I've decided on a name for the new line on the green wall directly right of It's Over. Becuase of the history of all of us [us being, Mal, Watson, Murray, James, MacLeod, Tweedly ecetera, so on & so forth] having, at one time, all stared at it as blankly as it stared back, it was deemed 'stupid to even contemplate climbing'; so I've stuck with Paper Tiger - hard v13. Many said it was impossible & even I had serious doubts until tiny crimps evolved & a finger flake became a big high sloper after frenzied levering. Psychotic wire brushng also produced tiny edges that tip the balance in favour of mortal human resolve. The climbing is steep, fluid, natural, hard & extremely exciting, almost flowing when you get into the riddim of what it's asking you to do. With the holds almost laid out like a star constellation below a crescent moon when it's all chalked up, it becomes a disturbingly inviting piece of visual rock art, willing you to try, feasable & aligned for the wingspan & upward thrust. Anyways, what we all thought may incite the outrageous mutterings of V16, is merely a Paper Tiger...definately a growler, but not as frightening as first thought. Why did you all run away? I had a pointy stick at the ready! I feel this line will prove to be a truly important addition to bouldering in the Western Isles, it's simply that inspiring to do, & at a slightly more accessable grade than It's Over &, at the same time, below the v15/16 grade it dreamt itself to be; mooted in the eyes of silent watchers. If I could have a problem in my back garden to throw shapes on in the morning, a brew perched steaming in the grass, this would be it; but then the Coire is my back garden in a way. It just shows what a bit of cleaning & tenacity can achieve, whatever your level. Two down, one to go. All that remains in the cave is the full left to right link aye Pete, so bring the portable film studio. John should be in touch soon...If the full link traverse goes down this Autumn it's gonna be a Font black grade of epic proportions...Cogito ergo sum hombre, cogito ergo sum.
When you look up the meaning it says: The phrase paper tiger is a literal English translation of the Chinese phrase Zhi Laohu [紙老虎], meaning something which seems as threatening as a tiger, but is in all reality, relatively harmless.
paper tiger: n.
One that is seemingly dangerous and powerful but is in fact timid and weak: “They are paper tigers, weak and indecisive” [Frederick Forsyth].
Secondly, the name fits alot of those who's soul intention appears to be to spend their lives sparking off flames of useless rhetoric in climbing forums & pointless bitching matches, throwing un-centered witless insults at any positive achievment or conversation that happens by, & shite, at otherwise clean windows. Paper Tigers come in several forms for me, but the latter is the most ineffectual.
紙老虎
