Outside magazine
*Outside memberships are billed annually. Print subscriptions available to U.S. residents only. You may cancel your membership at anytime, but no refunds will be issued for payments already made. Upon cancellation, you will have access to your membership through the end of your paid year. More Details
As someone in the Rock and Ice office commented yesterday, this Weekend Whipper is “nut” for the faint of heart. It takes place Down Under. The lovely music in the background is Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, from The Nutcracker.
Last Sunday, Simon and his mates from ATA (“All the Activities”) were climbing in Brooyar, South East Queensland, Australia. It was the end of a full weekend of climbing, but they were still ready for some try hard. In the video, shot by Simon’s friend Brett, Simon starts up Celluloid Hero (21/5.11a), a route with a particularly burly, pumpy start—standard for the area.
As he thugs up the climb beyond the first bolt, fatigue starts to creep into his forearms. By the time he’s staring at the second bolt, he’s already gripped. “This was the last climb of the weekend for me and I could not take a hand off to make the clip, even with the draw still up,” Simon told Rock and Ice. “I was so pumped my hand peeled right off it, and down I went.”
And, well, the aftermath is one of those scenarios we all wonder about—“Does that ever happen?”—but rarely see play out. The belayer takes the rope straight to his, um, sugar plums.
Simon gave credit where credit was due. He told Rock and Ice that, while he was “honored” to be featured in the Weekend Whipper, he figures “the true legend here is Fabian, my belayer. Took the nutshot and kept holding on!”
Happy Friday and climb safe this weekend!
Also Watch
Weekend Whipper: Two-For-One DWS at Tanque Verde Falls, AZ
Weekend Whipper: Springmielies! Leaping into the Unknown Above Cape Town
