Last night Pete Robins climbed the obvious sitting start to the Original Problem in the newly developed Barrel Cave.

The problem starts with a back hand hold for the right and an undercut for the left. A hard pull gains the base of the hanging groove and more powerful layback moves lead up to the sloping diagonal rail on the stand up.

A kneebar here provides some respite before a tricky and insecure section leading up past an alarmingly slopey pinch and shelf to a distant jug. Yet more tricky and powerful manoeuvres lead across the final roof to the top out.

At nearly 20 moves this quite a trip!

Pete stuck to his guns on the suggested grade of V8/7B, although others who have tried the line were more than a little sceptical!

The previous week Pete had managed a repeat of Chris Davies’ Stoned Temple Pilots. After sussing out a new heel hook sequence he reckoned the problem was worth hard V11/8A.

Relevant links:
      Original Problem and Stoned Temple Pilots