Friends Of The Grit

Do you ever look at countries other than your own and think, 'Wow, that's pretty weird...' Mash that idea up with climbing, and you will see a hotbed of strangeness when it comes to cultural differences between its practice in different countries. But scratch below that surface and you will start to see traditions, ethics, and more importantly stories behind the reasons why climbing is practised in the many ways that it is around the world. It is (perhaps) with this in mind that Belgian climber, Siebe Vanhee made the pilgrimage to the epicentre of climbing ethics, the Peak District. Accompanied by a mixture of British Legends like John Dunne, Sam Witthaker, Pete Whittaker, Ben Heason and Jim Pope among others, Siebe seeks out the best of what UK Trad climbing has to offer, and manages to turn some heads whilst he is doing it.

Sustainability Notes:

The main learning point Siebe comes back with at the end of his journey, as clearly stated in the film, is that trad climbing ethics in the Peak involves the most sustainable form of rock climbing. You leave no traces behind your passage and it's the best metaphor to envision what the best practice in the outdoor look like: you go, you enjoy and you go back leaving that piece of rock as you've found it for who's to come after you.