Johnny Dawes walks up The Devil's Slide on Lundy

The tiny island of Lundy in the middle of the Bristol Channel is home to some of Britain’s premier trad climbing and hosts, on its rugged and windswept west coast, one of most famous and sought-after easy trad climbs of all: The Devil's Slide. First ascended in 1961 by Keith M. Lawder and Jimmy Logan, this stunning sweep of pink granite holds a special place in the heart of British trad climbers and on 1 September it was climbed without hands by an absolutely undisputed slab master, Johnny Dawes.

During the 1980’s and ’90’s Dawes was one of the UK's most brilliant and influential rock climbers, so much so that repeats of his routes make headline news even today. Of late Dawes has been specialising in no hands climbing and although at first glance it might not look like it, this recent ascent is impressive to say the least. While it’s obviously ungradable, two things are worth noting. Firstly the huge runout Dawes makes with absolute nonchalance. And secondly the climbing shoes he's wearing; original EB's, developed by legendary French climber Pierre Allan and all the rage during the '70's and '80's…



Link FB Johnny Dawes, FB David Linnett