Defeat at the Oval – again (3 scans)
(See additional comment at end.)
It was somewhat more messy than Barry describes. We were sure we had the short length of rope the guide advises but couldn’t find it and in truth it was a regular shambles and one was grateful there wasn’t another party waiting to attempt the climb.
There was some doubt whether Barry had tied himself to the right chockstone. None of this made for either an amicable or cooperative approach.
We did thrash about in the crack but without any real determination to make significant progress. Absolutely none was made.
I don’t remember separately retiring to the the Oval but that we both roped off from the bottom of the crack, leaving a length of rope behind.