Waiting for he parties above to finish/ start the final pitch, I headed off on the "mica eliminate" variation .. however I missed the "thin crack" and wandered onto the next door route - The Plum. and completed the top crux move as we over took the other parties, still making their way up the top pitch of Christmas Curry.
After a coffee, I was asked to do it again by Sue, and so went around to the bottom (Chris was just starting up it, so I handed over Sue and stole Bryon). I had a devious plan ... above the start here was the departure for the Plum ... having done part of the crux .. we should complete the remainder?
The first pitch, goes up a corner, onto the arete and up a scoop, all of which Bryon takes in his stride (with lots of puffing), the scoop being more of a cartoon leg running affair.
The second pitch from the solid belay platform you don't want to leave, climbs an off-width crack to a corner and then back to the arete and up as I had done before. I landed in a heap at the top completely drained ... only for Bryon to follow in exactly the same manner ... Bryon's first E1
The long journey home was hard with muscles that were sore and getting stiff .