On sight by Alastair Lee

Alastair Lee's most recent offering On Sight is a careful analysis of the current state of on sighting on UK trad routes. As most British know, this unpredictable, exciting and at times dangerous activity is much more than just a game, it is a way of life, a raison d'être for many a climber, regardless of the grade they aspire to. And seeing that the vast majority of British climbers actually climb on sight (as opposed to headpointing, redpointing and all other nuances), it comes as no surprise that Lee decided to pay homage to this important an, in recent times, underrated form of ascent.

After much research Lee chose to do so by documenting the successes (and nigh successes) of a select few, those who are currently pushing the limits, although to the uninitiated the names of these climbers are of secondary importance. What counts is their approach, their belief, their commitment and enjoyment. And it is exactly this which Lee set out to capture and document so painstakingly.

The result, in short, is comparable to slow food. Which means that (unlike fast food) it is something authentic, something which stems from an intricate and balanced blend of ingredients. Something which has takes time to prepare and was created by expert hands. Hence the climbers' reverence to tradition, their respect of past achievements. Something which may be an acquired taste (continental climbers without historical background knowledge may perceive this as being all rather British). In short though, something immensely precious, something to be honoured and savoured. Something, in other words, which withstands the flavours, fashions and the test of time.

At the end of the day (and DVD) what is striking is both the level of commitment demonstrated now and the level achieved back then when these climbs were actually first ascended by the likes of John Redhead and Ron Fawcett, to name but a few. The footage of Neil Dickson edging up The Hollow Man, 20 years after the historic first ascent, and of Pete Robins on Masters Edge is simply outstanding, while Ricky Bell's first ascent at Fairhead in Northern Ireland, although by far not the hardest on the E scale, stands out and needs no superlatives. The length young Bell goes to to achieve his risky aim is immense and his commitment is truly inspiring. This, and Leo Houlding's genuine delight at just missing out on Balance it is E7 at Burbage South, will get you giving your best next time you're on an on sight, no matter what grade you're on..


On sight by Alastair Lee


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