40 characters? yeesh. it's my mate, first time playing on castle hill's lovely smears, and he's sh**ing himself. pretty much it really.

...and experiencing the typical Castle Hill "no edges for your feet". At least there is a good crack for him to hang on to. Photo by Robo555

We are doing our best to corrupt him into a crack climber. Slip and slide, and try his best not to jam, we will eventually succeed. Photo by socialclimber

Graded at 18 (5.10a), but the lichen and very thin gear at the top make this seem a bit harder. Great route anyway, especially considering it is one of the better ones around. Photo by socialclimber

Unfortunately, the flake that makes up the left side of Phil McKrakin just keeps getting thinner and thinner the higher you go. The jams are solid, the feet thin, and there is a high bolt, so it is all good! Photo by socialclimber

Phil McKrakin is a pretty typical limestone crack. Irregular enough for cams to be bit questionable, but not enough for wires to be solid. Small tricams to the rescue! Photo by socialclimber

The top section of Phil McKrakin is just a series of solid finger locks, one after the other. Unfortunately, the feet and gear are rediculously thin, which would probably explain the bolt. Photo by socialclimber

This a picture of myself on the really fun dyno "Rocket Pants" in Quantum field

This is a picture of myself on the crux dead point of "Insertion" at Castle Hill, and I am trying with all my might to hold on, and yes i did hold it.

Social Climber on a sweet pocket problem soo nice here- thanks for showing me around :)

This was an awesome problem I stumbled across in my short time at Castle Hill - 1/2 day.

Quantum field boulders, Castle Hill, NZ. The problem starts with a jump to the ledge and then a mantle over the top. Photographer: Trevor Elste.

Reaching mantle on Massacre a V4 problem

Me on a V1 crack, with random guy Graham, and tough guy Rich looking on. Photo by other Rich.

Castle hill has many slopey mantles, this is one of the 3 star classics! Growler V6 is hard and awesome.

This photo was taken on my first trip to Castle Hill Basin. We drove out from Christ Church to check the area out and weren't really expecting to climb. It's the most beautiful bouldering I've ever seen in the world. These boulderfields go on for miles. No idea what route this is or even what part of the castle hill basin it's in.

Seth finishing this v2 Gary killed first. Gary is cool. So is Seth. I wish I was in New Zealand again bouldering with them.

This is Gary. His rc.com name is socialclimber. He is rad and let me tag along on a sweet day of bouldering. He is doing a diagonal dyno on this problem. Right after he caught the pocket he swung into a horizontal position and promptly landed on his side, next to the crash pad. Good thing the landings are all grass. I didn't land on my side, but i did tear a huge hole in my finger on the pocket he is going for. This problem rules.

Tony on unknown boulder in Castle Hill, photo taken by Jimmy.

It was cold and muddy at Castle Hill this day. Shortly after I took this picture it began to snow and I drove to an unusually sunny and warm west coast.

Seth smearin' n stemmin' like a son of a bitch to no avail on the V4 Black Cauldron. Burly problem.

This is Derek Thatcher doing his best to be a bird... if he keeps taking falls like that he might start to grow some wings in a near futur... did Darwin think about that when he came out with the evolution theorie???... "the juggernaut" v9. Quantum field, Castle Hill basin. © Laurent de Senarclens

Josh (temporary-wintertime) on the Quantum CLassic Lung Dyno, Castle Hill NZ

Steve stickin' it on Good Girls Spit. For a route of its rating, it has some pretty sketchy moves involving nothing but smearing. Photo by Stu, I'm belaying.

Stu leading a beautiful route in a beautiful setting. Even though the face to the right is pretty blank, there are plenty of jugs around the arete to the left. Even though Girls May Just Wanna Have Fun, guys can have fun on this route too.