chossclimbers

Go back to Arrival In Hanoi.
Go back to Vietnam.

We headed out into the Bay at the alpine ass crack of dawn (8:30) the following morning.  Though we were expecting to be in a small basket boat for the day, the three of us instead ended up taking a large junk boat suitable for three dozen people while a small basket boat shadowed us.  This would enable shuttle access to the climbs.  The Bay offers an incredible setting:  a maze of turquoise waterways in-between limestone karsts with many floating settlements peppered throughout.  The area closer to the port is bustling but things become a little more tranquil further out.  The first goal for the day was a ~30 meter tall tower called Hon Dua, a 90 minute boat ride from the port.  The formation looks as though it’s not long for this world:  a stocky tower sitting (teetering?) on a highly eroded base.  Here we climbed the original route called Tightrope (rated French 5c); a nice warm up for the limestone trad climbing to come.  Back to the junk boat for lunch (huge quantity; somewhat underwhelming quality however) and an afternoon climb of the area classic called Screw Loose, 4 pitch 6a+; the only bolted route we’d do in the Bay.  Very nice position and climbing on this one…and no bushwhacking.

Photos

Go back to Cat Ba Day 2.
Go back to Vietnam.