Hello Out There.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:23
Hi all,
To everyone out there in the London area. I've just moved to Kentish Town and at a loss for climbing friends. I'm from norfolk and climbed indoor and began buildering in me local village a year or so ago. Now im in London i have no idea where all the hotspots are and I've not yet found any one who knows. So if you climb in the area and have meetings at any time could you let me know. I've seen there's lots of potential in the area and need the confidence of a few climbing buddies to get out there and use it.
Thank for listening to that rant,
Beetle.
Hello. I think you're lucky -- if I'm not mistaken there is someone from London in these forums, maybe a few. Perhaps they'll answer soon.
Provenly there's at least 2 (!) climbable structures in London! Ard back in the day:
http://buildering.net/gallery/buildering-overseas-records-office
http://buildering.net/gallery/buildering-parsons-house
@Ard: Are the emoticons here anymore, how can one remember them?!
snow chaos
Previous emoticons were saved in the transfer over...but there isn't currently an easy way to add new ones. I'm waiting on the release of a module from Drupal to add an interface, a clicky table like the old forum. Should be soon
Tis the pains of being bleeding edge (that's right...buildering.net is running the absolute latest shit...)
Nerds can read more about the module here: http://drupal.org/project/smileys
Mmkay, thanks. I have seen some places that may be worth a try, it's just im very new to the 'multi story soloing' and wanted to get to know some well climbed places and meet the people that climb them before heading out and finding new places on me own.
I shall keep you informed (whether you want to be or not), bout me sucess/falure.
I didn't seriously mean you should attempt those two places right away or at all! Unless you're lunatic, of course.
This might be of interest: www.londonbuildering.co.uk There check out the MAP!
snow chaos
i wouldn't say lunatic......just over eager. I wouldn't try them right away, got to find them first. I get lost easy in these big places.
Ah I would also like to know about exit stratagies from tall buildings. How do you get down? All the buildings I've climbed have been low enough to jump or have some big ledges to use. I just don't want to get up there, be realy proud then look like a complete tit stuck up there.
Very cool map.
Rumblings have been heard over something similar for buildering.net...that is, an online guidebook hooked to google maps, combined with route descriptions and photos. If I could add a CSS stylesheet formatted for portable devices/iPhones, well...it'd basically be the best thing ever.
As for getting down: http://www.buildering.net/letters/gettingdown
After you've closely studied that, a few more tips:
1) Look around the building before climbing up. Usually there's an easier way down.
2) See if you can view the roof from a higher vantage point. There's usually lots of junk to rap off. I've rapped off of chimneys, air conditioning units, even neat little "rap rings"...i.e. anchor points made specifically for rappelling (for window washers...not builderers silly). Know your shit before you try rappelling off of anything. Those round little tin vents are not bomber anchors. Also, a chunk of carpet (or a sacrificed hoodie) can save your rope from being eaten over sharp edges. If you are climbing with someone who's on the ground, they could even anchor one end of the rope, and you could rap off of the opposite side of the building.
3) There *may* be a door at the top. Don't count on it though, and don't go into a building that...well...you wouldn't want to go into.
4) Learn Parkour.
Thanks for that. I'm very white so getting down in any sence is hard. As for the mash-ups, Party Ben is a good artist in my nieve eyes.
Thanks for the tips, no doubt I'll be back annoy you soon with more basic questions.....