I've been worried about this trip for 17 years

[@kieran1289]

"I actually downgraded it to E8" Cracked me up

[@LoveAndClimbing]

Dave, part of the reason your channel is my favorite on KZbin is that you post stuff like this which feels more vulnerable and real than the stuff on a lot of other climbing channels. This is the first video I've seen of any professional climber where they looked scared--although I'm sure every professional has been scared on lead at some point. And the irony is, that's actually one of the primary things about climbing for me: it IS scary sometimes, and working through that fear has been one of the most valuable things about the sport in my life.

[@uthikoloshe]

Its like watching a surfing competition. Everyone's having fun in the water, except for Doubtful Dave who is zooming down a 30 foot wave despite not really knowing how to swim.

[@satanaz]

holey sheit, the breathing sounds over the mic makes this 10x more palm-sweating you always look composed and in control on your videos, but when we can hear a little bit of nervousness on your breath it makes the climb so much more relatable and exciting!

[@Molluscful]

Sounds like you had a classic head vs heart conundrum. Well done for making the right choice for yourself. Kev is an absolute legend too. Keep on keeping on.

[@lapoguslapogus7161]

"It's best to just not fall off". Dave nails it again, not just on the climb, but in the commentary.

[@Tom_W6]

Every one of your videos is either teaching me to climb better, motivating me to climb better, or both. Keep up the amazing content Dave, many thanks.

[@masasakano]

Good video with esoteric commentary! Well done, Dave! It is harrowing just to watch… I admire Kev, as always.

[@roywilson1411]

Great video and commentary Dave. Thanks also for showcasing our climbing here in Northern Ireland.

[@Finimabob]

Always amazed by how great your videos are. Peaceful, well filmed climbing and scenery with gorgeous voice overs imparting invaluable wisdom. Also, big ups to Kev for being an inspiring legend as per.

[@eclipsearchery9387]

Your bit at the end....absolutely spot on. That mentality applies to just about everything else as well as climbing :)

[@kevinkilroyclimbing5087]

That was brilliant Dave! Great to meet you, Gav and Kev and hopefully see you all back in the Mournes again soon.

[@Familylifestyleadventuregarden]

It is the margin for error both in the physical capability and mental risk assessment that is the essence of climbing. I loved how you explained this concept.

[@DizzyVizion]

Everytime I see Kev moving up the rock, my mind gets blown. And I've watched a fair few vids of him over the years. You guys are obviously cut from the same cloth 😉 Also, that place looks amazing. Beautiful!

[@kar0x]

Amazing video, i was scared for my ankles just seeing you on that lead aswell!

[@andrewcollins5316]

What a great video. This is becoming my favorite climbing channel!

[@shrill_2165]

beautiful video Dave, thanks for this one

[@westclimbzzz4995]

Really liked the ending. Very stoic, strong philosophy. Great video

[@danielfrean1199]

When he said “and the door quickly closed behind me”, I figured he’d change his mind and back off. Speaks to the difference between me and Dave I guess 😂

[@08Shade80]

I took it to mean that once he started moving he was quickly in a position that he could not reverse

[@leighdickinson8299]

What an amazing place, climb & group of people to climbing with Dave, that's a beautiful place, climb etc. Kevin seem to be an amazing limber, hopefully he'll make the right choice for him, but good luck & good climbing.

[@garryreed6410]

Awesome film as always Dave

[@aznaczya]

I just love your videos man. Can't come across anything comparable.

[@codyleehanson]

Absolutely loved the ending. It takes a lot of day to day effort to train to break your limit, not just one day of trying good effort.

[@danjamin6638]

that crux looked so sketchy, with the hotmic, I could feel that tension, great video

[@robertcreer8826]

really enjoyed that, inspiring as ever

[@geoffswyka1143]

The Kev content the people want!

[@Kvathe]

This was an excellent video. Thanks Dave.

[@bazwax77]

Thanks Dave …..another great upload. 🔥👏🏻💪🏻🧗🏻‍♂️

[@charliexoxox]

wow amazing scenes. thanks for call me (and everyone) out at the end there, wise words ☺️

[@rachelwojcik1758]

Loved this! Inspiring words 🙌

[@lewiskirton1]

Amazing stuff Dave 👏 Love the realness too

[@briansparks1632]

Love your philosophy Dave!

[@goloher]

What a beautiful piece of rock! And quite intimidating. Great video, amazing climbing)

[@betwixt3193]

Dave, I'm glad for Kev's sake that you didn't downgrade his dream E8 to E6!

[@devkkev9066]

Wow! Such beautiful rock as well as climbing.. u do it with so much well thought intention yet so explosiv and elegant if that makes sense.. hope to one day meet u on a climb or somewhere else, would be an absolute honour for me! Pls keep up the great work u do and stay safe. Big love & greetings from austria, europe!

[@brunomarques309]

How come my local crags aren't that f***ing breathtakingly beautiful... :(

[@Mindwave416]

you're a literal legend! nice climbing story

[@mathias5618]

Amazing rock and crew!

[@samuelchee526]

How good/bad is that gear right before the rock over near the top? 😅

[@benmachair6361]

What a fantastic place!

[@tundra3038]

Just phenomenal!

[@jaredanwyl3686]

Do you guys ever climb with hand warmers in chalk bags? I have a cold day coming up and wondering if the constant heating and cooling of fingers would actually make it worse or better? 5.5C

[@stephenmcdonald7385]

Just such good content always.

[@FraserCorrie]

The rock looks incredible! Is there much highball/bouldering development potential?

[@climbermacleod]

Most of the routes are highball/higher than highball.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

​@@climbermacleodSkyball!

[@gustau4764]

Too big for highball. Smashballs more like.

[@zakmorgan9320]

This video gives me hairy biker/TV travel documentary level production values and it's fantastic

[@spspaceboy]

What's the black rope doing? Holding the gear in place so it doesn't get pulled out?

[@ZapeZeam]

Seems like it was a skyhook which was pulled down with a static rope so it would have a slight chance of staying in case of a fall. Just guessing here

[@climbermacleod]

Exactly. It tensions a skyhook runner so it has less chance of falling off.

[@florianneumann9441]

Just finished your book - liked it a ton… if you need some ‚melkfett‘ (you know - the stuff that protects the cows at their milkers ^^) that stuff is sold at any tooling store in the countryside… not that I knew - but the friends who looked at me funny when I asked them what this could be knew (they own a few cows ^^)

[@niallschiefler8636]

Is that a sky hook being pulled down on by the second belayer?

[@plfodder]

What's the third (black) rope about?

[@villeelliv]

What was the black rope for He places at around 8:00?

[@climbermacleod]

To tension a skyhook runner

[@larryseibold4287]

@@climbermacleod no kidding. i didnt see that you had placed a sky hook. No wonder you were a bit nervous. Dave, I really liked your ending section of the video (even more than the rest).

[@benwolpert]

Can i ask for clarification? Did he say at the end that its an illusion that anyone can make great climbing achievements? Or did he say that not anyone can? That only a small number of people can. It sounds like he is saying that anyone can do it, but it is a hard path that few people choose to do. But in theory, anyone could do it. But i dont believe thats what he said in that last sentence.

[@Kiltoonie]

Oh boy: I could feel what my German friends call 'The sewing machine' on that crux.. and it is not a good vibe. When you start to lose control of it, and involuntary reflexes start to take control.

[@jonnyboyd4583]

What route is Gavin McColl climbing 3.00 ?

[@eprohoda]

Dave~ incredible . see ya- 💥

[@paulmitchell5349]

Kev is a dangerous bloke to know.

[@hj40]

the wisdom wizard strikes again

[@sherif53790]

awesome rock. looks very similar to rock we have in sinai egypt

[@erin-rt6vn]

what rock is this?

[@themeatpopsicle]

I love those days when I can just grow skin and drink tea

[@MrMatrixMinds]

That was gripping just to watch

[@winedineclimb]

Hi Dave, what would be the french grade for the pure difficulty of the climb?

[@alexgalays910]

as a pure boulderer, what does it mean that the route is very exposed? what makes it so? are the gear spots of poor quality and spaced a lot?

[@climbermacleod]

The only real runner is at the top of the easy first slab, so if you fall from the crux you drop 10m or so onto the slab and break yourself.

[@CJski]

Usually when climbers (in the states) say “exposed”, they mean there’s not much in your field of view around you or below you other than open space. Like if you move from a corner to an arete, suddenly you can see much farther in every direction which causes the sensation of being “exposed”.

[@selim5072]

Come visit Turkey Dave!!! You have a place to stay

[@noiseforthealgorithm4668]

Loved this. Consider putting some subtitles as those accents are thick !

[@jplindstrom]

Hah, that's gonna be a Type 2.5 Fun climb if it takes a whole day to appreciate it! 😄

[@benbonnell]

Sweet Jesus on a trampoline! That’s a climb

[@elliottbraunstein7560]

Imagine how many orthopaedic surgeons would go out of business if you lot put a few bolts in now and again 😂 Massive respect though- brilliant and inspiring as always Dave.

[@climbermacleod]

My first two ankle surgeries were after a fall on a bolted 6b (lowered off the rope end).

[@elliottbraunstein7560]

@@climbermacleod haha fair enough. It certainly seems like your approach to risk management changes the climb/ climber relationship significantly. I can imagine how special topping a route like this must feel given the multitude of decisions that are made or not made compared with a sport route of the same difficulty. Thanks again Dave (and Kev as well obviously) for the great work

[@climbermacleod]

@@elliottbraunstein7560 No, but I didn't choose a life as a pro rock climber for a stress free life. Stress is the core of adventure.

[@gustau4764]

False advertising. The Mournes are never that sunny!

[@gba.87]

"I actually downgraded that route to E8"

[@UNVIRUSLETALE]

I'll never understand those routes with only a couple bolts where if you fall the very least you get is a broken ankle, congrats for making through it tho

[@garymitchell5899]

Ah ok. Clickbait. Who would have thought it.

[@joannabryant778]

'Promo sm' 🤪

[@nateblakely4674]

I don't think I'll ever understand some UK climbing ethics, like I appreciate the mental battle and the headpoint style to a certain extent, but the reality is keeping routes like this one dangerous just means many people will never do them and enjoy the movement. It's just not how I view climbing, like sections unprotectable by gear should have a bolt and then it would be so much more accessible? Coming from the US this type of thing just doesn't make sense

[@christyboothroyd5891]

The movement can be enjoyed for it's own sake by anyone on top rope. The real question should be, if a toprope can be safely set up and utilised, why is 'leading' a line that has been bolted viewed as more valuable than top roping? The essence of leading, it's history and tradition, is the very antithesis of climbing a bolted line - it's about pitting your witts and climbing skill and knowledge against what the rock naturally offers you. If there is not enough protection and the moves are too hard, back off, accept the humbling and leave the line to someone more skilled/until you are more skilled. Forcing protection on the rock in the form of bolts just so that it can be safely 'led' is a complete perversion of this essence of leading, and should be seen as no more valuable than simply enjoying the movement on top rope.

[@Kvathe]

Adding a bolt would destroy this route. Dave does a great job of explaining the mental and physical preparation that go into tackling a route like this; aspects which would be completely lost if bolts were added. There's more to climbing than just the physical, and not everybody has to do every climb. There's a lot of rock out there.

[@seanmaguire9950]

Well don't climb the route then, there are plenty of other climbs in the world that are nicely bolted. If someone bolted it how more people would climb this, not many considering how hard it is to get to.

[@nateblakely4674]

@@christyboothroyd5891 I mean it's not like I don't understand what you are saying, but you are just reiterating the same points I've heard a millions times from UK climbers. Your grades don't make sense and the style is contrived. What they are preparing for here is a solo not a lead, free climbing should not involve the risk of broken bones. And I don't agree with any first ascensionist that puts up a route like that. It's ego driven, and it should be a part of the sport that goes away. A first ascensionist with less ego and a different vision could have put up a route that's protected better and it would be a classic. (and wouldnt burden rescue crews if someone fell off) Adding a bolt would not destroy the route it would make it climbable by more people. Climbing to some extent has to reckon with it's history of machismo and ego driven dangerous FA's. In the long run it's not positive for the sport to have dangerous routes that go un repeated. New routes should be gifts to the community that will be repeated often and not hurt anyone in the process.

[@08Shade80]

@@nateblakely4674 Why should we all be entitled to have all pieces of rock accessible? And what makes you think someone wanting to push their mental limit is ego driven? If this climb was in some highly trafficked well-bolted sport area then maybe you'd have an argument that made sense. The only thing that seems egotistical is you thinking that all rock in the world should be bolted to a standard that YOU are comfortable climbing.

[@MultiMaled]

I swear it i love u