After a morning ascent of In Hell V12/8a+, Gaz Parry drove over to the Pass for a look at the Barrel (he’d never been there before). There was a nice breeze blowing across the crag and conditions were very good. Gaz made a casual flash of The Barrel Traverse, even adopting the original, and harder eliminate finish which avoids the undercut. This was followed by an equally cool flash of the very fingery Barrel Groove V8+/7b+.

He then flashed the first ascent of a link of Hot for Teacher into Slimfast (i.e. traverse back right along the slopey lip all the way) to finish on the right side of the boulder. Gaz’s Bigger Problem rates about V8/+/7b/+. It is worth mentioning that Hot for Teacher has become slightly easier (i.e. V7/7a+ish) as somebody has unearthed a new foothold on the left.

Relevant links:
      Slimfast news item
      A Fat Start news item
      Extended start for Hot for Teacher news item