Well, fuck. It was about time I guess.
We cruised past the other night, after been disappointed by the rather large and vicious dog waiting at the Pantheon.
We'd not expected anything. I had a few ideas of how to climb it, so clambered into my harness and started bouldering the bottom. After 10 minutes of seeing just how poor the rock was, it seemed this 900 year old behemoth would continue to defeat us.
My friends weren't enthused, and were on the point of leaving when we spotted a possible path. Bouncing off one wall, an alcove, a door, a gutter, under a gargoyle, over a ledge, we were off the ground floor. From there, everything fell into place. Over the balustrade: level up. Bouldering a stained glass window (carefully) - level up. Avoid the electric fence for the pigeons (explorers..?) - almost check.
Mounting another level, and one of the trademark flying buttresses, we were up onto the third level roof - and rewarded with a view like nothing else - but the top roof would evade us for another night.
Returning solo the next night, and determined to get up, after the better part of spending 2 hours suspended on a rope in the parisian spring sky, I managed to secure access onto the highest roof.
Returning w. my compatriots last night, well, the proof is in the pudding..
Will try to post some of the 'work in progress' shots as I get them.
First Night:
Returning night:
Bonus points, seems when I got home at 7AM in the morning, no skin left on my hands, exhausted, shaken, bleeding knuckles and bruises cut into my legs from hanging on a harness for too long, I sent an email to a friend:
Last night...
Points for seeing the person in the next photo...
Apologies to work, you know who you are. I promise I'm done for now, I'll work hard and be good, honest.
We cruised past the other night, after been disappointed by the rather large and vicious dog waiting at the Pantheon.
We'd not expected anything. I had a few ideas of how to climb it, so clambered into my harness and started bouldering the bottom. After 10 minutes of seeing just how poor the rock was, it seemed this 900 year old behemoth would continue to defeat us.
My friends weren't enthused, and were on the point of leaving when we spotted a possible path. Bouncing off one wall, an alcove, a door, a gutter, under a gargoyle, over a ledge, we were off the ground floor. From there, everything fell into place. Over the balustrade: level up. Bouldering a stained glass window (carefully) - level up. Avoid the electric fence for the pigeons (explorers..?) - almost check.
Mounting another level, and one of the trademark flying buttresses, we were up onto the third level roof - and rewarded with a view like nothing else - but the top roof would evade us for another night.
Returning solo the next night, and determined to get up, after the better part of spending 2 hours suspended on a rope in the parisian spring sky, I managed to secure access onto the highest roof.
Returning w. my compatriots last night, well, the proof is in the pudding..
Will try to post some of the 'work in progress' shots as I get them.
First Night:
Returning night:
Bonus points, seems when I got home at 7AM in the morning, no skin left on my hands, exhausted, shaken, bleeding knuckles and bruises cut into my legs from hanging on a harness for too long, I sent an email to a friend:
Subject: Not Dead
Internet in hell rocks. Best part is that youtube comments are blocked.
Went fine, couldn't open door, had to climb up the fucking drain-pipe, self-belaying and quickdrawing, as best I could, all the way up.
Top was interesting, strapped myself on, threw the tail of my rope a few times til I got it through the balustrade, changed to asc. gear and got myself up and over the edge.
Basically, everything is locked hard - the only way of getting up is via here.
Getting down was interesting: The rope was anchored on the top anchor of the pipe, and also on the ground - there really wasn't much slack at all - and def. not enough to double over.
As I running really, really low on gear, I thought I'd have to cut the rope, cos I couldn't reach the pipe anchor, but i left my knife on ground floor, so eventually managed to make one sling anchor over the balustrade, then descend the rope a little, clip back onto the top of the pipe, switch gear, and get the rope back and hitched to the anchor I made.
Long and the short of it was: I decided to leave the two anchors/slings and the rope: the climb up is a cunt, the slings are solid, thinking we should all go back tonight and take advantage of it (and 100m of rope) - do the rooftop, get the gear back.
It should still be there, I tucked as much of it behind the piping as I possibly could. If not, neat, someone got the gear for us, and I'll lead climb the fucking pipe again.
Photos were ok, lot out of focus etc, very rushed, and I was fatigued..
Chat today I guess
Internet in hell rocks. Best part is that youtube comments are blocked.
Went fine, couldn't open door, had to climb up the fucking drain-pipe, self-belaying and quickdrawing, as best I could, all the way up.
Top was interesting, strapped myself on, threw the tail of my rope a few times til I got it through the balustrade, changed to asc. gear and got myself up and over the edge.
Basically, everything is locked hard - the only way of getting up is via here.
Getting down was interesting: The rope was anchored on the top anchor of the pipe, and also on the ground - there really wasn't much slack at all - and def. not enough to double over.
As I running really, really low on gear, I thought I'd have to cut the rope, cos I couldn't reach the pipe anchor, but i left my knife on ground floor, so eventually managed to make one sling anchor over the balustrade, then descend the rope a little, clip back onto the top of the pipe, switch gear, and get the rope back and hitched to the anchor I made.
Long and the short of it was: I decided to leave the two anchors/slings and the rope: the climb up is a cunt, the slings are solid, thinking we should all go back tonight and take advantage of it (and 100m of rope) - do the rooftop, get the gear back.
It should still be there, I tucked as much of it behind the piping as I possibly could. If not, neat, someone got the gear for us, and I'll lead climb the fucking pipe again.
Photos were ok, lot out of focus etc, very rushed, and I was fatigued..
Chat today I guess
Last night...
Points for seeing the person in the next photo...
Apologies to work, you know who you are. I promise I'm done for now, I'll work hard and be good, honest.
My kick is sharing the stories.
Yiou can shoot some nice kaleidoscope pics though
BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year
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