Cat Ba Island

I'll post some more videos from the "Night of the Old Town" soon when I have a better connection but I wanted to write about climbing on Cat Ba first. Cat Ba Island lies near Ha Long Bay. Actually it is now a regular stop for tour boats taking travelers thru Vietnam's most prized UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around a year and half ago a couple of Americans from the Eastcoast decided to come here to open a business of developing the cliffs and leading guided trips.

Eric and Anslo just two months ago got the official nod, complete with business license, to operate their SloPony adventures out in a wing of Ha Long and on Cat Ba Island.

www.slopony.com

Remember how I was going to tell you about me being relieved at abandoning my hotel project? Eric and Onslo had been working on their project for well over a year before getting established and they did it while living here, mind you they didn't have to build anything! Their reports of red tape and confusion made me admire their perseverance but never once was I envious. They've got two areas developed and about 50 routes bolted.

The first area are these two beaches facing one another out in the bay. You can see Onslo on a 5.10d. These areas are perfect for beginners offering 5.7's and 5.8's, at a pristine location. The day we went here Onlso had a group of about 7. I was with my new mates Thomas from Switzerland, and Luke, Brooke and Sarah from Australia. While Onslo's crew climbed at one beach we were at the other. We all ate lunch together before switching sides. It was great fun, eventhough the sun was a little warm.

At the end of day Thomas said that we should try deep water soloing. I was a bit reluctant having have spent too many years hanging on. But in the end almost the entire boat joined in. Yours truly got up about 35 feet then backed down to about 20 feet before jumping off, after a great deal of encouragement and cajoling. Thomas the instigator lobbed off at over 40!

'

Another location developed is Butterly Valley, on the island itself. Here are a couple photos of the cliff. Sorry there aren't more as I was busy climbing. I'll email the other folks to see if they have any pics I can post. The rock is excellent and the routes evenmore so.