Page 19 - AMA Summer 2024

MAKE MORALE A MISSION
DAY SEVEN – 12KM WALK OFF
Embrace luxuries (headphones, portable chargers, and tasty snacks) and become an American: high five every pitch or km, be a cheerleader-belayer, and don’t forget “you’re sending a rad line dude!”
BE RESILIENT
DAY SIX – 5 PITCHES, C2 5.8
Whilst fast and light may work for some, bringing plenty of supplies and spares is probably a better approach. Extra food and water gave us time to play with at the end; headtorches and lots of spare batteries allowed us to climb into the night; and, when half the parties below bailed in a rainstorm, waterproofs enabled us to press on. A positive mental attitude and ability to embrace the ‘suck’ goes a long way too!
LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER
DAY FIVE – 5 PITCHES, C2 5.7
Big walling is tough. Play to each other’s strengths; communicate openly; step-up if your partner is feeling tired, scared, or out of psych; and treat all successes and failures as team successes and team failures.
TIME SPENT IN RECONNAISSANCE IS SELDOM WASTED
DAY FOUR – 6 PITCHES, C1 5.8
Gathering plenty of data before setting off saved us hours on route; getting the King Swing second go and avoiding tricky hauling by linking certain pitches.
TOP GEAR
PORTALEDGE
Whilst not strictly essential, bring one. The peace of mind from knowing you’re never more than an hour away from being in your sleeping bag is totally worth the extra 10kg.
RADIOS
Trying to instruct your belayer on a tricky tension traverse when it’s windy, you’re out of sight, and surrounded by other people shouting is no fun. Being able to have a relaxed chat allows you to solve problems together, encourage the leader on scary aid pitches, and just make everything a bit less lonely, especially when it’s dark and the rope hasn’t moved for a while!
GLOVES
Crack jammies for freeing, fingerless for aiding, and full for seconding. These will save your hands from a world of pain!
ARMY MOUNTAINEER › 19