Jim Pope makes long-awaited second ascent of 'Grandad's Slab' at Burbage South

Jim Pope is continuing his gritstone rampage. After making the third ascent of Dynamics of Change at the start of May, and then establishing the stunningly sculpted boulder Cloud Gate at Cratcliffe Tor, the 26-year-old has now returned to the same section of rock at Burbage to make the long-awaited second ascent of Grandad's Slab. Just like Dynamics of Change, Grandad's Slab was first ascended in 2008 by Pete Whittaker who, 18-years-young at the time, managed to add this tenuous direct finish to Braille Trail, put up by gritstone master Johnny Dawes in 1984.

Since Whittaker's ascent the route has become harder due to some crucial pebbles breaking. Pope worked the line on toprope first before his headpoint ascent. It's worth remembering Grandad's Slab peculiar history: prior to Whitakker's first ascent, Johnny Dawes had previously climbed the line on top rope but never returned for the lead. Dawes' ascent was all the more remarkable as he climbed it, at British 7a, with his right hand only!

Originaklly graded E7, Pope believes that without the crucial pebble the route weighs in at E8 6c. Writing about yesterday's ascent on his Instagram handle, Pope explained "Got the second ascent of Pete Whittaker's route at Burbage South this morning, 17 years after the first!

Like a lot of grit routes it became ‘harder after loss of crucial pebble’ but I managed to find a new way, with a pretty spicy move where all points of contact are on pebbles!

Personally it felt quite a bit tougher than ‘Appointment with Death’ and its neighbour ‘Braille trail’ but maybe a bit safer, although the gear isn’t idea"

 

 

 

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