Kevin Ng

Front-loaded route with distinct boulder problems. The last 10m almost unnecessary...

The most height-biased problem I tried on this trip.

Very distinct crux 4 bolts in. People with different lengths will solve it very differently. Beware - it ain't over 'til it's over...

Probably the best route I got on this trip. Nice moves with reasonable rests. A bit of tricky bits on the upper section. Very satisfied to have fired this on the second go.

Massive holes along the most overhanging route here. Plenty of rests between jug pulling. Perma-draws so no need to clean.

A bit of everything. Lots of options.

Tree Lover?

One of the steeper climbs at NPPY. Conserve until the crux at the end!

Just don't lose sight of your bolts...

Got stuck at mid-section crux for half an hour. Was whimpering like a baby until committing to the move.

When in doubt, go left.

Two mini-roofs = two mini cruxes

Consistent route with no obvious crux (as long as you take the correct path up...)

A bit slippery.

After blood, sweat, and tears...

Varied climbing. I actually found P2 to be the hardest (terrible on slabs). My wife and I alternated the leading so I'll just put this down as a red point :P

Happy Year of the Pig! Have to agree with Neil here - having a 6'0" wingspan will make the crux much more digestible.

Going by the guidebook. Toes were already dying from trying La Dolce Vita...feet basically useless after this one (and still had to hike down after).

As expected needed fewer attempts on this than on Waffer Wavers. 4th try overall on 3rd day. Liked the beginning and the end...middle kinda weird.

I can sort of see why people think this is soft but slabs are my nemesis. 7th attempt (1st on the 3rd day) for the redpoint after not getting past even the second draw on the first go.

15 tries across 3 sessions. Is it a mini sport route or a semi-highball? Nonetheless a unique problem!

Bit hard to clean. Watch out for the tree behind you.

Got completely shut down on the onsight. Pieced it together on the second go; sent on the third. Sharp as all hell...

A 80m rope may or may not be enough depending on how tall your climber is and whether you clean on your way down...

A pretty challenging climb in its own right. Most people end up basically free-soloing this to get to Monkey Trail...

Sharp. Run up to avoid holes in your shoes...

This route flows so well. A bit bummed to have failed the onsight, but getting on it a second time wasn't a chore at all.

I think this is the one route everybody has to do at Thakhek...

Had to fight super hard to get it on the second attempt. Wicked fun.

Tricky start especially if you don't have the reach.

First ever 7a onsight! Big holds with relatively big moves. Works for me.

Pretty good variety. A tad sharp perhaps.

Puzzling start. Difficulty lets off after the 3rd draw. Fun nonetheless.

Another one of those routes I top roped last year and needed to finish.

Surprised myself at the end of a dry, crowded, redpoint-filled weekend. Glad I don't have to queue there for the foreseeable future...

Commitment is key! Super fun - make sure the draw(s) on the anchor are in the way you want it/them...

Project from 1.5 years ago! Super satisfying to be able to come back and finish it off.

Big holds, big moves. My kind of climb :)

Scary as hell with the polished feet. Took a rather embarrassing whipper at the crux...

Nice varied climbing...a few desperate moves with sound effects towards the end as the pump raged.

The route seems to have been re-bolted somewhat. No one seems to know where the top half goes anymore but the only independent climbing ends on the fourth draw anyway.

This route is much, much harder than Black Ring. Easily 7A if you don't stray too far left at the fourth draw and too far right at the fifth.

Probably the most fun route of the sector.

19 tries in two consecutive days before the trip ended!

Power endurance w00t!

Would've been a rough start without the small boulder on the ground...

Mono?

Did it for the name but fun nonetheless!

Made a mess of this one...

Short and pumpy. Holds everywhere but which one to use?

We actually had very nice weather on the day though...

Easy but fun!

Got confused by the topo and wasn't sure where it ended (and I wasn't going to top out on grass)...

Big but obvious moves. All sorts of swinging antics available on the massive jug post 3rd bolt!

Big-time struggle on this one...

Last bolt seems to have been taken out?

First ever climb at Frankenjura!

Embarrassingly feeble onsight attempt...

Watch for the rope drag.

Was shut down at the top for quite some time!

Brutal start. Saved by long legs once again.

Sustained climbing. Resist the temptation to veer off the face if you don't want the old-school purists calling you out!

Varied route with a lot of opportunities for working on efficiency. Tricky start to be sure!

Fruits of my labour! It's the extension so I guess by definition it's at least hard and should be harder than The Fury. I did however seem to have found a rather straightforward sequence for the finish (again, for the tall folk).

"Don't have a clue yet..." - 1.5 years ago when I was trying to top-rope past the second bolt. Came back to try it on lead today and was happy to get the red point in a single session. Maybe I did get a little better after all :)

Tufa fest! Last couple of moves required some thought...

Soft, despite my failed onsight attempt.

Cruxy start, followed by varied climbing up the crack. Great fun and a test of endurance for someone too used to the 10m routes in HK!

Tufa tufa tufa blade blade blade. Tons of fun.

Easy climbing up to the mid-section followed by progressively steeper and bigger moves.

Not really a "redpoint" since my wife and I alternated on lead. Solid rock, secure bolting, fun climbs. The most interesting part of the day happened after we topped out, though...

First half super fun but scary as hell (third bolt spins, but it held up).

I don't remember much of the route except for the fact that I struggled for half an hour on it...

Heartbreak on onsight attempt. Fun traverse!

Pumpy pumpy...

The rest of the climb is a 4, but the first move could be tricky (and is where I lost my onsight!).

Pretty interesting climb. Got confused by the bolts (looks like some have been removed/relocated) and sadly lost the onsight. Think there's only one route left where there used to be two.

Finally came back to get this done after having top-roped on it > 1 year ago...still got plenty of cold sweat out of it.

A mistake to have gone on this for warm-up...

One crux, made much easier by reach. Need more reference points before I can judge the grading.

Steeeeep. Hardest climb to date so it's difficult for me to judge the grade.

I have to think it's like 3 grades easier for the tall folk...

As overhung as a 7A gets in HK.

Tricky as hell.

The first of a few cows. Fun route.

A hard fight to the anchor.

Sent at the end of the year!

It's definitely harder than A Fixed State of Affairs, so they can't be the same grade.

Merry Christmas to me? Most people say this is a 6c/+ and seeing as I haven't climbed anything legitimately harder, I tend to agree. Maybe I'll get a better idea once I've had a few shots at Purple Heart.

Learned how to clip more efficiently, and finally managed the send!

Boulder-y. Number of cruxes varies depending on your height.

Finally...

Short and tricky with some awkward movements.

Tricky start

Pumpy

One slightly tricky move that everyone seemed to have figured out on first try. Redpoint attempt was fuss-free.

Did help to be really tall at the end, but crux felt easier than the one on The Prow.

Probably the most fun climb at The Prow (edit: no I think The Prow is most fun climb at The Prow).

Pumped out after clipping into the final draw on onsight attempt. Bummer...

A bit tricky and physical. In my opinion no easier than Baozi Bonanza on the Northeast Face

Frighteningly polished feet on an otherwise uneventful climb.

A most generous 7A. Personally I find this way easier than say Back to School, and I'm tall...

Spent 13 minutes on the redpoint. Very fun and back-loaded climb with some big moves.

Pretty tame until...

Short climb with a testy last couple of moves. Easier for the tall folk.

Gets a bit dicey towards the top...