Go back to Huu Lung Day 1.
Go back to Vietnam.
Chuc Suc Khoe, pitch 2.
The following morning we took a cab to the wall that hosted our route of choice. Chuc Suc Khoé is a tightly bolted, 5-pitch 7a+ route (or, as we call it, 6b A0) which at 105 meters in length is the longest established climb in Vietnam as of 2018. The climbing was fun but far from clean for us – some resting on bolts & we essentially aided the last pitch (kind of what we had expected given the grade). The position overlooking a small village in a valley below was pretty cool as well. Things went reasonably quickly (4ish hours road to road?) and soon we were hiking back to camp some 6 km away; fortunately got picked up by a couple of friendly Quebecois on scooters half way there. In the evening we were back in Hanoi and looking around for the correct train station for our overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai on the Chinese border.
Photos
Heading out for our planned Huu Lung climb in the morning. Taxi – though aid – was nice for the ~6km approach (Nov. 2018).
On our way (Nov. 2018).
The 20 minute approach from the road to the base of the climb (Nov. 2018).
Nearing the base of the Chuc Suc Khoe Wall (Nov. 2018).
Starting up the 5-pitch Chuc Suc Khoe route. This first pitch (6a+) was the only easy one of the day. Though the cheat stick did not have to come out, there was hanging on the bolts of the harder pitches above (Nov. 2018).
Leading pitch 1. Photo by Lena (Nov. 2018).
Higher on pitch 1 (Nov. 2018).
Shirley on pitch 1 (Nov. 2018).
Shirley on pitch 1. Photo by Lena (Nov. 2018).
Higher on pitch 1 of Chuc Suc Khoe (Nov. 2018).
Shirley topping out on pitch 1 (Nov. 2018).
Starting the lead of pitch 2 (Nov. 2018).
Shirley starting pitch 2 (Nov. 2018).
Views from the route (Nov. 2018).
Topping out on pitch 2 (Nov. 2018).
Leading pitch 3 of Chuc Suc Khoe (Nov. 2018).
Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Chuc Suc Khoe (Nov. 2018).
Pitch 3 (Nov. 2018).
Shirley topping out on pitch 3 (Nov. 2018).
Starting up pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).
Higher on pitch 4 – this lower half is easier than the steep top out of the pitch (Nov. 2018).
Shirley on the easier lower half of pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).
Views from the route (Nov. 2018).
Shirley becoming one with the bush (Nov. 2018).
Higher on pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).
View from the route (Nov. 2018).
Steep and hard finish of pitch 4 (Nov. 2018).
Shirley topping out on the route – pitch 5 (Nov. 2018).
Quick descent from Chuc Suc Khoe (1 single, 1 double). Note the banana tree with fruits and the red flower (Nov. 2018).
Interesting geology of the next-door wall where most of the area climbs to date have been developed (Nov. 2018).
No cab ride on the return trip (Nov. 2018).
But there were some cool sights along the way (Nov. 2018).
More sights (Nov. 2018).
Chilling back at the homestay (Nov. 2018).
It would be easy to get lazy there (Nov. 2018).
Kids of the homestay’s owner, Mao (Nov. 2018).
Waiting for our afternoon ride back to Hanoi (Nov. 2018).
Looking for the right railway station back in Hanoi (Nov. 2018).
But first some food and beer at a station-side establishment (Nov. 2018).
The correct train station (Nov. 2018).
At the station in Hanoi (Nov. 2018).
Our overnight train to Sa Pa (Nov. 2018).
Shirley in the sleeper compartment (Nov. 2018).
Settling in (Nov. 2018).
Go to Sa Pa Day 1.
Go back to Vietnam.