Lateral Mindset

Written by LakesBloc Wednesday, 31 March 2004 00:00

A glorious sunny day was just what the doctor ordered when the North Wales boys (and girl) descended on the awesome coastal venue of St. Bees head, for a day of sandstone delights. St. Bees is set to feature in a forthcoming "Stone Circles" article in Climber magazine, so armed with photographic legend Ray Wood and bouldering guru and scribe Simon Panton, the team set to work climbing many of the crag classics while Ray worked his magic.

Image: Lateral Mindset, 7b+/V8. © Ray Wood.

If you have visited the crag before you will have no doubt noticed, as I have, the awesome blank (looking) wall between The Fishermans Dyno and Hueco Crack, on the largest boulder at the Fishermans Steps South sector. Inspired by the general ambiance of the day, Greg had a more detailed look at this beautiful line and noticed a reasonable hold about 10 to 12 feet off the ground. Unperturbed by the lack of a hold to reach this he opted for a run-up-springboard method, using the tiniest of smears as a facilitator. After a few practice runs (literally) and cartoon style splats the hold was attained which left only the 5 foot dyno, to a blind hold the top of the block. This section was fortunately (through pure luck) flashed, and the problem ascended leaving St.Bees and the Lakes with Lateral Mindset (7b+/V8), one of the most awe inspiring boulder problems to date, and there's a few now!