I have just returned from an amazing two week trip climbing at Geyik Bayiri, in the Antalya region of Turkey. This was my first time visiting the country and what a very special place it is! I had an absolute blast of a trip!

So, the start of the trip involved a quick dash down to London town where we all met up and stayed the night at Chez Andre’s. The next morning involved an early start, with a taxi ride straight to Gatwick followed the usual airport shenanigans and then boom, we were on our way heading east. Destination Antalya! After a rather long 4-hour flight (we didn’t care, we were going to Turkey baby!!) we arrived in the city of Antalya. It was pretty late on, but an organised taxi was waiting for us outside to take us the last bit. We arrived at our final destination of the Climber’s Garden in the dead of night, quickly putting up our tents and then hitting the sack.

Ed Hamer climbing the classic 7c+ Parallel Universe and the Market

The next morning we awoke to an amazing view of where we were going to be based for the next two weeks. There was rock everywhere we looked! And best of all, the main and best sector (Sarkit) was less than five minutes from our tent! It really is a climber’s paradise! The first few days we all took it pretty steady, ticking off some of the classics and then gradually stepping it up a gear to send some amazing routes. Weather wise, it was pretty chilly for most of the time and we did have four days of torrential rain which were a right off and dampened our moods slightly. Not to mention soaking everything in our tent! Apart from that, all in all it was an amazing trip. One of the highlights was spending two of our rest days getting more of a cultural experience of real Turkey! This included a stroll round the local Sunday market, a rub down at the Turkish Baths, smoking strawberry Shisha and consuming large amounts of kebabs, Turkish delights and Bazlama’s.

  [caption id="attachment_1601" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Ed Hamer climbing the classic 7c+ Parallel Universe and the Market[/caption]

These are some of my best and most favourite sends of the trip:

1. Ja Ja City 7a+
2. Back on the funky planet 7b+
3. First Klas 7c (flash)
4. Parallel Universe 7c+ (flash)
5. Okrimono 7c+ (onsight)
6. Sarkit Souls 8a (flash)
7. Flat Rate 8a (onsight)
8. Plastic Fantastik 8a (onsight)
9. Richtfest 8a (onsight)
10. Trio de ligoville 8a (flash)
11. Chain Erection 8a (flash)
12. Troja 8a/+ (2nd go)
13. Colonist 8a+ (flash)
14. Ikarus 8a+ (onsight)
15. Turkish Airways 8a+ (onsight)
16. Truth Hurts 8a+ (2nd go)
17. Neptunalia 8a+ (2nd go)
18. Family Affair 8a+ (2nd go)
19. Freedom is a battle 8a+ (2nd go)
20. Sarpedon 8b+ (3rd try)

A BIG UP most go out to Andre Hedger, Dan Gibson, Ali Sen and Ethan Pringle for making the trip propa good gezza!

Serefe homie’s!