A few days ago I intentionally posted a picture of a skinny Spaniard glued to a rock some 15 meters high by no other means than his bare hands and feet. Reckless? insane? idiotic? maybe, but wait for the second half of the story.
In my previous post I already introduced the epic climbs of Krabi. However what I did not mention is that Krabi is also a one-of-a-kind place in the world to engage in the Deep Water Soloing experience. DWS is a pretty fancy name for something that kids all over the world have been doing for ages: climbing up a rock to jump into the ocean. While this children's game is absolutely unacceptable (provided the potential risk involved), under controlled conditions it represents one of the most exciting climbing challenges ever imagined. Watch the movie!
Neither me nor my climbing buddies wanted to miss the chance and so we joined the professional crew of Mr. Wee Climbing School for a full day of sweat, adrenaline pumping and -needless to say- fun! Early in the morning a longtail boat picked us up at Rai Leh West on its way to the cliffs especially selected for the activity (ie safe). The 20 minutes ride ended by a gorgeous 80+ m limestone wall where one could spot what seemed (difficult to believe though) white stains of magnesium left by some climbers. The level of excitement pushed us into the water and onto the rock. A German guy started the show climbing up to a 15 m high stalactite from where he jumped off. The awkward position of the jumper refreshed old memories of a nasty fall while canyoning in the Pyrenees, thus I opened my personal account with a 8 m free fall. Linda followed with surprising determination. The hours passed and the climbers moved on to new sections of rock. Touché to a French fellow who almost achieved the 'Pile of Pancakes' in his first attempt. Unbelievable.
With a bite of local cuisine safe in our tummies we proceeded to the second climbing site: a massive rock lying right in front of the 'Chicken Island' (inside a national park). Perhaps it was the post-lunch laziness or maybe the deficit of adrenaline but the truth is that nobody stood up to face the new challenge. Alright, I'll give it a try- said chicken Iñaki playing the big boy. A kayak dropped me at the foot of a 6A, sandy-paper wall with tiny cutting edges. Driven by the excitement and the unawareness of what I was leaving below me (more and more meters of free fall) I worked my way up until I couldn't reach anything to hold on. So, I guess this is it, isn't it? - I shouted to the audience down on the boats. Then I received the confirmation and further instructions commanding me to turn around. Sh*t! how am I supposed to turn around, man? No answer to that. Extremely carefully I descended a couple of meters where the wall grew slightly concave. I turned 180º resting on my toes like a ballerina only to discover that the sea was 16 m below me. Legs shaking. F*ck me! And then the thrill, an electric rush traveling from my toes to the head. Time's up, off we go! Too short to scream, too long to go unnoticed. And then the crash. To my surprise I penetrated the sea quite smoothly. Finally the glory. Back on the surface my friends cheering up like crazy.
Another experience to remember, another item down from my list, God bless this diversion!
In my previous post I already introduced the epic climbs of Krabi. However what I did not mention is that Krabi is also a one-of-a-kind place in the world to engage in the Deep Water Soloing experience. DWS is a pretty fancy name for something that kids all over the world have been doing for ages: climbing up a rock to jump into the ocean. While this children's game is absolutely unacceptable (provided the potential risk involved), under controlled conditions it represents one of the most exciting climbing challenges ever imagined. Watch the movie!
Neither me nor my climbing buddies wanted to miss the chance and so we joined the professional crew of Mr. Wee Climbing School for a full day of sweat, adrenaline pumping and -needless to say- fun! Early in the morning a longtail boat picked us up at Rai Leh West on its way to the cliffs especially selected for the activity (ie safe). The 20 minutes ride ended by a gorgeous 80+ m limestone wall where one could spot what seemed (difficult to believe though) white stains of magnesium left by some climbers. The level of excitement pushed us into the water and onto the rock. A German guy started the show climbing up to a 15 m high stalactite from where he jumped off. The awkward position of the jumper refreshed old memories of a nasty fall while canyoning in the Pyrenees, thus I opened my personal account with a 8 m free fall. Linda followed with surprising determination. The hours passed and the climbers moved on to new sections of rock. Touché to a French fellow who almost achieved the 'Pile of Pancakes' in his first attempt. Unbelievable.With a bite of local cuisine safe in our tummies we proceeded to the second climbing site: a massive rock lying right in front of the 'Chicken Island' (inside a national park). Perhaps it was the post-lunch laziness or maybe the deficit of adrenaline but the truth is that nobody stood up to face the new challenge. Alright, I'll give it a try- said chicken Iñaki playing the big boy. A kayak dropped me at the foot of a 6A, sandy-paper wall with tiny cutting edges. Driven by the excitement and the unawareness of what I was leaving below me (more and more meters of free fall) I worked my way up until I couldn't reach anything to hold on. So, I guess this is it, isn't it? - I shouted to the audience down on the boats. Then I received the confirmation and further instructions commanding me to turn around. Sh*t! how am I supposed to turn around, man? No answer to that. Extremely carefully I descended a couple of meters where the wall grew slightly concave. I turned 180º resting on my toes like a ballerina only to discover that the sea was 16 m below me. Legs shaking. F*ck me! And then the thrill, an electric rush traveling from my toes to the head. Time's up, off we go! Too short to scream, too long to go unnoticed. And then the crash. To my surprise I penetrated the sea quite smoothly. Finally the glory. Back on the surface my friends cheering up like crazy.
Another experience to remember, another item down from my list, God bless this diversion!
| Chicken Iñaki | Way To Pancakes |
Dias atras subi una foto de un diminuto servidor adherido a una roca gigante con la unica ayuda de sus manos y pies (sin cuerda alguna). No di mas explicaciones deliberadamente. Locura? excentricidad? estupidez? Tal vez, pero esperar a leer la segunda parte de esta historia.
En mi anterior post ya explique las bondades de Krabi como meca de la escalada mundial. Lo que no comente entonces es que este pequeño itsmo ofrece ademas una oportunidad unica a nivel mundial para practicar la Escalada Libre en Aguas Profundas (en ingles, Open Water Soloing). Este es el nombre rimbonmante para algo que todos hemos hecho de niños, subirse a una roca para saltar al mar. Aunque dicho 'juego de niños' ha de ser desaprobado (dado el riego implicado), en circunstancias bajo control se convierte en una de las experiencias de escalada mas excitantes que uno pueda imaginar. Ver video!
Ninguno de los que estabamos en Rai Leh queriamos perdernos la oportunidad y tras esperar dos dias a que la mar acompañase por fin nos embarcamos camino de las rocas cuidadosamente seleccionadas para la actividad (por el equipo de profesionales de la escuela de escalada de Mr. Wee). Veinte minutos en barca que nos transportaron a una impresionante roca de mas de 80 metros donde se podian ver (aunque con dificultades para creerselo) manchas de magnesio dejadas por los escaladores. El nivel de excitacion nos propulso al agua de ahi a la roca. El primer valiente fue un aleman que se encaramo a una estalactita a 15 metros de altura antes de soltarse. La postura inverosimil del compañero trajo a mi mente viejos recuerdos de una caida un tanto 'desacertada' años atras en los cañones de Guara. Por ello decidi estrenarme con un salto de 8 m. Nada mal para abrir boca. Tras esto la tribu de treparocas se lanzaron a nuevos desafios, con mencion especial para un frances que casi culmino la 'Pila de Talos' en su primer intento. Increible.
Tras un picnic en una playa aledaña procedimos a la segunda escuela del dia. Seria la pereza tras la comida o el deficit de adrenalina pero el caso es que nadie se atrevia con la nueva pared. Entonces desperto el hombre que NO hay en mi. Venga va, a ver como respira! Y alli que me fui, o mejor dicho, me llevaron en kayak. Emprendi mi asalto a un 6A de piedra porosa con determinacion. Metro a metro ganaba altura impulsado por la adrenalina y por el desinteres sobre lo que dejaba tras de mi (mas metros de caida). Asi hasta que no encontre nada mas a lo que adherirme (y creerme que NO habia nada mas). Pues hasta aqui hemos 'llegao' grite a la audiencia que observaba desde las barcazas. Uno de los monitores insistio en que debia darme la vuelta antes de saltar. Como si eso fuera posible! Cual elefante pisando huevos (los mios no estaban bajo la suela de mis pies de gato precisamente) baje hasta una seccion ligeramente concava de la pared. Alli, cual bailarina de ballet rote sobre la punta de mis dedos de los pies para descubrir el panorama: 16 metros de vacio que acababan en el mar turquesa. El sudor de mis manos (posadas) sobre las rocas me hizo comprender que no habia otro camino. Con dos p*lotas! Shhhhhhhhhh plaaaasssh! Abro los ojos. Negro, verde y finalmente azul celeste. Aplausos y gritos de animo desde las barcas. Gracias una vez mas por esta fiesta en la que vivo!
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