Climbing on two legs again

This is a little piece done for us by LD Mountain Centre Friend Barry Hobbs, site manager for Go ape Matfen. We all hope to do the ativities we love for as long as we can, here is a positive example of surgery allowing someone to continue taking part in the sport they love.

After nearly forty years of self abuse through climbing and fell-running, I recently had a total hip replacement.  Although the surgeon said that climbing with it wasn’t recommended, he also explained what sort of movements would be most hazardous.  Because of the pain and lack of mobility over the last few years with the old hip, I was already being careful with cross-over movements and so have found the total hip replace to be an outstanding success.

Barry belaying Jon from our webteam on little chamonix 6/7 months after his op.

I dutifully waited 6 months following the operation and on my first day back on rock, led the final pitch of Little Chamonix before seconding Fisher’s Folly, Kransic Crack and Eve.  I had no ill effects and have now found that I am climbing better than for the last few years and more importantly, am very confident in the strength and stability of my new implant.

Barry climbing trees prior to the hip replacement

I visited Chamonix a month later and led a few bolted climbs and then set the pace on a via ferrata down the valley.  The other member of the team were all a lot younger and I found that I was having to wait for them to catch up- it gave me a chance to enjoy spectacular views over Mont Blanc!