One last hoorah

So it is the last weekend before we head to the Grampians next saturday, and it was a great way to finish up before heading south.

Saturday saw us up at Cantaloupe Hill again where things went down left, right and centre, mainly from Ben haha

Ian sent 'Vendetta' v7 and I got up 'Stopping All Stations' v8/9 finally. Ben managed to do 'Vendetta' first shot after trying it before and then flash 'Stopping All Stations'... very impressive.

Then we went up the hill further where he sent 'Blood Makes Noise' v7 and 'Scream' v8... A mightily impressive day by any standards!

I took the big fall after missing the highball dyno finish of 'Scream' about 6 times... I'll have to go back for it another day.

Sunday Russell and I headed up to Castle Hill for a play around. We did a few nice east things and played on a great, hard project we found. Will have to go up and work on it some more... it was well 'ard!

Now its only 6 sleeps till we go on holiday! Woooooo Hoooooo!

Enjoy the pics :-)

Ben on 'Vendetta'

Ian on 'Vendetta'

Richo on 'Blood Makes Noise'

Ben on 'Phone Sex' v8

Russell on the project at Castle Hill

Russell on a nice Castle Hill moderate

The view up on Castle Hill

And finally... Ross Irwin, hot or what?

A few pics...

Here are a few pics I took with my new camera on the weekend... I certainly dont have the full hang of it yet but I'm getting there. If you have any tips on taking better pics I am all ears, just leave a comment :-)

Russell contemplating 'Snake Bite' v4, Red Rocks

Russell on 'Snake Bite' v4, Red Rocks

Russell on 'Smoothie' v6, Red Rocks

Russell on 'Smoothie' v6, Red Rocks

Ben on 'Snake Bite' v4, Red Rocks

Ben on 'Smooth Predator' v6, Red Rocks

Ben on 'Smoothie' v6, Red Rocks

Ben on the awesome 'Sisyphus' v2, North Black


Richo on 'Wrestling' v6, North Black

Red Rocks and North Black

Well hello my little puddings of delight, how are we?

This weekend saw us head to Red Rocks on saturday which was a blast, except for Ross forgot his shoes so had to boulder barefoot haha... poor guy, we felt sorry for him but you have to laugh :-)

We all did some great problems and I put up two new problems, both about v6, called 'Smooth Predator' (a right hand exit variant of 'Smoothie' v6) and 'Interrobang', a right hand version of an existing v5 near the river that climbs the raddest slopers I have ever used... like bang!

Sunday saw the whole crew trek out to North Black. First stop was Frost Hollow where we warmed up and then Ross made short work of 'Wrestling', a tough and powerful v6 that Russell also made a solid ascent of.

After that we went to Dog Rock where I managed to send 'Snoop Doggy Dog' v8 on my 3rd shot, then Ben followed soon after. I was well stoked! We all then went and did a great v6 called 'Press Play', a classic problem, classic :-)

Well, we have one more weekend before we are heading to the Grampians for two weeks, cant wait, should be a blast, we are all keen as mustard, bring it on!!!

Here are few pics from Russell from this weekend, enjoy!

Me on the first ascent of 'Smooth Predator'

Ben on the classic 'Snake Bite' v4

Me on 'Snake Bite'

Camera's, the Creek and a lesson in patience...

Why hello my lovelies, I know its mid week already and I haven't blogged about the weekend yet so here it is, pics and all.



First up, Russell getting his camera finally inspired me to do the same so I bought a nice shiny new toy... silver, 3 speeds, called 'the dolphin'...

Jokes, I bought a nice little Nikon D60, so photographic superstardom here I come! I already have the hat to match and everything.



Saturday we all headed out to Pierces Creek. We started at the Playboy Mansion where Richo finally made a solid ascent of the ultra classic 'Public Enemy' v7.

Shortly after we headed to Cohiba and proceeded to all get our asses handed to us by the great v8 we were on last week... oh well, next time.

Then we walked around the corner and failed to do a single move on Matt Rissutto's crack roof problem... turns out we cant hand jam so well haha

After that we finished off at The Tumblers where Danny, Risho and I did the jump start & mantle v7... we did two variations of it, one left and one right... at about v4 and v5... both great problems but not quite as hard as they were meant to be.

So another great day had by all :-)



On a light note, the 'Peter' shirt is in existence now and Richo was this weeks 'Peter'... I will post about what 'Peter' is in length soon with a pic, stay tuned ;-)



Finally, we are still waiting on a shipment of new a new crach mat, shoes and other stuff for the Grampians trip we are doing in a few weeks... patience is being tested, but I can't wait to try on the new Evolve shoes...



Heres a few pics, enjoy!

Me at the new gym

Me at the Playboy Mansion

Richo sending 'Public Enemy' v7

Richo finishing 'Public Enemy'

Me at The Tumblers

God Bless The Queen

So this weekend was the Queen's Birthday long weekend, three days off from reality, booyah!
A group of us headed down to Ross's family farm at Peakview, on the Bredbo river.

Tons of unclimbed granite boulders spread over farmland along the river, a great place to get away to for some fun for the weekend.

We bouldered, Lisa rode her horse around, we even watched trout swimming among the boulders in the river... fun all round!

Russell has also finally got his new camera so we will have heaps of better pics to go on this blog and on his website: http://web.mac.com/rusty_nails/Russells_Web_Page/Welcome.html

I'll let the pics tell the story...

Getting high on the Sunset Boulder

Ross with Lisa on her horse

Ross on 'Tetanus Injection' v5

Me on the first ascent of 'Tetanus Injection'

Ben on 'Tetanus Injection'

Joel on 'Cheese & Crackers', an awesome v4 crack

Me on the first ascent of a great v3 up on the hill

Joel on the same v3

Monday saw Russell and I head out to Cohiba at Pierces Creek to put in some effort on a great v8 there. After a little while I found a sequence that works for me but I didn't have the skin or energy to finish it, but it should go soon enough.

Me on the v8 we were working at Cohiba

Thats all until next weekend kids, adios :-)

A few pics from the weekend

Ben on 'Zac's Arete'

Ross on 'Pinball'

Richo on 'Pinball'


Danny on a great v3 at the Hinterland

More sends at North Black

Seems to be that we are out at North Black every weekend lately! And why not... The weather has been awesome with cold, sunny days and there are so many great problems to do out there!

We started off at the Campground where Ben Fisher made quick work of 'Zac's Arete' v8, the classic of the crag. He hiked it after having worked on it last weekend, making it look easy.

After that we headed to the Hinterland where most of us did 'Pinball' v5 and Russell did really well on the tough and crimpy 'Spinball' v8.
We all then jumped on an amazing v6 at the top of the crag that went through a series of underclings with awesome movement. Ben Fisher sent it, soon followed by Danny Ewald but then one of the main flakes broke off in a huge section and left the other big flakes loose, so we have marked the problem with a big 'X'. Dont climb on it if you go there, it is likely to come of and badly injure someone. Be careful!

Last stop of the day was Dog Rock. Danny and Ross came close-ish to the two undone dyno projects there while I managed to make a quick ascent of 'Doggy Style' v8. We all finished up with a great v4 that climbs through the steep section of the crag then headed off home thoroughly exhausted and keen as mustard for next weekend!

I will try and have some photo's up this week as well.

On a side note, if you live in Canberra come and join us on tuesday and thursday nights training at the new climbing gym in hume, we have a great big crew of us there on those nights and it is proving to be a blast each time :-)

Adios for now!

More North Black

Today the crew all headed out to North Black again for an early morning start before the rain set in. And what a morning it was!

There were sends of the classic 'Socks' v6 by nearly everyone as well as several ascents of the nice v7 to the left of it. Ross also managed a rare repeat of Ky Wittich's 'Bumknut' v5(?).

Then we all jumped on the mega classic 'Zac's Arete' and I managed to get up it... although I made a complete mess of the top out (watch the video.. you will see what I mean haha)

Another top day all round :-)

Back in Black

Its been some time but a big crew of us headed over to North Black on saturday for a great day.

We all spent some time at The Hill where Danny did the classic v6 on the steep wall there and then Richo, Danny and I sent the roof v7 beside the steep wall.

After that we all headed to the Main Area where we all worked on the ultra classic Zac's Arete v8, everyone threw themselves at it and I managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by just missing the last move... next time gadget!

We finished off with a session on a classic v6 called Socks... Richo & Mel were super close, so thats another one for next weekend too.

Can't wait to get back out there this Saturday :-)

Classic or Plastic?

Or both?

The weekend was a bit of a blur for me... an awesome afternoon bouldering on saturday followed by an overly long night of partying that saw sunday as a write off... but it was a good laugh :-)

Saturday arvo we headed to Pierce's Creek for a shot on the classic 'Public Enemy' v7 at the Playboy Mansion.. and finally Russell hiked it and I followed suit a short while later... it was a great time.. such a great problem, perfect sunny but cool conditions... everything autumn climbing is about!

We played on a problem at Cohiba for a while after that as the sun set then headed off for beers and shenanigans.

This week has also seen the completion of the the new climbing gym here in Canberra and its really good! Great bouldering / training set up and a great set up for all your top roping and leading desires too... and being only a few hundred metres from my work I can see a lot of training time being spent there this winter!

Heres a few pics from the weekend:

Russell and Richo at Cohiba


Me at Cohiba

Sunset over Canberra

One year on...

So today, 1st May, is exactly a year since we all got back into climbing after many years off, and its been a fun year!

I have met some great new people, reunited with some special old friends and had a great time all round.

Everyone in our crew has come so far with their climbing in such a short time and its only making me more psyched than ever... I'm really inspired at the moment, and with so many problems out there that I am keen to do this winter and the new climbing gym due to open basically next door to my work I am sure its going to be a great winter season :-)

Heres to another killer year on the blocs!

Bungonia

Its ANZAC day long weekend and Russell and I spent the last two days at the amazing Bungonia Gorge.

We camped at the main campground and were really impressed with the facilities there... really nice!

On both Friday and Saturday we hiked into the Gorge and back out for some bouldering, on Friday down to the Jerrara Falls end of the Gorge and on Saturday down to the Slot Canyon area beneath the looming main walls... 300 metre limestone behemoths... made us keen for some multi pitch action sometime soon :-)

Unfortunately we didn't actually send much all weekend apart from me doing a fun and slopey v5 on saturday which was good fun :-)

While not a weekend full of sends it was a great few days in a brilliant wilderness area... cant wait to get back there!

Heres a few pics, enjoy...

The view from one of the lookouts

No explanation needed...

Russell enjoying the scree slopes on the way in to the west end of the gorge

Sunset at Jerrara Lookout

The main walls of Bungonia Gorge from the bottom of the gorge

Ooooo Yeah Baby!

So Its taken me 3 days to write about the weekends doings... sorry Richo... please forgive my tardiness :-p

Saturday saw us all head up yet again to Cantaloupe Hill for some more tasty granite treats.
We started off at Glitz Boulder where I had a few hissy fits due to coming off the crux of 'Stopping All Stations' repeatedly. Soon after my tantrums Danny sent 'Vendetta' and there were a few almost ascents of the same problem by Richo and Josh... next time gadget, next time!

Next we walked up a short distance to the cool prow that is 'Spruce Moose'. Everyone jumped on the stand start before throwing ourselves at the sit start. After a bit of work I stuck the big first move and held on for dear life to the top for my first v9 in years.. so I was well chuffed :-)

After that Danny and Josh headed off and Richo, Russell and I headed further up the hill to the Upper Ridge boulders. We all jumped on 'Fraud Landis', a cool v7 sloper problem we tried last weekend and Richo and I both managed a quick ascent each.

After that I jumped back on 'Blood Makes Noise', another great problem at v7 that we tried last weekend. After working out a rad knee bar sequence I managed to send this one too. Stoked! I recommend this problem very highly... it has different, funky moves and is a cool line to get on.

So all in all a great day yet again. Richo and Danny sent a v7 each and I managed my best day out in years with 2 v7's and a v9 so I'm pleased as punch! With the weather getting colder and colder each day and everyone in such good form I'm sure were only going to see a lot more sending in the coming months, bring it on! :-)

This weekend Russell, Sally and I are heading off to Bungonia Gorge for an overnight bouldering trip... cant wait!

Heres some pics from the weekend, enjoy!

Josh warming up on 'The Joker'

Me on 'Spruce Moose'


Richo bearing down on the crux move of 'Spruce Moose'


Russell hanging tough on 'Fraud Landis'

Me on 'Blood Makes Noise'