Pussa Yan

Go back to China.
Go back to CMDI Wall.

Golden Boy

Golden Boy.

Next day, we headed for the beautiful Pussa Yan mountain. We were certain that we would not be able to fight our way up the classic line near the center of the face (7a) and so we went for something called the Golden Boy on the right margins of the southwest face. Seven pitches long and rated “only” 6b, it was humbling having to take on the first pitch. On the upside, Ola (who is a 5.14 climber and – among other accomplishments – placed 3rd in the Climbing World Cup) will be less shocked when she has to deal with other weekend wanker talent in the future. The route was continually challenging, the beautifully exposed positions were first rate, and there was even a bit of excitement near the top when I accidentally airmailed a boulder the size of your grandmother’s commode. Though there was little chance of hitting Shirley (route traverses a lot), possibility of chopped ropes loomed large in my mind. Not to mention being worried about hitting any farmers below or damaging the country road. Fortunately all worked out well and soon enough we were scrambling down the steep and densely overgrown backside of the mountain. That evening Ola gave us a bit of an insight into the circuit training of world class climbers: a pool table, many tens of pushups and a fifth of vodka were involved.

Photos

Getu

Getu village scenes. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Pussa Yan

On approach to Pussa Yan. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Easy, easy…

Pussa Yan

A pagoda near the base of Pussa Yan (Sept. 2016).

Pussa Yan

Southeast face of Pussa Yan. Golden Boy follows the right hand margins of the yellow rock (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Leading pitch 1 of Golden Boy on Pussa Yan. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

More pitch 1 action …shortly before taking. Photo by Ola (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Shirley and I on the first pitch of Golden Boy. The route diagonals up/left along the margins of the golden colored rock. Photo by Ola. Click for full resolution (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Shirley nearing the top of pitch 1 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Looking back at Shirley from midway up pitch 2 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Views from Golden Boy. The haze is likely due to the mugginess (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Shirley on pitch 2. The route traverses quite a bit and would be quite difficult to bail from above pitch 2 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

More views including some pretty rice paddies (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Beautiful limestone – pitch 2 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Leading pitch 3 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

A cluster of houses outside of the Getu village (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Think this is pitch 3 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Pitch 4.

Golden Boy

Shirley on pitch 4 of Golden Boy (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

A herd of goats enjoying a morning walk down below. Click for a short “ambiance video” (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Pitch 5. The position is getting more spectacular (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Rice paddies again (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Leading pitch 6 of Golden Boy (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Shirley on pitch 6 (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Shirley topping out on pitch 6 with almost the entire height of the proud southwest face below your feet. Here the two routes join for the belay before their respective finishing pitches (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Shirley topping out on the summit ridge of Pussa Yan after 7 pitches of very nice climbing (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

Best route of the trip!

Golden Boy

Hiking the summit ridge in search of the start of the descent. Hint: drop left and traverse in general direction of CMDI when you reach a large cairn (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

The steep forest bushwhack off the summit of Pussa Yan (Sept. 2016).

Golden Boy

CMDI Wall as seen on the descent from Pussa Yan (Sept. 2016).

Pussa Yan

Water buffalo – photogenic beasts (Sept. 2016).

Pussa Yan

Hiking back to the barn (Sept. 2016).

Pussa Yan

More local wildlife (Sept. 2016).

Pussa Yan

Pussa Yan – what a beautiful formation!

Getu

Water buffalo and a chicken (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Looking to get picked up for the last 3-4 kilometers (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Ola in the local grocery shop (Sept. 2016).

Getu

Post climb entertainment. Other than drinking, it was really the only game in “town” (Sept. 2016).

Go to Cave Village.
Go back to China.