Sunday 30th March to Thursday the 10th April

30th March

Rushes are made through the airport as some people accidentally got on guided tours of south London instead of the easy bus to Stansted. Everyone makes it on the plane after some luggage is moved around to make the weights fit. Once in Antalya we meet the driver set to take us to our campsite. We arrive too late for dinner and in conditions too dark to see how close the cliffs are. People eat and find their way to their tent rooms.

31 st March

Teaching day. We head to an easy, short section of the cliffs, trekking through the undergrowth for approximately 30 seconds having left the campsite. People realise that climbing outside is more difficult when you can’t see where all the holds are. In the afternoon people travel into the nearest village to buy supply’s.

1st April

Happy that most of the fresher’s can lead we head to the other end of the cliff where there climbing is more varied. Here we watch over the novices to make sure everything goes to plan but also have an opportunity to push for some harder grades with Neo climbing a 6b. We retire to the campsite to cook dinner and drink beers and soft drinks.

2nd April

We head for the main sector. The larger cliff boasts some of the more impressive routes of the area, including Barbarossa, a secret climb found only by those who know where it is. Almost everyone climbs this bizarre route which ends with a section of caving out onto the face of the cliff. People greatly enjoy this.

3rd April

Rest for some as a group take some of the local street dogs on a walk up to some ancient ruins. En route they find a tortoise. His name Is Pete. Pete the tortoise. They put him back and continue walking the dogs until they can hardly hear the screams of people falling off their projects, safely. Others refuse to rest and continue climbing until they run out of finger skin.

4th April

Project day. Everyone is happy that they can climb in groups by themselves and as a result people break away and head to climb whatever they want, all within minutes’ walk of the campsite. These people try harder routes that they can’t climb at first, some of them even fall off without shouting ‘take’. This is good. Jamie finds a 7b, Will looks for a 7a and others continue climbing in new sectors, gaining experience all the while. More people head into town to buy more supplies. Laura’s ability to speak Turkish has now become a vital part of tour logistics.

5th April

More projects, people spend the morning heading to projects or going off to explore the small amount of multi pitching available in the area. Ben finds a 7b+ project, defiantly not chosen as it was behind his tent and within applauding range of the campsite. So modest. In the afternoon a sectret crag is found where the floor seems to be entirely made of sheep poo. This turns out to be correct. Unfortunately this can’t make up for the difficult nature of the climbing there so people head back out through the trap door to the crag and back down the road.

6th April

Everyone decides to head into the village to experience the local market and grab some grub authentic grub for lunch. We have a race into town which is won by Jamie and Ben. They celebrate by drinking beer and soft drinks. Will arrives in a lorry and the others soon appear. Most of the group manage to avoid buying fake beats headphones and make it to the food end of the market. What a delight, Turkish delight that is. Gifts are bought for loved and liked ones out of a sense of duty and people head to a little hut to eat Gözlemes. They are tasty, savoury, pancake-like naan bread things with stuff in them, and they are cheap. Full of fillings people make their way back to the campsite and some even do some climbing. Ben sends his project, no one cares.

7th April

Fun day to Olympos. Two cars are rented and driven to the coast. Here we enjoy a local brunch before sauntering to the beach. Some head out to look for climbs and find wondrous 7a’s that they send and then return to meet the others. Walking down the beach, everyone stops off for a tasty sea side dinner of fish and meats and beers and soft drinks. As the sun goes down everyone has a cheeky boulder by the sea and some choose to brave the refreshing sea waters with their pants on. Eventually everyone returns to the cars and heads back to the campsite.

8th April

Tired, some people work their projects but most cherry pick easier climbs in relaxed fashion. Federico unfortunately takes a bit of a tumble, catching his foot as he is caught by the rope. He is first aided back to camp and splinted. People are sad for Federico, but Federico is still happy, as always. That night people reminisce about the trip they are on as they realise that there are only a few days left to send.

9th April

Sending day and everyone’s on form. Jamie narrowly misses sending his 7b, Ben waddles his way up a 7c and everyone seems happy with the marked improvement in their climbing both physically and from a technical proficiency angle. AS Federico is still in pain he is taken to ER and patched up properly, he returns gloriously with a crutch and a smile. Everyone celebrates with food and beer and soft drinks with the street dogs and cats they have befriended.

10th April

People pack their bags and ferry onto the bus back to the airport. Using Laura, we find our flight and Federico is wheeled away. Once everyone has explained to the security that Ben is not a terror suspect, he is allowed to take his quick draws onto the plane and everyone settles down. In London people say their goodbyes but only till term starts again.

Note to Reader

It may seem that not a lot happened on this holiday but due to the vicinity and ease with which it was possible to climb nearly un ending number of routes, people spent most of the holiday revelling in the ecstasy that is summer sport climbing. Too much was climbed to possibly note down.

Trip List

• Ben Coope
• Federico Carta
• Neo Yue Zheng
• Catherine Spilsbury
• Nicola McCallion
• Jamie Bamforth
• Laura Braun
• Will Smith