Category: trip reports

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general snow trip reports

“i can see why people eat them”

In honour of the Queen (may she long reign over us, etc) we hiked up the highest mountain in the state on the long weekend. Much less pointy and impressive than the mountains available in Europe and Asia and those sorts of places, but high(ish) at 1986m (6516 ft). And snow-covered, which has to count for something.

After parking the car at around 650 metres, we spent most of Sunday going uphill.

Up Staircase Spur, through the singed mountain ash, past Bivouac Hut, past the growing collections of snow at the side of the path, through the snowgum regrowth, and finally out into the open, where it started to get seriously windy.

We ditched our packs for the final press up to the summit. After climbing on top of the summit cairn and admiring the amazingly clear view, we spent most of our time cowering in the shelter of the cairn. With winds around 80km/h, and a temperature of -8oC or so (down to around -20oC with wind chill) it was nice and cool.

After retrieving our packs, we didn’t have far to go to reach Eskdale Spur. Not far, but over the very exposed section of about 100 metres before the spur turnoff, Corey lost his pack cover, Mikey was blown over a couple of times, and managed to break the handle of the snow shovel strapped to his pack (and in the process coming to the conclusion that Blundstone boots really aren’t the ideal snow hiking shoe). Once we started heading down the spur, the wind died down and things became quite pleasant. We dropped down to below 1700 metres, and found Michell Hut, newly rebuilt after the previous hut at the site was burnt down in the 2003 bushfires.

The full moon popped up as soon as we’d finished watching the sunset. Dinner was cooked, no port was consumed, and we all crawled straight into bed (spending some time enjoying the educational ‘Outback’ magazine).

After 10 hours of sleep, the sun finally reappeared, and we hiked the other 1 km of down down down to get off the mountain. The good weather held, my knees held, the car was still there, and we got to meet a ferret.

Categories
general hiking trip reports

happy mothers day

After driving along a bumpy windy hilly dirt road for what seemed forever, through fog and then snow, we arrived at the carpark on Friday night, at about 12.30. Consensus was to hike in then, so we didn’t have to pack up camp in the morning. Half an hour later we were in warm hiking clothes, packs at the ready. Ten minutes later half of the clothes had been removed, and shoes were getting damp from slogging through snow. The full moon was so bright you could nearly manage without a headlamp… except for those occasional rocks lurking in the snow, or frozen over puddles lying in wait to trap you… I turned my headlamp back on. Five kilometres later we reached the Vallejo Gantner Hut. Ran up to look at Crosscut Saw, covered in snow, under the light of the full moon. After setting up the tent, I ran around taking photos until I remembered it was getting close to 3am and I should really be in bed.

Sleep in, then a lazy wander out to Mt Howitt on Saturday.

 
We napped in the sun on the summit for a couple of hours – beautiful clear day, no wind at all, before moving on to the West Peak of Howitt, and napping there (and building a snow alien).

 
Finally we wandered back to the hut, to cook dinner on the steps as the sun set, and clouds rolled over Crosscut Saw and started filling up Terrible Hollow. Then moved inside where the fire was warm, and there was Tokay to drink.

 
Waking up Sunday, we were in cloud, so walked out to the cars instead of spending a day hiking along Crosscut Saw with views of whiteness. Loaded the cars up and drove a few kilometres down the road, to hike into Bryce’s Gorge, and waterfalls that probably don’t flow so much in the Summer… these are Conglomerate Falls.

 
Back around the loop, past Guy’s Hut – a basic drover style one, rather than the luxury of the Vallejo Gantner – and back out to the cars, and home again home again, along the windy windy roads through the dark and rain.

Categories
climbing general trip reports

the blue mountains is a lovely place

A long (long) Easter weekend was spent at Blackheath, in the Blue Mountains. The weather and climbing were both lovely, and the old house we rented for a week was interesting, particularly with 15 people staying in it. A sample of our adventures in the photos below. As per usual, when the most climbing was being done, there was no photographic evidence. Conclusion from the trip – Sydney climbers have it pretty good when it comes to quality rock nearby (also some other conclusions about Sydney being warmer, but Melbourne being a nicer city to live in, or something like that).

 
Helen manages the reachy crux on the appropriately named Pommy Filth (19), Mount York

 
Samantha belays Dave on Noodle (15), Mount York

 
Hannah slabs it up at Porters Pass

 
More blue skies as Ness does the first ascent of a newly bolted 18 at Mt Piddington

 
Jackie contemplates the crimpy crux of Cutopia (23) at Porters Pass

 
Jesse laughs in the face of those who climb without class

Categories
climbing general trip reports

minions to carry the cowbells

A warm sunny weekend was spent at Arapiles, as we took out a heap of beginners to play on the rock, and come multi-pitching.

Nothing quite like sleeping outside in the Pines campground, watching satellites before you fall asleep, listening to the guys in the campsite next door talk about their epics on past climbs, and having possums run all over the campsite, and over you in your sleeping bag, as they hunt around for food. And then getting woken up by the rising moon, before falling asleep again, and getting woken by the sun the second time around.

Clear blue skies, and noone fell to their deaths while rapelling. Not a bad weekend.

Categories
climbing general trip reports

back to tasmania

No, I’m not actually going back to Tasmania. Well, not at the moment anyway. But here are a few more photos from the trip, just to prove there really was some climbing, and I wasn’t just touring around notable Tasmanian climbing locations. Most of the places we climbed at, we were the only people there.

Boer heading up Cordon Bleu (15) at Freycinet

 
I second up after Boer on Cordon Blue – damning the stuck nut.

 
Bouldering on the beach at Honeymoon Bay. This rock was actually thoroughly manky, and swathes of sand and debris would come off any time you tried to do anything.

 
All throughout Tasmania, we kept seeing hoards of surfers. So many cars had surfboards on their rooves – it was ridiculous, I’d never realised Tassie was a prime surfing destination. Anyway, apparently this is one of the places the crazy people surf. And Cape Raoul, off in the background – I’d really like to climb there.