Having started climbing at the age of 15 I have spent most of my climbing time developing the bouldering of Dartmoor and climbing numerous new routes around the South West region of the UK. These have included the first E7’s on Dartmoor, Devon’s first French 7c Deep water solo, not to mention numerous onsight solos of classic Deep Water solos.

My early climbing years appeared to have the most rapid improvements, onsighting Trad E6 at the age of 17 after just over a year, redpointing 8a after 2 years and then soloing The Mightier Fr 7c+ (considered to equate to about and E9 headpoint) after 3 years at the age of 18. I then finished my A levels and intended to have a “gap” year with the intention of heading off to university, I am currently on my 9th gap year as my addiction to climbing in the South West proved too strong! There are still plenty of new routes to be climbed and bouldering areas to find so I should be kept busy for a while!

My training consists of going bouldering on Dartmoor interspersed with soloing (up to E5 on a good day!) to keep my head in gear. When I’m not climbing I enjoy a bit of road cycling and when it rains enough to fill up the rivers I go white water kayaking (up to Grade 5 on a good day) this helps keep to me fitt(ish!)
To finance myself I work as a freelance “this and that”, a job title that includes guiding clients on routes around the South West, writing articles for Climber and On The Edge magazines and doing the odd bit of Rope Access work. I have also written a few local climbing guidebooks and am working on a new edition of South West Climbs with the Pat Littlejohn.

I have now been a Black Diamond team member for four and a half years and don’t have a favorite piece of Black Diamond gear, it’s all good!

Dave Henderson also runs a website www.javu.co.uk
which provides free information and guides on South West Climbing in the UK.

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