news
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- 15
- Mar
- 2011
Monique Forestier's Good Morning Vietnam
Last November Simon, Coco and I were lucky enough to visit Vietnam's Ha Long Bay which has become a Deep Water soloing (DWS) hotspot, it's a mind blowingly beautiful destination for climbers and non-climbers alike. The bay, studded with thousands of brilliant-cut limestone karst formations rising magnificently out of the turquoise waters offers it all, whether DWS tickles your fancy or roped climbing or just chillin out on the beach.
DWS in Ha Long Bay
My DWS highlight is undoubtedly Turtle Cave - not for the fainthearted. It's a DWS line that climbs out to a stalactite hanging like a fang from the lip of the cave. I was convinced it was a fun idea! Petrifying and exhilarating yes, fun no (until after of course). After being spat off prematurely on the first attempt by breaking holds, I was trembling with excitement and utter terror as I fumbled up the rock again, this time making it to the delightful jug at the tip of the stalactite, screaming with delight and fright at the same time, then dropping into the warm liquid embrace far below.
Tiger Beach Another highlight is Tiger Beach, it offers some awesome roped climbing and it's a non breaking safe haven for Coco to have a splash. Tackling the four-pitch Screw Loose (20), is a sensational all-encompassing journey corkscrewing its way up and around an eight metre stalactite clinging for dear life from the roof of a cave, the route then literally
spits you back into daylight and out on to the less petrifying face for two more pitches.
Butterfly Valley
And then there is the cragging in the breathtaking Butterfly Valley. Situated on Cat Ba Island, it only takes 20 minutes to get there by scooter. There are 56 safely equipped routes that cater for most grades and angles. Lee Cujes recently added his new climb Monarch (28) to the crag, and I was lucky enough to send it on our last day!
For the full story on Monique's trip to Vietnam, look out for the article appearing in Rock Issue # 86 out April 2011.
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