When there was nowhere to put gear, Ben Bransby improvised by wedging a huge piece of wood for protection. Don’t worry, the board didn’t slip when he tested it before the send!
While the climb was completed three years ago, it is still an impressive feat. Baron Greenback, a climb in the U.K., is rated a stout E9. Bransby reached out to the first ascentionist, Pete Whittaker, about his wooden pro. “It was a good idea, it’s just that he hadn’t thought of it,” Whittaker reportedly said.
We don’t recommend using wood for pro, but it’s probably better than nothing!