Weekend Whipper: Belayer Rocket!

Why should the climber get all the attention? This week’s Weekend Whipper is an ode to the flyin’ belayer.

When Eleanor Krause—an attentive belayer—recognizes that her climber is about to fall, she quickly pulls excess slack out of the system while sitting back in her harness to brace for the catch.

The climber, Justin Lockhart, peels off the wall while high above his last bolt. Krause is launched into the air from the force of the fall and weight difference between herself and the climber, but she’s prepared with her feet out in front to fend off the cliff face.

The climber takes a massive whip but the fall is clean and the catch is soft!

Route: Flatliner (5.13c), Little Si, North Bend, Washingtion.

Stay safe out there!

Watch last week’s Weekend Whipper: If Dreams Were Thunder Victory Whip