Black Magic

originally E6 6a, of course if felt desperate for 6a, but that's pex for you. A heart symbol doesn't do it justice a small starfish would be more appopriate
l applat - 07/Nov/03

E6 for the solo and E5 for leading sorted!
neil williams - 08/Oct/04

Yeah, what a beaut- or atleast it was. Me and a mate started our climbing career at Pex and had this one in our sites all year. Every time we stuck a toprope on it, it STILL felt desperate, no matter how strong we got. Then, 364 days after starting at Pex and with the wall greasing over as the winter approached, I busted it. Just. And just aswell. Turns out that some GOON customisted it to his specifications during winter '95/'96. Just for the record, my mate, Dan Maltman was probably the last person to climb it in its original form(Sat 4th Nov, '95) albeit on a toprope. That long, hot, dry summer left the Dateline wall good to climb longer than usual in '95, but just the following weekend it was untouchable. COULD be wrong about that one though, so if you know better...

As for the fruit who chipped it, I'm SOOO sorry to hear he had a 'little accident' on the Dateline. No, honestly. Hey, maybe there's a god afterall.

Understand it was Buzz Jones who repaired the holds at the time (again, could be wrong about this). Props to him for even trying. Got to say though, it's nothing like it was. I know it's only a rock climb, but those holds had so much character.
Nicky Reid - 30/Jan/05

I think it waas Pete Chadwick who repaired the holds. He mixed in some of the sand from the quarry floor to improve the texture and colour but your right, it's not quite the same.
andy farnell - 31/Jan/05

Back about the time he did the first solos of Right Wall and Cockblock, Phil Davidson used to down solo this. That said, it has got harder with abseilers kicking off small holds, and after the chipping incident when Buzz filled in the chips too well. Little welsh git.
Pekkie - 18/Jun/05