Ascents in Eastern Gritstone as Retreat

The topout was wet, fell off while getting rained on...oh well gotta get better at the steep stuff!

Had to downclimb & retreat as forgot my small nuts

Didn't fancy the traverse!

got higher and higher into the crux but just couldnt commit to matching on the arete on those terrible smears. too high, too slopey a landing for me. first shutdown of the trip, but not the last

jon the cowboy cave decided to make this his first every trad lead after seconding some e1's without difficulty. set up an anchor for him at the top, and off he went. He immediately got into groundfall territory by doing a massive run out above his first peice until I told him to place something. Then I told him to back it up cause if it pops he is dead. Then he set off again, climbed past another placement opportunity on a big run out into the roof. I suggested he might want to place another piece, but he was too pumped to place anything and couldn't reverse the move into the roof he had just done. So he took his first Trad whip. Thankfully the pieces held fine. But he had left a cam half way up the roof so we had some fun getting it out. Then he bailed onto an easier route out right. What a ride. He had a good time though. so we did what i imagine is a fairly popular variation; the start of quietus into Norse corner climb.

Felt like more than 5+ but could be due to the reachy start, felt like I had to pull up on some bad crimps to rearrange my feet. Would be easier with more height?

The problem ate some of my jacket. I was unable to avenge the loss.

Bailed off near the top, because it got a little too high for my liking. I think it would have been ok, but scary!

Couldn't work out how to get off the ground and onto the verandah (the crux, apparently!)

Unwilling/unable to get the high foot on. The crimps did not feel as sticky as I would have liked.

Accidentally landed on Roo's face... sorry! Fortunately I didn't break his nose!

Urgh, the start is so hard! I feel like if I could just get onto the third handhold it would be in the bag (or mostly just a mental game with the height).

The top was rather dirty, didn't fancy it.

Backed off, wasn't willing to commit to the top move.

Another time, I think.

First climb of the day. Traversed off the side to retreat and then climbed the first moves again to retrieve the gear... wasn't ready to commit to some of the moves.

Insufficient large gear to climb. Down climbed.