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Question from Europe 6-Apr-2009 At 8:39:10 AM Johnie2.5

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On 5/04/2009 nmonteith wrote:
>yay! Another argument with a guy from Nati! You're right - Grampians bouldering
>is all about slabby granite crack climbing in a lovely alpine setting.
>You'll find the local villages to be a bit annoying - they have built their
>houses under many of the boulders, and tend to keep their goats and other
>livestock in many of the caves. Some of the granite boulders have amazing
>dyke features and fist sized crystals embedded in the clay base. When we
>first started bouldering in the Grampians we found gold nuggets inside
>some of these crystals. IT wasn't just a gold rush of problems - but a
>financial gold mine as well. It was this mineral boom that helped launch
>some of Australia's climbing businesses such as the Nati Mountain Shop
>and RPs. You can still see some of the working of these gold mines under
>some of the trackside boulders, they have helped to add a few extra moves
>to many of the older problems. On a further historical note you can find
>some of the original boulders in the grounds of the Victorian Governers
>residence in Melbourne. Legend has it that Lady Elizabeth Ramsdale had
>a son who took a shine to bouldering and requested the boulders be moved.
>Anyway - enjoy the bouldering in the Grampians whilst you can. The Australian
>government has just passed legislation to create several nuclear power
>stations in the Northern Grampians which will be powered by uranium mined
>from under Mt Stapylton. It's a scarce resource but worth it for a cleaner
>greener world.

LOL
Thanks Neil, that just made my morning.
And i would have to say that i would probably use 'Fontesque' to decribe the bouldering in the grampians too (for lack of a better comparison), similar in shape, size and moves. No where near as extensive or as good but definately similar. Nuff said.

G