Deep Water Soloing, Cat Ba
Posted by ANTTI LOUHI | | Posted On perjantai 22. huhtikuuta 2011
The island of Cat Ba is the only inhabited island in Halong Bay and is surrounded by thousands of karst cliffs very similar to Yangshuo. The only difference is that the rice fields and farmers are replaced by sea and fishermen. These limestone towers rise from the waters of Gulf of Tonkin and are accessible only by boat. As most of the climbs in Yangshuo are bolted sport routes, Halong Bay offers some variety for climbers. In addition to sport climbing, Halong Bay is filled with lot's of great deep water soloing. DWS is about climbing routes that are started from a boat and when the route is finished or you fall off, you'll find yourself flying down and trying to hit the water without hurting yourself too much. The scary thing is that most of the routes are close to 17m or higher.
Our journey to Cat Ba was quite pleasant and it took only five hours to travel from Hanoi to Haiphong and further on to Cat Ba. Soon after leaving the port in Haiphong, we found out that the ferry was more like a speed boat after a huge wave hit us while we were sitting outside on the deck. When we arrived to Cat Ba town, we immediatelly went to a local climbing shop and booked a boat for the next day.
I somehow thought that deep water soloing is a relaxing way to enjoy new routes and sunshine but after spending one day out on the sea and climbing these routes, I really think that DWS is one of the scariest forms of climbing I've ever tried. I personally like trad climbing because it's also mentally challenging but this DWS goes way over the line. To make it even worse, most of the DWS routes here are higher than an average sport or trad route in Finland. After each move you have to look down and analyse if you can still make the jump and hit the surface in correct angle. It was still a great experience and we didn't actually hurt us too badly except Teijo who took a fall from ~17m and landed on his ass. Now his backside is full of strange bruising patterns and sitting down seems to be a little problem.
We've spent the last two days climbing normal rock routes in a place called Butterfly Valley after returning to Cat Ba from the boat trip. It's a hidden valley located in the center of this island with 50 bolted routes and stunning scenery. The valley is situated within the national park of Cat Ba, so naturally we must pay daily bribes to access the crag. The money is used for "building new schools and developing the village communities" but nevertheless, the routes are perfect and we're having good time working on hard new projects.
On the way to Cat Ba. Terry and Puise enjoying the sunset.
First karst towers of Halong Bay.
Floating villages.
The Captain of our DWS boat.
Puise and Terry looking for new routes.
Some of the lagoons are accessible only by kayak or swimming.
Teijo working on the last moves of the route before taking a huge fall.
Swimming back to the boat.
Cruising around the bay.
Vietnamese use their legs when rowing a boat.
Our shoes are probably ruined after swimming in the sea. Afterwards we learned that the climbing shop had shoes for rent for two euros.
Butterfly Valley.
The crag seen from the village.
Puise.
This local kid came to say hello and wanted to climb with us.
Taking a fall after failing on the crux move.
Pond Wall.
The view after finishing a route called Elephant Man.
Our journey to Cat Ba was quite pleasant and it took only five hours to travel from Hanoi to Haiphong and further on to Cat Ba. Soon after leaving the port in Haiphong, we found out that the ferry was more like a speed boat after a huge wave hit us while we were sitting outside on the deck. When we arrived to Cat Ba town, we immediatelly went to a local climbing shop and booked a boat for the next day.
I somehow thought that deep water soloing is a relaxing way to enjoy new routes and sunshine but after spending one day out on the sea and climbing these routes, I really think that DWS is one of the scariest forms of climbing I've ever tried. I personally like trad climbing because it's also mentally challenging but this DWS goes way over the line. To make it even worse, most of the DWS routes here are higher than an average sport or trad route in Finland. After each move you have to look down and analyse if you can still make the jump and hit the surface in correct angle. It was still a great experience and we didn't actually hurt us too badly except Teijo who took a fall from ~17m and landed on his ass. Now his backside is full of strange bruising patterns and sitting down seems to be a little problem.
We've spent the last two days climbing normal rock routes in a place called Butterfly Valley after returning to Cat Ba from the boat trip. It's a hidden valley located in the center of this island with 50 bolted routes and stunning scenery. The valley is situated within the national park of Cat Ba, so naturally we must pay daily bribes to access the crag. The money is used for "building new schools and developing the village communities" but nevertheless, the routes are perfect and we're having good time working on hard new projects.
On the way to Cat Ba. Terry and Puise enjoying the sunset.
First karst towers of Halong Bay.
Floating villages.
The Captain of our DWS boat.
Puise and Terry looking for new routes.
Some of the lagoons are accessible only by kayak or swimming.
Teijo working on the last moves of the route before taking a huge fall.
Swimming back to the boat.
Cruising around the bay.
Vietnamese use their legs when rowing a boat.
Our shoes are probably ruined after swimming in the sea. Afterwards we learned that the climbing shop had shoes for rent for two euros.
Butterfly Valley.
The crag seen from the village.
Puise.
This local kid came to say hello and wanted to climb with us.
Taking a fall after failing on the crux move.
Pond Wall.
The view after finishing a route called Elephant Man.
Location:Halong Bay, Vietnam
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