Keith Sharples Photography

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Keith Sharples Photography I specialise in rock climbing, travel and adventure photography from the UK, Europe and beyond. For more, please visit www.keithsharplesphotography.co.uk

“Nostalgia overload” was how the gathering in Sheffield last Saturday night was framed…A mahoosive community gathering, ...
30/09/2026

“Nostalgia overload” was how the gathering in Sheffield last Saturday night was framed…
A mahoosive community gathering, 250 was the figure floating around, helped Andy Cave and Ben Moon celebrate their joint 60th birthday bash in Sheffield last weekend. It’s no exaggeration to say that this was, without a doubt, one of the great reunions of the climbing community we’ve seen for some time, possibly, ever?!

Climbers were there, quite literally, from around the globe; a total who’s who of modern climbing. And what better way to remind everyone of how things were back-in-the-day was a carousel of images take over the years. Ben and Andy asked for contributions from the community; here’s a selection of images from my archive starting with four “modern” images taken in 2000 to illustrate a sport climbing article for OTE 100 published in August that year.

Pix 1: Few routes symbolise the birth of sport climbing in the UK more than Ben’s 1984 Statement of Youth F8a
Pix 2: Jerry Moffatt on his 1990 test-piece Liquid Ambar, originally graded F8c but now considered F8c+
Pix 3: Ben sizing up the crux on Neil Carson’s 1996 then unrepeated magnum opus, The Big Bang F9a
Pix 4: Ben back on Hubble. Originally climbed in 1990 at F8c+ but the Font 8B+ crux has pushed it up and it’s now considered to be F9a and one of the first of the grade

And then a series of contemporary photo’s taken in the 80's and 90’s…

Pix 5: Ben Pritchard campusing and Andy Coich (sitting) in the original School Room
Pix 6: Ben Moon (climbing) and Ben Masterson on Caviar in 1986; Tony Ryan’s F8a+ masterpiece of that year
Pix 7: Steve (the Pro) Lewis on Obscene Gesture back when it was E6 trad
Pix 8: Two Chris’s (Plant belaying and Gore over watch) on Mecca F8b+ duty in the early 90's
Pix 9: Jerry Moffatt back on Powerband Font 7C
Pix 10: Steve McClure in 1998, his seminal Raven Tor year, climbing Mecca whilst working FA of Mecca Extension F8c; note the dreadlocks and lack of kneebars/pads

If it was easy…I often wrestle on trips whether to go big and risk going home empty-handed or flip the plan, play safe a...
06/07/2026

If it was easy…
I often wrestle on trips whether to go big and risk going home empty-handed or flip the plan, play safe and commit time to a side project/consolation prize.
That calculation becomes more difficult when bad weather/poor connies are in play and guess what, says he playing the old git card, getting older is yet another twist of the knife in the back of your dreams. My experience of projecting as an older climber is that I need longer and more stable weather/connies.
Long story short, I stepped away from Berntsenbanden Extension, my main project at Flatanger, after a week’s effort in the face of poor connies (sun and seepage!) and a bad forecast. Sadly, Andre Hoyer - my side hustle and an old nemesis – turned into a gop-fest as the dark rock soaked up condensation in the then cycle of hot/cold/humid weather. Despite redpointing to within spitting distance of the lower off, switching to my side project didn’t work this time and frustratingly, the trip came to a soggy end and my projects sadly remained just that.
The benefit of hindsight always makes for an interesting post-match analysis; should I, would I, could I… All you can do at the time is go with what feels right and recognise that not every trip is gonna end in success – “if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it” as Don Whillans used to say…
Pix 1: Adam Booth approaching the second boulder on the lower wall of Andre Hoyer F7c+
Pix 2: Adam again nearing the third and final boulder of Andre Hoyer F7c+
Pix 3: Ed Booth starting the upper half of the “extension pitch” of Berntsenbanden Extension F8a.
Pix 4&5: A wide shot of Ed on Berntsenbanden Extension F8a; 40m of the finest climbing climbing you ever have the pleasure of getting on anywhere. Despite the generally big holds and half decent shake-outs, the bouldery sections and spicy run-outs – especially to the hidden-from-sight lower off – make this a memorable trip into what feels like outer space!
Pix 6: Amandine Lonchambon on Eventyrblanding F7c
Pix 7&8: Amandine on Eventyrblanding Extension F8a, another 40m long super extension jammed-packed with both pumpy and bouldery climbing

Flatanger – a landscape photog’s heaven on earth…Aside from the stunning rock architecture and climbing the environment ...
30/06/2026

Flatanger – a landscape photog’s heaven on earth…

Aside from the stunning rock architecture and climbing the environment and the scenic beauty of the area surrounding Hallshallaren is, I think, pretty special. The photographic opportunities are only limited by the time and effort you’re prepared to invest and being there, as we were, around the summer solstice only heightens the rich pickings on offer.
On any given day, the walk-in or walk-out from the crag itself can be either stunning or utter grim; both can offer captivating photo ops! Walk up beyond the cave onto the plateau above and the views are incredible. The town of Lauvsnes and/or the nearby village of Vik, are small by most standards but somehow even the most simple of locations offers stunning vistas for those willing to explore.
Before I post a final climbing gallery, here’s a collection of 10 scenic shots that I hope gives a representation of the area…
Pix #1&2: My favourite scenic from this trip; a wide-area pano captured on my phone of the view from the walk-out from the crag past mid-night
Pix #3: Another walk-out shot, this taken at a more conventional late afternoon timeframe – ah, those clouds!!
Pix #4: In the interests of fairness, the first of two crag shots; this, from the walk-in/out path
Pix #5: Scale is hard to understand for the shear size of the crag; this a shot from a roadside location on the drive down to Vik - yeah, the cave is massive!
Pix #6: The view from the plateau above the cave out to sea; miles of nothing really except peace, tranquillity, land and sea
Pix #7: The colourful Lauvsnes fishing “cabins”
Pix #8: The deck outside a smaller traditional rorbu, a waterside fishing cabin
Pix #9: Lauvsnes pier; not the busiest but utilitarian as well as tourist-friendly - as expected
Pix #10: Lauvsnes at mid-night with the sun only just below the horizon

Night shifts at Flatanger anyone?Located just 400kms south of the Artic Circle it probably wont be a surprise to many wh...
27/06/2026

Night shifts at Flatanger anyone?
Located just 400kms south of the Artic Circle it probably wont be a surprise to many when I say that’s is possible to climb all night at Flatanger in June; literally, you could sack-off day climbing and switch to nights!
When clear skies are forecast the daytime temps on the main left wall of the cave get very high; think Malham on a summer morning! Early starts – say, arriving at the crag for 7am – will give you 4 or 5 hours climbing until the sun hits the left wall around noon. The wall is then in the sun until around 6pm. Those climbing in the cave proper have a few hours longer before the sun hits them around mid-afternoon; conversely, they’re then in the sun all evening.
Although we never went into full night shift mode, for a few days we started climbing around 7pm and then climbed through till beyond midnight. It messes a bit with your head and body clock but connies were definitely better not least because the daytime sun burns off any smeggy/condensation as well as drying back seepage.
BTW, an essential extra bit of kit worth packing for any trip in June are eye masks; you can thank me later for that one!
Pix #1: The team heading home past midnight; R to L Adam and Ed Booth, Simon Lee and myself. Photo: Adam Booth
Pix #2: The crux on the ever popular Gusanito F8a+
Pix #3: F***g L1 F7b+; not many 7b+’s include a 4m roof but this does; Frenchman Mathieu Bouyoud with cruise mode engaged on his way to an effortless onsight on F***g Extension F8a
Pix #4: The crux of Flaggermusmannen F8a is the move, a jump, for the big ledge
Pix #5: Norwegian ace Leo Boe working on one of the harder section on Iron Curtain F9b; yet another Adam Ondra route from 2013
Pix #6: Flaggermusmannen again, just before the easier section which leads up to the lower off
Pix #7&8 Ed Booth sampling the delights of Brunhilda F7c+, one of the few 7’s in the cave proper
Pix #9: L2 on Nordic Flower F8b+. The French climber is working on an extension rightward from the L2 lower off; his plan is to link into Valkyrie F8c creating a monster link-up. FYI, the hanging rope is often used to access this area of the cave when working routes rather than climbing the 20m F8b access pitch repeatedly!
Pix #10: Another shot of the crucial section on The Joker F8b/+

Flatanger in June – more a mėlange than smorgasbord?Leaving aside a 45 minute flight delay and a flat-out dash across th...
26/06/2026

Flatanger in June – more a mėlange than smorgasbord?
Leaving aside a 45 minute flight delay and a flat-out dash across the Frankfurt hub to catch a connection, we (and our luggage) arrived in Trondheim full of beans and anticipation. Three hours later we arrived in Lauvsnes at 23:30 to a beautiful sunset. It was my sixth visit to Flatanger and tbh, it felt like I’d arrived back home!
Accepting that climbers love to hate the weather during our trip over the first three weeks of June could only be described as “mixed”; some days were scorching hot and sadly quite humid; others pretty cold but also strangely humid too. The crag was generally wetter than average too. That said, there’s really no such thing as average weather in Flatanger. And on cue, the midges arrived mid-June just to add a something else to whine about! It was far from optimal but way better than the heatwave the rest of Europe was suffering with. All “first world” problems for sure, but hey, we climbers are looking for perfect – right?!

For starters then, here’s a selection of portrait shots.

Pix #1: Adam Booth torqueing his fingers into the crack on Kykkeli F7b.
Pix #2: Adam again, this time on the crux of Bondeanger F7c, one of the best of its grade anywhere!
Pix 3: French climber Amandine Lonchambon cruising through the scary bit of Eventyrblanding F7c, another awesome route.
Pix #4&5: A Norwegian climber on Massih Attack F8b
Pix #6&7: Bouldery moves on The Joker F8b/+
Pix #8: American climber, Miles Perry, on Gusanito F8a+
Pix #9: John Oungst, USA National Header Setter, crushing Flaggermusmannen F8a in the full sun!
Pix #10: French climber embroiled with the difficulty of Little Badder F9a in the cave proper

20/05/2026

Gratuitous tick?
Having done Sorceress Sit start last week I figured that adding another few moves onto the beginning for the Angelic Conversation might be a smart choice for another visit last weekend to Forest Rock.
I’m happy to accept that it felt something of a gratuitous tick as the extension only added a few moves at the very start of a problem I already had dialled. Although the new start moves aren’t the hardest moves on the problem they did increase fatigue levels a tad going into the crux of the Sorceress; enough I’d say to move the needle and bump the grade up to 7A+.
For what it’s worth, I’d say adding the starting moves on the Angelic Conversation 7A+, the same moves incidentally as per the Enchantress, adds length rather than quality to Sorceress Sit. It does nevertheless does open up the start for Dark Mojo as well as Enchantress which is something to mull over…

14/05/2026

The Meltdown; Nuda’s Tartan…
Nuda’s Tartan isn’t your typical Peak limestone bouldering venue; not least ‘cos the rock is something of an oddity – sharp broccoli and/or bobbly, savage pockets and full-on jamming slots all with more than a splash of roof-action demanding body tension plus heel/toe competency along with a high pain threshold.
Facing east on a sheltered road-side outcrop, Nuda’s can suffers from condensation making the holds difficult if not impossible to use.
It could be argued it is perhaps something of an acquired taste; that said, plenty have acquired that taste over the years?!
The initial fluffy of activity saw a dozen or so problems added, some of which had some quite inflated grades – especially for the typically hard-for-the-grade grading so prevalent across the Peak. Originally graded 7B, The Meltdown has dropped to 7A. At 20-ish moves in length it’s more a route really. Either way, it’s a quality bit of climbing and it’s now even better given that the tree stump, previously inconveniently positioned beneath the lip of The Meltdown, has given up the ghost and is no more!

07/05/2026

For the Sorceress, the Bell Tolls…
Back at Forest Rock again yesterday; this time for the Sorceress. With temps much cooler than the week before the bank holiday connies were excellent if perhaps a little chilly on the fingers; better that though than baking hot and sliding off everything!
Like the Sourcier, the Sorceress is another bloc which requires some fairly hard leg/back input as well as proficiency with undercuts plus some finger jamming for good measure. I worked the stand start as part of the warm-up and TBH found that pretty burly for the given grade of 6C. My sequence on the sit start added seven hand moves – including a couple of burly undercuts - to pull into the same position as per the stand; for me the sitter felt a notch up from the stand, I’d say 6C+ for the stand and 7A for the sit.
Having had Forest Rock on my radar for a while it’s good to eventually make the effort to have a few visits. The bouldering is defo on the burly side and some of the holds are quite sharp but I’ve gonnen pretty psyched for the new-to-me venue; I’ll be back again ASAP.
Finally, thanks again to local Rob Richmond for the encouragement…

26/04/2026

Forest Rock, Leicester surely good prep for a certain cave in Norway?

In just over a month (jet fuel permitting...) I should be back in the cave at Flatanger for another visit; to say im psyched would be an under statement!.

It seems sensible to max-out on the steep, 3D style climbing before the trip and there can't be many places that fit that criteria within easy drive of Sheffield better than said FR?

Fortunately, my planned project at Flatanger isn't anywhere near as hard as many of the blocs at FR; a bit of overload and adaption though woukd be a-miss though...

in action on Sourier 7A...

Easter (bunny) board goodies…Back in the covid days I, like a good few others, built a home board; since then it's becom...
06/04/2026

Easter (bunny) board goodies…

Back in the covid days I, like a good few others, built a home board; since then it's become a regular element in my training. However, for reasons entirely unknown to myself, I then went off-piste and, with a few exceptions, I've made my own holds.

Central to this process is re-purposing now un-loved wood into holds; it’s a time-consuming but interesting and satisfying activity. Perhaps un-surprisingly, builders’ skips quite often have some wonderful bits of pre-used wood. Glorious lengths of old hard-wood hand-rail, hard-wood table-tops and chair-arms/backs might be past their useful prime for their original owners but they’re perfect for making climbing holds.

Although not as durable or nice, soft wood off-cuts from building projects such as 6”x2” roof rafters or ‘mop-stick’ from lead-roofing projects can be crafted into some great holds too. I’ve even re-purposed some old ceiling beams from my own refurbish projects; once old paintwork is stripped off the grain on the 1910’s wood (Canadian Pine I think..) not only looks good it has a pretty tough grippy feel too.

Somewhat indulgently, I’ve pimped my latest batch of holds giving further protection and colour away from the edges; finally, they’re all ready to go now - just need to get them on the board...

Pixs 1&2: Collection of pinches, crimps and a disk
Pix 3: Glorious hardwood (Mahogany?) hand-rail re-purposed as big, wide pinches
Pix 4: Soft-wood ‘mop-stick’ pinches
Pix 5: Soft-wood (Canadian Pine?) from 1910’s cut/shaped into slightly in-cut flat pinches
Pix 6: Hard-wood (Sepele?) ‘arm-chair’ re-purposed into ratty crimps

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