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Narrowneck ladders

Dr_nik

26-Sep-2006
9:56:34 PM

Hey guys,

Just a little beta, I went out to narrowneck in the Blueys on the weekend and *gasp* the ladders have been removed!!!!!

Actually, for many years the ladders have been cut off at the top and bottom and were replaced by wooden ladders by climbers. We found that as of the last couple of weeks the top wooden ladder had broken and so now you need to abseil down 5m or so to the top of the steel ladders. THis isnt a problem if you are climbing out, but if you cant climb out I guess you have a 20km walk around to the golden stairs to get out.

Cheers

Dr Nik

Daveo

27-Sep-2006
7:53:29 AM

maybe u could leave a static line there for some old fashion aiding butt you shouldent be going to places like that un less u can climb out butt its still my fav crag.

cheers dave

Fool in the Rain

27-Sep-2006
10:21:04 AM

On 26/09/2006 Dr_nik wrote:
>Hey guys,
>
>Just a little beta, I went out to narrowneck in the Blueys on the weekend
>and *gasp* the ladders have been removed!!!!!
>
>Actually, for many years the ladders have been cut off at the top and
>bottom and were replaced by wooden ladders by climbers. We found that as
>of the last couple of weeks the top wooden ladder had broken and so now
>you need to abseil down 5m or so to the top of the steel ladders. THis
>isnt a problem if you are climbing out, but if you cant climb out I guess
>you have a 20km walk around to the golden stairs to get out.
>
>Cheers
>
>Dr Nik

Sorry Dr Nik, but you don't have to walk that far. The Devil's Hole is only 400m or so metres north of the old ladders and is an easy walk.
Alternatively you could walk a couple of kms south and head up Red Ledge pass. If you want to make things really hard for your self you can walk further south and ascend either Catlon Head or Tarros ladders, both of which you'd walk past on the way to the Golden Stairs. You really don't know the area do you?
You can rap in at three points, 100ft slab, Cave Climb and Herbaceous Gully. Choose the nearest to the climb you want to do. The Cave Climb access is probably the quickest with a two minute walk and a 50m rap to the deck.

BA

27-Sep-2006
11:55:02 AM

Sigh. Another piece of climbing history has gone. Couldn't believe that such a convenient descent existed until I saw it with my own eyes back in the late '60s, Sigh.

dr_nik

27-Sep-2006
1:57:46 PM

Yeah next time im out there Ill bring some old static line and fix it, but I just thaught id warn people of what to expect.

Id be asuming that everyone out there would be climbing out anyway, I know ive never come back up the ladders. Im sure someone will lug down an old wooden ladder at one point to replace the broken one, or maybe just nail some planks to an old log like the one at the bottom. :-) now thats classic access.

But yeah, decending is still easy at the ladders, but you just wont be able to come back up.

As for knowing the area, yes I do know it. I grew up in the mountains and have spent the last 14 years climbing, hikeing and canyoning up there. But that really doesnt matter, just bringing the access changes to peoples attention, thankyou for your alternative exits they should help anyone who needs to walk out. I didnt realise the devils hole was so close.

Fool in the Rain

28-Sep-2006
11:17:35 AM

Sorry Nik, didn't mean to offend!
Don't expect any static rope to stay in place at the Neck. Someone seems to be in the habit of removing it....

tnd

28-Sep-2006
11:27:04 AM

On 28/09/2006 Fool in the Rain wrote:
>..Someone seems
>to be in the habit of removing it....

Says the ace booty hunter.

Dr_Nik

28-Sep-2006
1:22:35 PM

Its all good, no problems.

The static line going down the ramp seems to have stayed...meh, Ive got buckets of rope lying around the house anyway.

Fool in the Rain

28-Sep-2006
2:06:15 PM

Yes Dr Nik, the ladders were chopped over 7 years ago (June 99) and since then there have been various attempts to remedy the situation. I think the ladders have been further chopped at least twice and fixed ropes removed in a determined effort to prevent usage. Since I became aware of the Cave Climb rap access I haven't bothered with the ladders as the rap in is probably quicker and safer.
Unless I'm doing a single pitch climb at the Neck I find it more convenient to rap in, do one climb and then go then go to a roadside crag or home for a nice cup of tea. The benefit of the reduced acccess along with the crag not listed in the Pircher/Carter guide is that you've usually got the crag to yourself. In fact the Pircher/Carter guide doesn't even mention Narrow Neck!

evanbb

11-Dec-2006
7:38:14 PM

I actually climbed there on Saturday. We got both ropes stuck (amateurs!) after climbing Pawn Wall, which was outrageously easy. So Ben and I had to solo out up the ladders and gully. It's not that dangerous really. Take your time and use your feet.

Evan

mousey

11-Dec-2006
8:13:38 PM

yeh the chains above cave climb are ace!

Onsight

11-Dec-2006
9:16:07 PM

On 28/09/2006 Fool in the Rain wrote:
>The benefit of the reduced acccess along with the
>crag not listed in the Pircher/Carter guide is that you've usually got
>the crag to yourself. In fact the Pircher/Carter guide doesn't even mention
>Narrow Neck!

LOL. Where is this place?

;-p

baz74

6-Jan-2012
7:53:43 AM

I haven't been to narrowneck in 15 years, thinking of going back. What is the status with these ladders now? Totally removed by the fascist waterboard or sneakily re-instated by climbers. Thanks

widewetandslippery

6-Jan-2012
8:39:05 AM

I haven't been there for 2 years but then they were very dodgy. Rap in green gully or 100' slab and make your own mind up about them would be my call

timfreddo

6-Jan-2012
3:58:32 PM

some ladder is taken, some remains.
pretty much have to jump a fence and do a 10m abseil down to the top of the remaining ladders, and then its almost worth rigging the ladder up so you have a backup rope. 8m off the ground the ladders turn homemade and a little sketch.

Very tricky to climb out the ladders!

kuu

6-Jan-2012
4:26:56 PM

On 28/09/2006 Fool in the Rain wrote:
(snip)
>The benefit of the reduced acccess along with the
>crag not listed in the Pircher/Carter guide is that you've usually got
>the crag to yourself. In fact the Pircher/Carter guide doesn't even mention
>Narrow Neck!
>
Mike, come into the present! Most of today's climbers have never heard of or seen the Pircher/Carter guide and will be referring to a more recent work. Simon's 2007 edition, for instance, where the admittedly incomplete Narrow Neck information commences at Page 40. A perhaps unintended consequence of this publicity, and the convenience factor, is that routes in the vicinity of the Cave Climb rap point are receiving extra attention which may prove detrimental over time.

dalai

6-Jan-2012
5:33:27 PM

On 6/01/2012 kuu wrote:
>On 28/09/2006 Fool in the Rain wrote:
>(snip)
>>The benefit of the reduced acccess along with the
>>crag not listed in the Pircher/Carter guide is that you've usually got
>>the crag to yourself. In fact the Pircher/Carter guide doesn't even mention
>>Narrow Neck!
>>
>Mike, come into the present!

Since Fool in the Rain posted this back in 2006 prior to the 2007 guidebook, it was very relevant at the time ;-)

kuu

6-Jan-2012
6:04:02 PM

On 6/01/2012 dalai wrote:
>
>Since Fool in the Rain posted this back in 2006 prior to the 2007 guidebook,
>it was very relevant at the time ;-)

Oops, lots of egg on my face!

;-)

There are 18 messages in this topic.