Climbing – Digital Steak

An experience climbing the Cassin on Piz Badile

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 12:04:57 +0000

The grin on my face is reflected in Waldo’s as he makes the last moves onto the belay. We have been climbing for 5 hours with a few more to go but the rock is simply stunning and neither of us want it to end. We didn’t know each other 48 hours ago but a...

Finding my flow

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 06:54:17 +0000

As I was cruising up yet another stunning crack splitting a 300m granite face up high off the Aiguille du Midi, I felt truly in my element. Recent life events have really knocked my mental strength and the first thing to suffer is my ability to climb, or at least feel comfortable climbing. My recent...

Are the mountains trying to kill me? 3 stages of being in the mountains

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 14:53:56 +0000

I’m scared to go into the mountains. There, I said it. I’ve enjoyed some of the most incredible, inspiring, and challenging experiences in the Chamonix hills but I have recently struggled to get out and make the most of this amazing valley. My reticence has been about embarrassment and a reluctance to talk about the...

Italian sport climbing day trips

Charley Radcliffe — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 08:30:11 +0000

What better way to start your day than with a proper espresso and two scoops of real Italian gelato? As we fled the poor weather in Chamonix, driving through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Courmayeur, it never fails to amaze me how different this side of the mountain can be. The Magic Tunnel This summer...

.. and then I get spanked – climbing the Supercouloir

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:03:25 +0000

Yep, after going on about feeling stronger and the benefits to being stronger in the mountains, I headed out and got firmly put back in my place. And it’s not a bad thing at all. I headed up to climb a stunning but very challenging route here in Chamonix, the Supercouloir, with Graeme – mentally,...

Ski Touring 2.0 – skiing the Pigne d’Arolla

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:03:32 +0000

“I can’t work out if this was a good idea or a bad one..” said Matt. Tomorrow the Cabane des Dix, high in the mountains above Arolla would have a full staff, prepared food, and be a hive of activity as a key stop on the Haute Route, a classic alpine ski tour. Tonight, however,...

Big Mountain Dreams

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:24:09 +0000

What are you training for right now? What is on your wish list that, maybe, you’ve not started training for yet? I’ve been ticking along recently, which has been a much needed gear to be running in but I’ve recently been feeling the need for something more. For picking an objective and committing to the...

Climbing Tre Cime di Lavaredo – my first Great North Face

Charley Radcliffe — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 10:33:30 +0000

Fear. The persistent feeling that I’ve not been able to shake for the last week but we’re here now and there is no way out. It’s the night before we set off to climb the Comici on Cima Grande, one of the classic Great North Face routes but it isn’t the route I’m scared of,...

Climbing the Frendo Spur – A very civilised affair

Charley Radcliffe — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 06:13:25 +0000

Climbing the Frendo Spur is high up on many alpinists dreams when they arrive in Chamonix. A striking line that towers over town, rising right underneath the Aiguille du Midi telepherique in full view of all the camera happy tourists. Described as a mid-grade classic, I’ve had my eye on this route for several years...

3 Lessons from climbing in an electrical storm

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 10:39:26 +0000

The weather in Chamonix is typical early summer weather – amazing sunny mornings then, between 1pm and 2pm, the clouds come in and shortly after a storm kicks off. It is pretty much like clockwork. Jesse and I set off on a rock climb up high that would easily get us back to safety in time....