(click image for video)
The Maiden has many facets to her character. The first being, the back of her neck and head look like a cobra, 200ft tall and ready to strike. This is the immediate view once reaching the first accent of five-pitch trad climb. It’s intimidating and enough to scare the novice away.
The second pitch is a narrow traverse with huge exposure. It was 90 degrees and swallows were dive bombing at what seemed like 50mph. Second good reason to wear a helmet.
What makes The Maiden a unique climb is the diverse pitches. It isn’t the usual climb “upwards” rock climb. Half the route is sideways and one pitch is down, around, and back up the other side. (all with hundreds of feet of empty exposed air below).
And best of all is the hundred foot dangling reppel to get back down:
Music by: Massive Attack
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Walking on solid ground has new meaning