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philbox
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Jul 3, 2002, 6:53 AM
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What do you think of this belay then eh.
Lazy thing isn`t he, sitting back there like lord muck. Pic is of Cameron Fairbairn belaying me up the fourth A2+ pitch on Escension Mt. Warning, Northern New South Wales.
You`ll notice the luxuriant tropical rainforest in the background. This forest obscures the view of the cliff until you burst forth from the jungle right at the foot of the cliff.
Cam is lounging around in a spear lilly, what the pic doesn`t show is a huge widow maker block which will let go someday and slide right across where Cam is belaying from. The pitch goes across some slab and then launches up into thin overhung territory before arriving at another short slab where the next belay is situated.
...Phil...
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krustyklimber
Jul 3, 2002, 8:04 PM
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Registered: Jan 25, 2002
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I think that bush is way friendlier than it's looks or name implies...
That's what I think!
Cool pic!
Jeff
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woodse
Jul 3, 2002, 8:18 PM
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Gotta love one-handed belays!!!
Are you sure he's not asleep !!!!!!
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elvislegs
Jul 3, 2002, 8:21 PM
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I'm with Krusty, looks sort of uncomfortable.
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punk
Jul 3, 2002, 8:54 PM
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Registered: May 28, 2002
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UAHHHH….I love stretching on top of Aloevera plants too can you throw some cactus plants on me just to cushioning my belay
At least it looks like that…
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indigo_nite
Jul 3, 2002, 8:54 PM
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At first glance, I thought the belayer had fallen into a cactus. So I thought maybe the thread title was meant to be ironic.
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philbox
Moderator
Jul 3, 2002, 9:08 PM
Post #7 of 12
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Nah, these plants are very user friendly. Smatter of fact they make great aid points as they are immensely strong. Three of the leaves are enough to be able to haul yer butt up anything. They inhabit the cliffs around these here parts so I guess they hafta be really tough to survive.
The spear the name refers to is the huge flower stalk which grows out of the centre and droops over in a graceful arc. The stalk can be fully twelve feet long with masses of deep red flowers. The leaves do not have any sharp edges on them at all thus making for a verrrry comfortable belay sofa. I think it is on about the 6th pitch one has to actually swim through one of these specimens, it looks quite funny actually as it`s just past a burly roof and then some face campussing, the crack behind is worth the swim. On the first ascent I had to sling the lilly to as an aid point, kinda interesting eh.
...Phil...
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katywhitman
Jul 3, 2002, 9:12 PM
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That is certainly one interesting belay.
The only thing is it looks like it was very traumatizing for the plant. Please be nice to nature and do not beat her up.
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philbox
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Jul 3, 2002, 9:18 PM
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Oh dear, Katy, Katy, Katy. I know what you`re saying about us laying all over that plant but you hafta understand that these plants are one tough species, they live directly in harms way i/e much rockfall occurs bashing these things continually. Indeed they actually thrive in these hostile conditions. So a couple of soft bodies lounging around in their smooth fronds is not going to affect the balance of nature one iota.
...Phil...
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doosh
Jul 3, 2002, 9:22 PM
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Registered: May 29, 2002
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I would like to see one of them Oregon treehuggers come to Texas and hug a mesquite...
"Don't beat up nature" ???
Obviously there are no rattlesnakes or brown recluse spiders where you are from, darlin'.
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katywhitman
Jul 5, 2002, 9:35 PM
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actually there are, plus black widows. All being more good reasons not to sit in bushes.
[ This Message was edited by: katywhitman on 2002-07-05 14:58 ]
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snapier
Jul 10, 2002, 5:36 AM
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Registered: Jun 16, 2002
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I read somewhere that no one has died of a spider bite in the last 20 years in the United States...i dunno if i belive that though...
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