firn
May 6, 2004, 9:14 PM
Post #1 of 1
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Registered: Jul 15, 2003
Posts: 37
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First of all one needs to figure out how to communicate the destination with the longtail boat driver. This is tough when neither speaks the others language. The climbing time needs to be coordinated with local tides, and when the climb will come into the shade. Climbing in the shade is absolutely critical.
"Monkey head! We go to climb at Monkey head! Climbing!" (mimic some climbing gestures)
Since the start of the climb starts RIGHT from the water, make sure you time the waves and the drift of the boat before you hop off and climb the first few meters to the belay ledge. Wet feet reduces style points. Once both parties are established on the ledge, unload the watermelon from the pack and proceed to rehydrate - its more than forty degrees out, so fluid level maintenace is key.
Try to make sure that your boat driver doesn't forget about you. Pay him half and he will surely be back to pick you up at sundown.
Climb 5 pitches of totally beautiful Thai limestone. Stalactites, stalagmites, tufas, columns, and even a shroud, all the goodness that one comes to love from Thai stone. All of it directly above the sea.
At the top, take another fruit break. Mangostein, pomello, and durian are highly recommend. Now start the rapelling, but be careful, as the climbing is so overhanging that it can be extremely difficult to get back into the wall to reach the next rappel station. Finally, if your boat driver has shown up, rappel directly into the boat, and you are done!
Just another day in paradise...
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