Hong Kong Rock – 2020 Edition

After two years of work, and a considerable amount of bolting that used over 1,325 bolts, the first printed sport climbing guide to Hong Kong is now finished.

Hong Kong has an excellent range of sport routes for any visiting climber: F3 to F8c, single-pitch coastal sport routes and multi-pitch climbing up to 140m in length. The majority of routes are well-equipped with titanium or marine grade stainless steel glue-in bolts, resulting in one of the best-equipped sport climbing areas in Asia. Coupled to the fantastic climbing are superb sandy beaches, mountain hikes, trail running, culture and plenty of history all in and around the intense microcosm of the vibrant city itself. Unlike most other sport climbing areas in Asia, a car is not necessary and most crags are easily accessible with approaches that are typically 10-15 minutes.

Hong Kong has long been overlooked as a climbing destination due to the lack of a sport climbing guide. Hong Kong Rock is a comprehensive guide providing detailed travel information, accommodation, visas, food, weather, what to bring, fixed protection standards, climbing walls and recommended routes to ensure a memorable experience. 

Hong Kong Rock includes an historical section complete with profile pictures of key developers, past and present, who have shaped the course of sport climbing in Asia’s ‘Manhattan of the East’. The reader is guided to climbing locations by QR codes, illustrated maps, written descriptions and high-resolution aerial photography depicting approach trails, roads and key features. Call-out boxes for every location provide a snapshot of route quantity, best for grade range, climbing style, location orientation, sun exposure, seepage and a one-liner summarising the location.

• Over 1,000 sport routes
• 250 routes previously unpublished
• 10 new climbing areas
• QR codes to assist with finding crag locations
• Crag summary table and map for choosing where to climb
• High-quality, detailed topo images
• Bolt count and pitch lengths
• Clear, easy to read grade charts
• How it all began – a historical on Hong Kong’s climbing developers
• Illustrated maps
• Photographs by local climbers

How to purchase:

1. Hong Kong Rock can be collected in person from Happy Valley HK$300 – contact me via 5427 8116 to arrange a time (Bank transfer / cash / PayMe)

OR

2. Online via the Climbing Bolt Supplies website HK$320 + HK$50 for post and packaging throughout Hong Kong

The guide can also be ordered from the link for overseas delivery

https://climbingboltsupplies.com/…/hong-kong-rock-2020…

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Copyright Infringement and the impact on Developers

Online topo websites seem like a great idea; they provide a platform for information to be readily updated and obviate the need for a printed guidebook. This would all seem like progress in an age when pretty much everything has gone digital and smart phones are relied (expected) upon to provide all the answers in life.

However this is causing an ongoing issue regarding copyright infringement and online topos do very little (if anything) to support the very climbers who create the resource that topo websites are so reliant upon for business.

Numerous examples of conflict between developers and an online guide platform have occurred and is a worrying trend. Kalymnos, Ceuse, Hong Kong are just a few situations where copyright infringement or the consequences of publishing route information without developer involvement has occurred, often with public consequences.

Climbers are entirely reliant upon accurate information to er, guide, their outdoor climbing and that information can be particularly critical for traditional climbing areas but also for sport crags.

In the context of sport climbing, developers invest considerable resources both in time and money, to equip routes that others are then usually free to enjoy at their leisure. This aspect of sport climbing is too often taken for granted and poorly understood by climbers who generally give little thought as to how the bolts got there and who installed them.

When route information is made public, and only then, can anyone legally copy information deemed to be facts. These constitute bolt counts, pitch lengths, route names. However, where there is an individual interpretation i.e. route descriptions, then legally the descriptions are subject to copyright. Climbing route information is not therefore entirely free, despite that being the attitude of one well-known online topo website.

Online topo websites tend to have poor cross checking for copyright infringement being reliant upon climbers to self populate the online database. This in itself constitutes a weak link where climbers, who are typically unfamiliar with guidebook production and copyright, are unaware of these considerations but are represented in mass and can therefore easily undermine a regional developer via the quantity of information they can upload online.

Online topo websites are often based in another country to that of an affected developer which makes their relevance to a given climbing area even more tangible. There is a responsibility therefore upon such websites to prevent copyright infringement via a code of ethics which is often non-existent or difficult to implement because “we are run by volunteers” not least are processing significant amounts of data being submitted by individual climbers. They still gain an advantage of course.

A fundamental shift is required by climbers in understanding that bolts and associated hardware is not free so someone, somewhere, has had to pay for it then invested further expense and time to install it, often at varying levels of risk. Undermining developers by publishing new route information without their consent, drawing attention to areas under development all serves to only compromise climbing public safety while disrespecting the contribution developers make to support our sport.

Support your regional developers, buy local guidebooks and contribute to bolt funds. Everything that online websites typically fail to do.

Resin Resurrection – 26 Years

Times change and looking back over close to three decades of putting up new routes, trad’ and sport around the world, there’s nothing like revisiting an old route for a reflection of how bolts have influenced the sport.

With change you can either resist it or take the opportunity to influence it and so with that in mind, North Quarry was visited on a damp, cold autumnal day with the objective of pulling old ‘staple’ bolts and revitalising some old ‘bolt protected’ routes.

North Quarry, near Bristol with the grand sweeping slab of the right wall and easy angled back wall.

Back in 1993 I bolted and climbed what subsequently became a quarry classic of sorts; Resin Resurrection, graded E5 6a or F7a and sparingly bolted with 4 bolts in around 20m plus of climbing. In current times the route would not be classed as sport given the significant run outs and the use of non certified glue-in staple bolts (Portland staples from the 90’s). Considered a ‘bolt protected’ route now, this was a spicy sport route at the time and climbed during an ethics shift from full blown trad’ towards sparingly bolted ‘sport’ routes, that led into mixed routes then mixed routes with two grades (to clip or not to clip the bolts), back to pure trad’ and what is considered modern sport bolting today.

A run out Resin Resurrection.

With over a couple of decades in existence it’s clear how well a badly bolted route has fared in terms of recorded ascents. This of course raises the issue of sustainable use and the ridiculousness of insisting that badly equipped sport routes should remain in their original state rather than be acknowledged for what influenced the decisions at a particular time in the sport’s history and instead re-equip so that a piece of rock becomes a lasting contribution to the community.

A particular objective was to load test the original Portland staples to:

• Remove them as they do not comply with EN959.
• Obtain accurate load data from 26 year old glue-in fixings.

The first staple (of four) on the route.

Testing used a Hydrajaws 2050 tensile tester linked to the fixings via a high strength steel locking carabiner.

Tensile tester setup on the first staple.

And so it was time to start extracting…and the first result was shocking with the staple pulling at a paltry 3.1kN.

First staple easily extracted well below the force typically generated in a leader fall.

The second staple performed much better until the ends of the legs snapped (as per the first and remaining staples).

All staples pulled showing characteristic failure of the leg ends rather than failure of the 26 year old adhesive (Hilti C50).

Final results were:

1. 3.1kn
2. 13.0kN
3. 10.3kN
4. 11.0kN

The Hilti adhesive resisted the load perfectly and is reassuring that when certified anchors are involved, climbers can expect no loss of strength for decades after installation.

Out with the old and in with the certified new. A Bolt Products 316 grade steel, 6mm * 80mm twist leg glue-in fixed with G&B Gebofix EPO Plus pure epoxy.

Old fixed gear was replaced on the adjacent Short, Sharp, Shock which included nails hammered into the rock and 8mm caving bolts, considered ‘bombproof’ at the time!

Hilti 22V 8Amp Battery Review

Having had the opportunity now to put the 8A battery to the ‘test’ it is an absolute marathon monster. Drilling in limestone and with a range of hole diameters; 12mm, 14mm and 16mm, the first charge provided 14 holes (80mm deep) and by the second charge, a whopping 30 holes!

The only drawbacks, if indeed they really are at all valid ones, concern the weight and Watt Hour rating.

The battery weights 1.15kg which is a fair increase on the 0.78kg weight of the 5.2A battery. That said, the weight is n’t particularly noticeable and in any case this is not a battery you can pack in your luggage for an overseas bolting trip, which leads onto the second point regarding the Wh rating. The 8A pack has a 173Wh rating which precludes this battery from being taken on a commercial passenger aircraft as carry on ‘luggage’. Standard carrier ‘rules’ restrict batteries to 2 pieces, as carry on luggage and each battery not having a higher Wh rating than 160Wh.

The usefulness of a battery with this capacity is therefore for local domestic use, rather than overseas, where the extended long run can reduce the need to take 2 or more batteries and eliminating the chance of a dropped battery, especially when drilling over water.

Introducing Climbing Bolt Supplies Ltd

Pleased to announce the launch of distribution for Titan Climbing and Bolt Products throughout Asia.

Sourcing premium quality anchors in Asia is often difficult because the key manufacturing occurs in Europe and any suppliers in Asia tend not to specialise in bolts or have access to the necessary range developers need to suit to their circumstances.

Titan Climbing are well known for producing the only certified anchors made from titanium and are specialists in working with this metal for glue-in anchors. We have worked with this award winning company in the past to develop additional products and look forward to supporting their sales growth in a geographical region that experiences aggressive corrosion.

Bolt Products are equally recognised for the anchors they manufacture from stainless steel. Their unique glue-in anchor design has won awards and is the strongest anchor type in its class.

Together both companies manufacture any product solution a developer may need and have the capability to fabricate anything to order.

We operate to promote their products regionally while providing the expected technical services support to customers.

Hilti TE 2 A2-22 Performance Update

Having drilled with the new Hilti for a several days the performance is very impressive.

With a 5.2A battery I was achieving 14 holes drilled at 12mm * 90mm in hard coarse grained granite.

Hilti have just released an 8A battery..! So while a slightly heavier battery at 1.1kg, the extended run time must be significantly extended.

 

D for Drilling…Hello Hilti…Bye bye Bosch

The availability of lower voltage power drills has brought reduced weight and other advantages for climbers needing a cordless power drill however this means nothing if the lighter drill won’t perform…reliability remains a key consideration.

During February 2016 I posted a review of Hilti’s TE 6-A36 against the new Bosch GBH 18V EC and the stats at the time favoured the Bosch, which without doubt has proved to be a lighter and more synergistic tool compared to Hilti’s product line of the time which did not have interchangeable batteries and matched the performance but at an increased weight.

Ultimately the comparable drilling performance (for reduced weight) and use of the same battery packs for the popular 18V cordless grinder were stand out advantages.

Background

Annually I install around 1,000 glue-in anchors, mainly in hard rock (granite, volcanic tuff) but also limestone and this repeated heavy use typically ‘roots out’ any non performing kit. I literally wear drills out (amongst approach shoes and harnesses) and so issues like repairs become important.

After wearing out the hammer units and battery packs for the Bosch GBH 18V EC it is now time to conclude the overall performance of this drill and review the arrival of Hilti’s 22v range.

Broken Bosch

The 18V Bosch is definitely a great drill but a number of issues have emerged over time.

• Battery chemistry – perhaps I was unlucky however the 6A packs I purchased have not retained capacity over time and in fact some of my original 3A packs now outperform the 6A packs.

Note: the performance of higher capacity battery packs is critical to the advantage of the Bosch over the Hilti 36 V drill in a weight for weight comparison versus drilling output.

• The chuck / hammer on the Bosch wears out when drilling hard rock, especially when needing to drill 14mm or occasionally 16mm holes.

The real knock out issue though…

• Servicing. Or the complete unavailability of it and suggestion by Bosch to simply ‘ buy a new drill as it’s not worth it’ to service used drills. Bosch seem to use ‘planned obsolescence’ and simply chucking out an old drill and buying a new one is not something I prescribe to. This is my experience trying to get a drill serviced in Asia and the UK.

For drilling softer rock such as limestone, the Bosch is likely to last however for the most arduous conditions the Hilti 22V now provides an alternative where previously there was no comparable product in the voltage range.

Bosch GBH 18V EC alongside the Hilti TE 2-A22

Comparison stats…Bosch left, Hilti right.

Weight (with highest capacity battery): 2,753g vs 3,069g

Run time: 108 Watt hours vs 114.4 Watt hours

So for a slight increase in weight (316g) we’re getting a slightly longer run time but increased serviceability.

Hilti provide a 2 year warranty for their battery packs which is not something I’m aware that Bosch provide.

Time will reveal how the Hilti performs but from previous experience I’d expect it to be excellent and in a lighter package now.

Introduction to Bolting Workshop

Khao Yoi, Thailand in conjunction with Thailand Mountain Sports Club

Mid June and 12 climbers arrived in Khao Yoi for a 2 day course mixing theory and practical workshops.

The course started at 9am on Saturday morning with a presentation focused on glue-in fixings, adhesive type and selection, stainless steel and titanium, cliff development strategies, comparison of top down versus bottom up development, case studies, standards and practical information on choosing a drill. Additional topics were covered during the morning with a break in-between.

The afternoon saw the group practice drilling different glue-in bolts and preparing holes for gluing. Discussion around adhesive type from the morning presentation carried forward into the afternoon session with a focus on the practical aspects of the bolting process. A number of test bolts were installed for the following afternoon tensile testing demonstrations.

Course participants practice drilling a range of different glue-in fixings and cleaning holes prior to gluing.

Gluing in a Titan climbing titanium bolt.

Saturday concluded with a fantastic Thai dinner, discussion of the day and plenty of beers!

Sunday morning kicked off with an interactive workshop reviewing a new routing rig and equipment required for bolting.

With the morning session concluded, it was time to revisit the crag and finish the course with 6 tensile tests performed by the attendees themselves. The tests demonstrated important aspects of using glue-in bolts and the impact of different adhesives on certain fixings.

Radial tensile testing of a Fixe 316 glue-in fixed with Hilti RE500 epoxy.

With the course over the day finished with climbing!

 

 

Thailand Bolting Workshop

Come join the fun mid June in Khao Yoi, South of Bangkok, where I will be running a 2 day workshop covering bolt installation and a number of tensile pull tests to demonstrate key aspects of bolt performance. The workshop also includes a technical presentation and a number of practical activities performed by attendees.

Details can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1940135279393780/

Sampling life

The UIAA embarked upon a comprehensive study last year that involves chemical sampling of rock faces with the objective of identifying any impact of present chemistry on the corrosion of fixed protection. This work is performed by volunteers and supported by a technical specialist who receives the samples upon which laboratory analysis is conducted.

UIAA Chemical sampling conducted in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand last month.

The various corrosion mechanisms (eg pitting, crevice) that affect bolts are understood, with more detailed investigative work on Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) performed by Tomas Prosek and others in recent years however an unknown is why certain climbing regions are notably aggressive towards fixed hardware and others are relatively benign. Tonsai, in Southern Thailand, is recognised as requiring only certified titanium glue-in fixings due to SCC and most understand that to be solely the fact that it is a coastal limestone sport climbing area in the tropics. Why then does Long Dong, a sandstone sport climbing area in Taiwan also suffer from aggressive SCC? Entirely different geology, tropical yes but certainly not covered in significant quantities of jungle foliage and yet bolts have failed just as badly. The answer must be related to the particular presence of chemical precursors that promote faster rates of corrosion.

The rate at which bolts have corroded at different crags within the same region is so far supported by conclusions drawn from samples analysed to date and whilst this remains a work in progress (and not yet for public release) it is encouraging. The goal being to really define fixing specification for a given crag to a level of detail past the historical minimum of 304L.

UIAA Chemical sampling below Hourglass Crack F6a, Technical Wall, Tung Lung Chau, Hong Kong.