Cat Hollow Rock Climbing

[merock]

Since it is to hot to climb in Texas during the summer, we take to the water. Usually out at pace bend, but this is a new cave that someone found early in the summer. Also note that this line has only been climbed all the way to the top by two people. It's not easy, and it's pretty scarey.

[Dsheree]

no way in h*ll!

nice images btw.

[TXhummer2]

That looks too tough!!! I hope you weren't laughing too hard to take a splash photo! That would be highly disrespectful!

[gardener]

Great pictures!

[merock]

PSYCHED!!!!!!

Just talke to the editor of Rock and Ice magazine and these two are in consideration for cover! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

[TXhummer2]

Kool!

[MarcoFromHouston]

Hey Merrick, you may have answered this question in another thread.......

How do you get these shots? Are you attached to a special rig or something?

Good luck on the magazine cover!

[KrazyKevin]

The last shot, did he fall or did he make it and just jump off in the water? Very cool pics!!!

[mobilezen]

I like the first pic that rock & ice are considering! Best of luck man!

[merock]

Originally Posted by mtorres123

Hey Merrick, you may have answered this question in another thread.......
How do you get these shots? Are you attached to a special rig or something?

I dont think anyone has asked this before. It's dependent on the area and the situation. For this shot, I went to the top of the cliff and found a tree, made an anchor, then rappelled into cave. I bring ascenders along too so I can move about once I am hanging on the rope. It's not a lot of fun cause you are just sitting there suspended for quite some time in a harness.... I sometimes lose feeling in my legs cause the blood circulation gets cut off.
Alot of times the angle is very dependent on the area. In this case, I would have loved to been more on top and shooting directly down on the climbers, but you work with what you can. Here is a shot of the entire cave taken with a WA to get a better idea of what I was working with. The line that they are on is cave right infront of the boats, and I was basically in the middle of the cave to the right a bit. But yeah, just a rope, harness, ascender and a belay device. I also attach the camera to my harness with a sling incase I drop it...... and yes I have my camera insured

[JPalmer]

That is why rock climbers make great rock climbing photographers.

I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to get shots like this...but I don't yet have the technical knowledge to pull it off.

great stuff and here's hopin for a cover

[merock]

Sorry to bump, but.......









































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I GOT COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TXhummer2]

Yay, Merrick!!!!!!!!

[iCe]

<Searches for high five icon> Sweet deal!!!

[JPalmer]

Which one did they go for?