Urban Adventure

Stepping Lightly climbed first and he just climbs so fast that its hard to keep up with the belaying, he set up an additional safety net, a quick draw through an eyelet on the top of the wing, should I wish to go for the head. He lowered off and it was my turn.

I was nervous and excited. There was a guy at the bus-stop who had seen us. But he seemed drunk and unlikely to call the police. I started up the front.

One great thing about this is that you need to climb it with your arms outstretched and hold onto the fins of metal, simulatiously you need to do somekind of internal reverse bridge against the same fins to balance. It feels at the start like you are twisting your knee unnaturally and then putting pressure on it.

The metal was cold in my hands. I was getting focused. I got to the first ledge and got my heal up onto it, way above my head. A pull up layback move with my hands and a huge dynamic rock over and I was standing on the ledge. Phew. Rest - shake my arms out. That was a really insane move to pull. I was pumped already and only a third of the way. Above me the Angel bulged. It was getting steeper, I could see one move was overhanging.

Climbing on the body, I knew if I fell off I’d swing out and under the wing into midair. It was safe, but not a pleasant prospect. I had better not fall off. I was SO FOCUSED. I wanted this so much. I reminded myself this was my dream.

I set off again. Up the next section. The fins were getting closer together here so a different move was needed. Same with the hands, but this time you almost grip the central fin with your knees and splay your legs outwards to press against the inside of the fins, and walk up.

Next ledge, same move. This time I was able to shuffle up and rest half way through it, by resting my elbow on the ledge. Deep breathing. Move complete.

I traversed along the ledge leftwards to get to the wing.

I completed the rest of the climb up the corner between the wing and the body. I back and footed most of it. This was my first opportunity to see the view. The roads snake away in all directions. Its phenomenal!

Then the shoulder came in sight, beautiful. Its such a beautiful structure. I could almost feel the muscle tone in Mr Angels deltoid. I was up.

I said hello.

The head is twice my height. He is amazing.

I looked out accross the wing: Standing on the wing, sitting on the wing. Its calm and it feels right. The wing feels as if it was made to be sat on, its like horse’s back, it has that kind of curve to it!

The guy at the bustop whooped and whistled and jumped up and down.

I decided against climbing the head. I was so pumped and didn’t want to take a lead fall on this thing. Stepping Lightly had told me he thought the head was about British 6c - way above my technical grade.

I lowered off. Stepping lightly made another ascent, at lightning speed and claimed the head. He is a joy to watch.

Thank-you to Stepping Lightly who made this dream possible for me - he is “Jim’ll Fix it for you”

Thank-you to Sine Cura for recording these photos and allowing me to display them here on my website.

Thank-you Anthony Gormley whose sculpture is one of the best in the world, and whose art I admire
http://www.antonygormley.com/newsite/index.html

Thank-you to Mr Angel himself, who was so magnificent to ascend.

(more information about the Statue at http://www.antonygormley.com/newsite…hp?projectid=5)