It would be an impressive feat to tick all 676 routes in the North Wales Rock list, however, if you consider that a number of intrepid route machines are probably well on the way already, it is perhaps not a case of: “Will it be done?”, rather: “Who will get there first?”

Such a challenge needs to have some basic rules:

1. All single pitch routes must be lead without falls.

2. Alternate leads are acceptable on multi-pitch climbs, but fall free ascents are required whichever end of the rope you are tied to.

3. Everybody is allowed to play a Joker card and pass on a single bogey route that they keep failing on.

4. Only routes given full written descriptions are in the list, i.e. you don’t have to do Indian Face just because it’s drawn on the East Buttress topo!

5. The judge’s decision is final (i.e. if your witnesses don’t stand up to closer scrutiny, you’ll be denied the glory, named and shamed and tarred and feathered etc).

The first person to complete the North Wales Rock Challenge before the next revision of the book will receive a prize: Ground Up will sponsor a bar tab for one night in the Vaynol Arms in Nant Peris, for both the plucky leader, and whichever patient belayer they owe the most favours to. And that’s a promise!

Relevant links:
      The Vaynol Arms
      
      

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