So yesterday Richo, Russell and I had a great day out at Pierces Creek bouldering at the tumblers and the Playboy Mansion... then towards the end of the day we were figuring out the sequence on a project when I tore my hamstring while using a tough heel hook that is part of the sequence we figured out...
So looks like I'm out of action for a while :-(
Will keep you all posted on how it heals... if its not too bad of a tear it may only take a week or so to heal... but only time will tell...
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Comps, gyms and weekend happenings
Last weekend I headed up to the first round of the NSW Bouldering Series... I went in B Grade and had a ripper of a time bouldering with a heap of mates, old and new :)
The Open finals were great fun to watch with a tight battle between Marc Edwards and Chris Webb, with Chris just managing to pip Marc at the post... great to watch all the guys and gals on the finals problems :)
Went for a surf on the sunday.. but I am still such a terrible surfer that I got hammered the entire time and didn't catch a single wave haha
It looks like the new climbing gym here in Canberra is coming along well... its being built in Hume and should be opening march or april... and it looks like it will be a cool gym, the design ideas are well cool... keen as for a new training venue close to home!
Well, I'm off... going to clean my car and then head out for a boulder at Pierces Creek... might put a bit of work into 'Public Enemy' at the Playboy Mansion.. we'll see...
Here is a pic of Chris on one of the finals problems.. enjoy :)
The Open finals were great fun to watch with a tight battle between Marc Edwards and Chris Webb, with Chris just managing to pip Marc at the post... great to watch all the guys and gals on the finals problems :)
Went for a surf on the sunday.. but I am still such a terrible surfer that I got hammered the entire time and didn't catch a single wave haha
It looks like the new climbing gym here in Canberra is coming along well... its being built in Hume and should be opening march or april... and it looks like it will be a cool gym, the design ideas are well cool... keen as for a new training venue close to home!
Well, I'm off... going to clean my car and then head out for a boulder at Pierces Creek... might put a bit of work into 'Public Enemy' at the Playboy Mansion.. we'll see...
Here is a pic of Chris on one of the finals problems.. enjoy :)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A quickie...
Hey all :-)
Headed out to George's Boulder and Cantaloupe Hill on the weekend... Danny got up a rad highball arete on George's Boulder that is about v5 and has a tough finish... I also managed to do the lower (sit) start into 'The Joker' up on Glitz Rock at Cantaloupe Hill ... it only adds 2 moves but they are 2 tough ones which make it about v7 from the original v6... There is a further extension from the big flake to the right but meh... thats enough for me :-)
I'm going up to Sydney to go in the first round of the NSW Bouldering Series on saturday so I'll let you all know how that goes.
See ya!
Headed out to George's Boulder and Cantaloupe Hill on the weekend... Danny got up a rad highball arete on George's Boulder that is about v5 and has a tough finish... I also managed to do the lower (sit) start into 'The Joker' up on Glitz Rock at Cantaloupe Hill ... it only adds 2 moves but they are 2 tough ones which make it about v7 from the original v6... There is a further extension from the big flake to the right but meh... thats enough for me :-)
I'm going up to Sydney to go in the first round of the NSW Bouldering Series on saturday so I'll let you all know how that goes.
See ya!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Finally!
Yesterday afternoon I headed out to Pierces Creek with Steph for a quick boulder and I managed to finally do 'Gastagon', a v7 at Cohiba... So I'm well chuffed at the moment!
I wasn't sure if I should head out as I was a little tired because I went to the pool before hand and swam 3kms, but I'm glad I headed out regardless!
I have been hitting the pool a fair bit lately actually... swimming 1km or so a few nights a week which is making me feel great and a lot fitter so I'll be keeping it up :-)
Well, today we are heading out to Pierces Creek again to try a few things... will let you know how it goes!
I wasn't sure if I should head out as I was a little tired because I went to the pool before hand and swam 3kms, but I'm glad I headed out regardless!
I have been hitting the pool a fair bit lately actually... swimming 1km or so a few nights a week which is making me feel great and a lot fitter so I'll be keeping it up :-)
Well, today we are heading out to Pierces Creek again to try a few things... will let you know how it goes!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Its been a while... again
So its been far too long since I wrote in here... mainly due to laziness I guess haha
The first month of the year is gone already and has seen its share of fun. Richo, Danny, Josh and I have been heading up into the hills to find cooler temps at Mt Coree and Hollywood a bit of late... thats right folks... roped climbing... something I have not done in a long time! But its been well fun, and I have managed to redpoint routes up to 25 which I am really happy about :-)
We also jumped on a rope in the blistering heat at Red Rocks last weekend which was fun too, as well as going down the rapids on blow up pool toys haha.
There has been a bit of bouldering too... North Black, Pierces Creek, Red Rocks and Hollywood.. but only when the heat allows really...
Hopefully there will be a heap more action on the blocs as the weather cools done over the next few months leading up to Easter!
I promise I'll be back in here writing more often from now on... no more being lazy haha
The first month of the year is gone already and has seen its share of fun. Richo, Danny, Josh and I have been heading up into the hills to find cooler temps at Mt Coree and Hollywood a bit of late... thats right folks... roped climbing... something I have not done in a long time! But its been well fun, and I have managed to redpoint routes up to 25 which I am really happy about :-)
We also jumped on a rope in the blistering heat at Red Rocks last weekend which was fun too, as well as going down the rapids on blow up pool toys haha.
There has been a bit of bouldering too... North Black, Pierces Creek, Red Rocks and Hollywood.. but only when the heat allows really...
Hopefully there will be a heap more action on the blocs as the weather cools done over the next few months leading up to Easter!
I promise I'll be back in here writing more often from now on... no more being lazy haha
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year!
Well its a new year and the silly season is almost behind us... Steph and I have spent a few days down the coast with the family where I managed to catch a few waves finally haha (I think I have now gone from being a terrible surfer to being a beginner surfer haha)
We have managed to squeeze in some late evening bouldering once the days cool down, bouldering during the day in 30 odd degree sun is impossible...
But its been fun and I managed to get up a v6 out on Corin Road on boxing day and last night I saw in the new year with a quick ascent of 'Ronaldo' v7 out at the Playboy Mansion at Pierces Creek :-)
We are going to head out again this evening so then its back off to work again tomorrow...
Hope you all had a merry christmas and a happy new year!
We have managed to squeeze in some late evening bouldering once the days cool down, bouldering during the day in 30 odd degree sun is impossible...
But its been fun and I managed to get up a v6 out on Corin Road on boxing day and last night I saw in the new year with a quick ascent of 'Ronaldo' v7 out at the Playboy Mansion at Pierces Creek :-)
We are going to head out again this evening so then its back off to work again tomorrow...
Hope you all had a merry christmas and a happy new year!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Sydney, Surf & Sandstone
Its been quite times lately with the bizarre summer weather we are having stopping most attempts to get out bouldering... hot and wet is not exactly great bouldering conditions unfortunately!
I headed to Sydney for the weekend and had a fun afternoon trying to surf at Maroubra Beach on saturday (meaning I spent several hours getting smashed by big waves and not getting up on a single one of them haha)
Then on sunday Chris, Teegan, Marcus and I headed to The Fear Factory for a few hours of fun bouldering where we all managed to get up a few nice problems as well as get shut down by some hard highball slabs... fun in the sun :-)
Well, I will post some pics up again soon, for now were off to boulder at Pierces Creek... Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
Have fun and keep safe!
I headed to Sydney for the weekend and had a fun afternoon trying to surf at Maroubra Beach on saturday (meaning I spent several hours getting smashed by big waves and not getting up on a single one of them haha)
Then on sunday Chris, Teegan, Marcus and I headed to The Fear Factory for a few hours of fun bouldering where we all managed to get up a few nice problems as well as get shut down by some hard highball slabs... fun in the sun :-)
Well, I will post some pics up again soon, for now were off to boulder at Pierces Creek... Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
Have fun and keep safe!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Its been a while...
So it has been a while since I last posted... but with good reason... summer is here so its pretty warm, plus we have had more rain recently than we have had in years... So its been hot, wet and humid most of the time for a few weeks now... Not exactly bouldering weather unfortunately.
We did manage to get out to North Black and do a few problems today, and I fell at the end of a nice v6 so I'm keen to get back out and try it again soon.
Steph and I are off to the beach tomorrow for a swim and a surf / skimboard... Hopefully I will have some more climbing news soon :-)
We did manage to get out to North Black and do a few problems today, and I fell at the end of a nice v6 so I'm keen to get back out and try it again soon.
Steph and I are off to the beach tomorrow for a swim and a surf / skimboard... Hopefully I will have some more climbing news soon :-)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Hot Hot Hot!
So summer is well and truly here in Canberra... its been 30+ degrees celcius every day for a while now and its almost too hot to climb so it will be late afternoons doing easy problems for a few months now I think... its just too hot to send anything hard :-(
Chis Webb, Helen Day & I went to Bungonia Gorge last friday and while it was too hot to do much I had a play on a nice v8 that I'll be keen to get back and do once it cools down... I can see me spending a fair bit of time there over next winter... Such a great bouldering area! But the walkout is a nightmare haha
Have fun guys and gals... I'll write again soon :-)
Chis Webb, Helen Day & I went to Bungonia Gorge last friday and while it was too hot to do much I had a play on a nice v8 that I'll be keen to get back and do once it cools down... I can see me spending a fair bit of time there over next winter... Such a great bouldering area! But the walkout is a nightmare haha
Have fun guys and gals... I'll write again soon :-)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
More North Black
Two posts in one day... who would have thought it! haha
Josh, Richo and I popped out to North Black this afternoon for a few hours bouldering at 'The Hill'.
While perhaps not in top form Josh and I managed to do a cool and slightly highball v5 and Richo got up the classic v4 on the left end of the steep wall.
We all spent the remainder of the time falling off various desperate problems on the steep wall there... I'm keen to work on the undercling v8 traverse there... so gotta get out there again soon!
Josh, Richo and I popped out to North Black this afternoon for a few hours bouldering at 'The Hill'.
While perhaps not in top form Josh and I managed to do a cool and slightly highball v5 and Richo got up the classic v4 on the left end of the steep wall.
We all spent the remainder of the time falling off various desperate problems on the steep wall there... I'm keen to work on the undercling v8 traverse there... so gotta get out there again soon!
North Black
Well the weekend just gone had a bit more rain than we would have liked for bouldering but the land needs the rain so I am sure we can put up with it!
It rained way too much on friday night for us to boulder on saturday so we trained out at the gym in Mitchell for a few hours in the afternoon...
On sunday all was well though so Ross and I headed out to North Black and had a pretty successful day!
We started at 'Frost Hollow' where Ross did a nice v3 and I did an extended start to the awesome 'Sisyphus'... we then tried a few hard things and got thoroughly spanked on them haha
Then we went and had a quick burn on Chris Webb's unrepeated 'Lonesome' v11... damn that thing is hard, and such an awesome line! Long term project for sure ;)
After that we headed to 'The Hill' and we both flashed a nice v4. I also did a new first ascent on the steep wall there... Starting on the low edge and undercling on the far left of the wall (its a bit of a short man start) then up and right to a new top out between the left hand problem and the v8 in the middle... I called it "Smack My Bitch Up' and its about v6.
So all in all a good day that left us psyched to get back out there and finish off unfinished business!
It rained way too much on friday night for us to boulder on saturday so we trained out at the gym in Mitchell for a few hours in the afternoon...
On sunday all was well though so Ross and I headed out to North Black and had a pretty successful day!
We started at 'Frost Hollow' where Ross did a nice v3 and I did an extended start to the awesome 'Sisyphus'... we then tried a few hard things and got thoroughly spanked on them haha
Then we went and had a quick burn on Chris Webb's unrepeated 'Lonesome' v11... damn that thing is hard, and such an awesome line! Long term project for sure ;)
After that we headed to 'The Hill' and we both flashed a nice v4. I also did a new first ascent on the steep wall there... Starting on the low edge and undercling on the far left of the wall (its a bit of a short man start) then up and right to a new top out between the left hand problem and the v8 in the middle... I called it "Smack My Bitch Up' and its about v6.
So all in all a good day that left us psyched to get back out there and finish off unfinished business!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Rainy weekends...
Well this weekend we managed to get out to Pierces Creek after work on friday afternoon and Josh and I did a tough little problem called 'Pizza Knob' v5 at The Tumblers.
Other than that we got alot of rain all weekend and didnt really climb at all...
Oh well, this weekend should be alot more productive! (We hope!)
Other than that we got alot of rain all weekend and didnt really climb at all...
Oh well, this weekend should be alot more productive! (We hope!)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Pierces Creek
So yet again it is nearly the weekend and I am only just getting around to telling you all what we got up to last weekend haha
Well last saturday Josh, Dave and myself (with Josh's 2 yr old girl Hayley too of course!) got ourselves out to Pierces Creek for a bit of granite action.
We had a ball, but didn't actually manage to get up anything... we played on 'Gastagon' v7 at Cohiba, only to fall just short of the burly opening gaston move time and time again! But we were close so it will happen sooner or later :-)
Then we were of the The Playboy Mansion to try 'Public Enemy' v7. Josh did well but the reachy cross through moves shut me down... but not to worry, I'm keen to try again because it is such an awesome line... a truly classic Canberra line!
Then Josh headed home and Dave and I stopped in at The Tumblers so I could try out one last problem. Again I left empty handed, but psyched to go back and finish what I'd started.
All in all a fun day that left us keen to get back out to Pierces Creek to finish off some tasty granite lines!
Heres a few pics.. enjoy!
Me trying, and trying, and trying to stick the first move of 'Gastagon'
Josh crossing his way through the start moves of the awesome 'Public Enemy'
Me again on the last problem of the day
Well last saturday Josh, Dave and myself (with Josh's 2 yr old girl Hayley too of course!) got ourselves out to Pierces Creek for a bit of granite action.
We had a ball, but didn't actually manage to get up anything... we played on 'Gastagon' v7 at Cohiba, only to fall just short of the burly opening gaston move time and time again! But we were close so it will happen sooner or later :-)
Then we were of the The Playboy Mansion to try 'Public Enemy' v7. Josh did well but the reachy cross through moves shut me down... but not to worry, I'm keen to try again because it is such an awesome line... a truly classic Canberra line!
Then Josh headed home and Dave and I stopped in at The Tumblers so I could try out one last problem. Again I left empty handed, but psyched to go back and finish what I'd started.
All in all a fun day that left us keen to get back out to Pierces Creek to finish off some tasty granite lines!
Heres a few pics.. enjoy!
Me trying, and trying, and trying to stick the first move of 'Gastagon'
Josh crossing his way through the start moves of the awesome 'Public Enemy'
Me again on the last problem of the dayThursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Nowra!
So for one reason and another I didn't manage to get to Nowra while the conditions were good this winter, but Danny and I managed to sneak in one last session there on saturday after delivering a load of furniture (Danny is a removalist, so they paid me to help him out... haha, a paid bouldering trip, how often does that happen!)
We went to Lot 33 and warmed up on the nice easier problems at the right end of the wall before Danny jumped on the classic v7 further to the left... after a bit of work he nailed it, adding yet another hard problem to his increasingly impressive tick list.
I had done that problem some years back so decided to try the other v7 that leads in from the left to the same finish as the one Danny did... and I managed to send it after a few goes which was great :-)
This weekend were probably going to hit up North Black... then hopefully we will also get a trip in to Bungonia one weekend very soon before it starts getting too hot.
Have fun kids!
Heres a few pics from Nowra... enjoy!
Danny warming up
Me warming up
Danny on the v7 he sent
Me on the start of the v7 I sent
We went to Lot 33 and warmed up on the nice easier problems at the right end of the wall before Danny jumped on the classic v7 further to the left... after a bit of work he nailed it, adding yet another hard problem to his increasingly impressive tick list.
I had done that problem some years back so decided to try the other v7 that leads in from the left to the same finish as the one Danny did... and I managed to send it after a few goes which was great :-)
This weekend were probably going to hit up North Black... then hopefully we will also get a trip in to Bungonia one weekend very soon before it starts getting too hot.
Have fun kids!
Heres a few pics from Nowra... enjoy!
Danny warming up
Me warming up
Danny on the v7 he sent
Me on the start of the v7 I sentFriday, October 19, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Sexual Innuendo?
It must be the week for sending!
Chris with his mammoth effort on The Wheel on saturday, then a bit of luck for some of us here at home...
Last night we ducked up to Corin Road after work where Danny Ewald made quick work of 'The Joker' v6... (It should be noted that Danny first ever rock climbed 5 months ago, and he is now pretty solid on the v5 - v6 range... VERY impressive!) then we ran down the hill and drove to Georges Boulder before the light failed and I managed to send 'Phone Sex' v8... my first hard problem like that in over 4 years.. so Im stoked!!!
We will be back out there Thursday this week after work as Josh & Danny are both really close to 'Phone Sex' as well... hopefully we can all send this week :-D
I'll get some more good pics of it on Thursday and get them up in here for you all to see this week!
Take care,
Duncan
Chris with his mammoth effort on The Wheel on saturday, then a bit of luck for some of us here at home...
Last night we ducked up to Corin Road after work where Danny Ewald made quick work of 'The Joker' v6... (It should be noted that Danny first ever rock climbed 5 months ago, and he is now pretty solid on the v5 - v6 range... VERY impressive!) then we ran down the hill and drove to Georges Boulder before the light failed and I managed to send 'Phone Sex' v8... my first hard problem like that in over 4 years.. so Im stoked!!!
We will be back out there Thursday this week after work as Josh & Danny are both really close to 'Phone Sex' as well... hopefully we can all send this week :-D
I'll get some more good pics of it on Thursday and get them up in here for you all to see this week!
Take care,
Duncan
Monday, October 15, 2007
Chris sends 'The Wheel Of Life' v16!!!
On Saturday Chris Webb Parsons made the coveted 2nd ascent of "The Wheel Of Life' v16 (8C+) in Hollow Mountain Cave in The Grampians, Victoria, Australia.
This is such a massive achievement and I couldn't be prouder of him... awesome work mate!!!
More info, pics, etc soon, but for now here is a pic of Chris near the end of the problem courtesy of his own blog...
Good work Chris!!!
This is such a massive achievement and I couldn't be prouder of him... awesome work mate!!!
More info, pics, etc soon, but for now here is a pic of Chris near the end of the problem courtesy of his own blog...
Good work Chris!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Quiet times...
Sorry for not posting for a little while... we havent really been up to much in the last week or two...
We haed a bucks party that wrote off last weekend, then this weekend we have a wedding... so no bouldering for us...
But we have been hitting up Georges Boulder out on Corin Road after work when we can and Josh & I are reeeeaaaally close to doing 'Phone Sex' v8... we have both fallen slapping the last hold a few times now... so hopefully it will go soon! I'll be sure to let y'all know as soon as it happens :-)
Take care all, and I'll be back with good news soon hopefully!
Duncan
We haed a bucks party that wrote off last weekend, then this weekend we have a wedding... so no bouldering for us...
But we have been hitting up Georges Boulder out on Corin Road after work when we can and Josh & I are reeeeaaaally close to doing 'Phone Sex' v8... we have both fallen slapping the last hold a few times now... so hopefully it will go soon! I'll be sure to let y'all know as soon as it happens :-)
Take care all, and I'll be back with good news soon hopefully!
Duncan
Monday, October 1, 2007
Fun in the sun...
Hey all, hope we all had good weekends!
And to all those having a long weekend this weekend due to labour day... nuts to you all... Its not fair that Im stuck here at work while your all out having fun :-(
Oh well... I made up for my lack of a long weekend by thouroughly enjoying the two days I did have.
Saturday Dave Pearson and I met up with Danny Ewald and his mate Coby up at the Balkans in Sydney.
Danny and I managed a few v5's amongst a stack of other fun, easier stuff (There is so much fun stuff there!) and Coby, having never climbed a day in his life bouldered a few v3's like a natural!
Dave had a blinder of a day sending 4 x v5's, 2 v6's ('A2 is not a Tank' & 'Who Killed The Kennedys') as well as 2 v8's ('Boogie Nights' and 'Paratroopin') both is few shots!
The kid is sooooo strong at the moment and its only going to get better... might have to break his legs or something to make it a bit fairer haha Nah, farkin good stuff Dave :-)
Sunday saw Josh Higgins and I head out to Georges Boulder on Corin Dam Road to check out 'Phone Sex', a classic Canberra v8.
We warmed up by doing the v4 traverse then jumped on 'Phone Sex' only to get shut down.
We both didnt feel too strong but the problem felt way too hard for us... but after a chat with Dave last night we might have been missing the right sequence... next time might prove a bit more fruitful with the right beta... We'll see soon enough :-)
Anyhow, take care, have fun and I'll drop another line in here soon!
Duncan
And to all those having a long weekend this weekend due to labour day... nuts to you all... Its not fair that Im stuck here at work while your all out having fun :-(
Oh well... I made up for my lack of a long weekend by thouroughly enjoying the two days I did have.
Saturday Dave Pearson and I met up with Danny Ewald and his mate Coby up at the Balkans in Sydney.
Danny and I managed a few v5's amongst a stack of other fun, easier stuff (There is so much fun stuff there!) and Coby, having never climbed a day in his life bouldered a few v3's like a natural!
Dave had a blinder of a day sending 4 x v5's, 2 v6's ('A2 is not a Tank' & 'Who Killed The Kennedys') as well as 2 v8's ('Boogie Nights' and 'Paratroopin') both is few shots!
The kid is sooooo strong at the moment and its only going to get better... might have to break his legs or something to make it a bit fairer haha Nah, farkin good stuff Dave :-)
Sunday saw Josh Higgins and I head out to Georges Boulder on Corin Dam Road to check out 'Phone Sex', a classic Canberra v8.
We warmed up by doing the v4 traverse then jumped on 'Phone Sex' only to get shut down.
We both didnt feel too strong but the problem felt way too hard for us... but after a chat with Dave last night we might have been missing the right sequence... next time might prove a bit more fruitful with the right beta... We'll see soon enough :-)
Anyhow, take care, have fun and I'll drop another line in here soon!
Duncan
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