Matt de Vaal

Matt de Vaal
Above: Matt leading the Windowpane Flake on Lurking Fear. Photo: Tom Evans.

Matt started climbing on the gritstone out crops of the North Yorkshire moors near his home in Wenslydale. He has now been climbing for over 20 years, mainly on rock, but he has been known to wield his ice axes to great effect when conditions allow.

Matt enjoys long multi-pitch climbs most of all and this has taken him to some of the best free climbing walls in Europe and North America. Some of his climbing highlights to date include: The Nose and Salathe Wall (5.9, C2), El Captain, Yosemite, USA; Hass/ Brandler (7a+), Cima Grande, Italy; Bouldering in Hampi, India; Multi-pitch ice climbing in Rujkan, Norway; A winter ascent of Botterill’s Slab (V, 6), Scafell, Hell’s Wall (E6 6c F7C+), Bowderstone Crag, Borrowdale. Combined running and soloing in the Borrowdale valley - Little Chamonix, Troutdale Pinnacle and Bowderstone Pinnacle (from Shepherd's Cafe and back again, 1hr 43mins. More recently he has climbed Lurking Fear (C2 F 5.7) and Triple Direct (C2 5.8) both being Big Wall aid routes on El Captain, the Old Man of Hoy (E1 5b), as well a a lot of routes at Squamish, Canada. He has also achieved several personal bests in bouldering, both in the Lakes and on Yorkshire grit.

Matt is our Shop Assistant Manager.

Matt de Vaal

Matt de Vaal
Matt starting up the crux pitch of Botterill’s Slab (V, 6), Scafell, winter 2009/10.
Photo: Wes Hunter.

Matt de Vaal
Matt under the crux headwall pitch of Salathé Wall (5.9 C2) on El Capitan, Yosemite, USA. Photo: Matt de Vaal Collection.

Matt de Vaal
Matt on the third pitch of the Hass Brandler, Cima Grande, Dolomites, Italy. Photo: Duncan Booth.
Matt de Vaal
Matt leading the superb Strait Gate (E1 5b) at Mother Carey's Kitchen, Pembroke.
Photo: Chris Moore.

Matt de Vaal
Matt on Heart of Darkness/New Morning (E1 5b) Mowing Word, Pembroke.
Photo: Wes Hunter.

Matt de Vaal
Matt emulates the new Lake District Bouldering guide cover on The Secret Garden (F7a), Jopplety How.
Photo: Duncan Campbell.

Matt de Vaal
Matt (definitely not having a strop!) on Sulky Little Boys (F7a+), Slipstones.
Photo: Matt de Vaal collection.

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.

Your order contains no items