Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Pringle Vs. The Dumpling of All Evil: A China Dispatch
On November 21, Touchstone sponsored athlete, Ethan Pringle arrived in China and within the first few weeks managed to get food poisoning, make an epic bicycle ride across the country, and send the hardest route in China. Besides dispatching the third ascent of Chris Sharma’s Spicy Noodle (5.14c), Ethan also ticked French Gangsta (5.14b) and flashed both Thunder (5.14a) and Sea of Tranquility (5.13d). Ethan's trip has been more than just sending hard routes though.
Ethan has worked hard to assimilate into Chinese culture. “I’m trying to learn a manageable amount of Chinese words and phrases but so far trying to communicate with anyone who doesn’t know English has been impossible. Today I learned the numbers one through ten. I think if you know those you can pretty much convey any number up to 99,” Ethan said. Luckily, Ethan’s been able to order food.
On the ub class (Pringle terminology for uber classic) Sea of Tranquility, Ethan fought through the difficulties of the 5.13 initial section, he destroyed the V6 boulder problem crux, and soon found his way to the anchors. Ecstatic about this difficult flash, he grabbed an enormous 60 pound flake above the anchors to give a solid fist pump and hooray. The flake came off and rocketed towards the ground. The rock nearly took out the two Chinese women selling cold drinks and sodas at the base. Ethan said, “I guess I need to take it easy on the oatmeal in the morning!?!”
Pringle’s been working off the weight though. One day, he attempted to ride to White Mountain alone. “Have you ever done a 50K on a commuter hybrid bike with a slightly squishy back tire and a 30 pound backpack on your back, in a country in which you can’t communicate with anyone to ask for directions?” Pringle shared some great insight about his heinous bike ride. “Well, if it’s on your bucket list, do yourself a favor and cross it off.”
Ethan's pain on wheels.
One of the highlights of the trip to date is Ethan’s first new bolt. Ethan pulled out the Bosch and drilled a new bolt to replace an existing one in an already established 5.13 route.
This rest on the route French Gangster is known as the Holiday Inn- "Cause that's where all the G's hang" said Pringle.
Pringle has a few days left on his excursion in China. At the top of his tick list is an unsent Sharma project known as Dumpling of All Evil. Stayed tuned as Pringle fights against the famed Dumpling.
Ethan has worked hard to assimilate into Chinese culture. “I’m trying to learn a manageable amount of Chinese words and phrases but so far trying to communicate with anyone who doesn’t know English has been impossible. Today I learned the numbers one through ten. I think if you know those you can pretty much convey any number up to 99,” Ethan said. Luckily, Ethan’s been able to order food.
On the ub class (Pringle terminology for uber classic) Sea of Tranquility, Ethan fought through the difficulties of the 5.13 initial section, he destroyed the V6 boulder problem crux, and soon found his way to the anchors. Ecstatic about this difficult flash, he grabbed an enormous 60 pound flake above the anchors to give a solid fist pump and hooray. The flake came off and rocketed towards the ground. The rock nearly took out the two Chinese women selling cold drinks and sodas at the base. Ethan said, “I guess I need to take it easy on the oatmeal in the morning!?!”
Pringle’s been working off the weight though. One day, he attempted to ride to White Mountain alone. “Have you ever done a 50K on a commuter hybrid bike with a slightly squishy back tire and a 30 pound backpack on your back, in a country in which you can’t communicate with anyone to ask for directions?” Pringle shared some great insight about his heinous bike ride. “Well, if it’s on your bucket list, do yourself a favor and cross it off.”
Ethan's pain on wheels.
One of the highlights of the trip to date is Ethan’s first new bolt. Ethan pulled out the Bosch and drilled a new bolt to replace an existing one in an already established 5.13 route.
This rest on the route French Gangster is known as the Holiday Inn- "Cause that's where all the G's hang" said Pringle.
Pringle has a few days left on his excursion in China. At the top of his tick list is an unsent Sharma project known as Dumpling of All Evil. Stayed tuned as Pringle fights against the famed Dumpling.
Labels: China Climbing, Ethan Pringle, White Mountain
¶ Tuesday, December 14, 2010
