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Hex/Arapiles/Grampians + advice

slackjaw

20-Sep-2009
6:34:42 AM

My climbing partner and I will be there mid NOV to mid Dec climbing at Arapiles and the Grampians. We will have a full double rack of cams up to 4 inch, double nut sets, set HB offset nuts and the same of RP's and camp tricams, plus double 60m ropes. 9.6 + 8.5
I've climbed there before afew years back with similar gear including some hex's but can't actually remember placing any ( could be quite wrong though with failing memory these days). I don't carry these at all in NZ these days so was wanting some advice from those in the know whether to bother bringing them at all to help keep the flight weight down.
Also, Where is the best spot to get showers and also drinking water in or around Natimuk or closer to araps. We will have a vehicle.

Many thanks

Wendy

20-Sep-2009
9:03:46 AM

Sounds like you'll be outrageously well kitted up to me. I wouldn't bother with the hexes. I'd dump the offsets and the tricams as well, if you need to dump weight.

You can get showers at the newly opening this month backpackers in town or the caravan park at the lake. The rain water at the mount is perfectly drinkable, it's exactly what you'd get if you filled up at anyone's house in nati. if you really want horrible nasty treated water, you can get that in Horsham.

Karl Bromelow

20-Sep-2009
9:10:00 AM

You can definitely leave the hex's at home. There's no critical need for them at all considering the rest
of the rack you have described.

There are no longer showers available at the caravan park in Natimuk. Poster up on the notice board
stating abuse of the provision by climbers handing out codes to the amenities block to others who
haven't paid. I'm not aware of any other showers (where's the new backpackers, I didn't know about
that) though years ago we used to use a shower at the mechanics garage in the town if my memory is
correct. I doubt that facility still exists. The only other options are in Horsham, caravan park by the
river or go for a swim at the pool on a rest day. Billabongs if sufficient water but last time I went to the
nearest it was a dust bowl with trees.

Drinking water is still liquid gold and you'll struggle to persuade anyone to part with their's in the town.
You can of course use the tank water if you know how to make it potable and there's any left. Better to
bring in as much as you can carry from outside the area.

Cheers, Karl

Wendy

20-Sep-2009
10:38:09 AM

The notice board poster is from the Horsham Caravan park I think. The garage in town is long closed. The backpackers, as advertised in the new guide, should be open this month and is on the left as you come into town from the mount. The pool in horsham (cnr of ocallahans and hamilton) is good for a swim with your shower at $4.25.

The rainwater tanks at the mount (on the loos and the picnic shelter) are overflowing and didn't run out last summer despite the complete absence of rain. It would be a fair effort to run them dry purely by drinking the water - they aren't connected to any of the taps/loos. They refill far quicker than the aquifer that the bore comes from and water is just pouring out the top of them at them moment, so you are doing the environment a favour in using them. despite the signs on them, I've never gotten sick from years of drinking them, it's just that parks can't recommend that you drink from an untreated water source.

Karl Bromelow

20-Sep-2009
10:44:18 AM

Sorry about the misinformation. I thought the notice referred to the Natimuk Lake caravan park.

timfreddo

20-Sep-2009
12:16:45 PM

Who are you flying with? if its anyone other than crapstar you'll probably get sporting goods allowance.
Benefits of taking hexes:
1. There are some super bomber placements where other stuff doesnt seem to fit well.
2. You get respect from the beard strokers around camp. (especially if they are hanging near your ankles.
3. The kids think you are a pro when your sorting the rack at the campsite (so much bling)
4. Good for climbing routes 70's style
5. Good for getting tentpegs into the hard soil in the gums

Negatives of taking hexes:
1. You will only use them for one day, then get annoyed with the constant clanging.
2. you'll be dispised by everyone in the campsite if you go for early morning mish with them clangin around
3. Unless you have a long grey beard, cams are faster to place and remove.

We usually get water from the tap on the public toilets in Nati. We have been told not to do this, cant remember why, but never got sick from it.

Showers at wimmera plains van park (easy to sneak extra people in, use extra money for beer) or Royal hotel in horsham (they lend you towels and soap)

Have a good trip :)
1. You

Wendy

20-Sep-2009
12:58:41 PM

On 20/09/2009 timfreddo wrote:

>We usually get water from the tap on the public toilets in Nati. We have
>been told not to do this, cant remember why, but never got sick from it.
>
That would be because it's Nati town water, which comes from the gramps via open channels through cow and sheep paddocks and chemical fed crop land, to be stored in open storages also in said animal and chemical ridden farmland and pumped to that tap with nary a hint of treatment of any sort. It's been tested to be full of e coli and coliforms, as well as too saline and grotty (the proper word might be turgid?) for human consumption and fails abysmally to meet world health organisation or australian drinking water standards. It also kills gardens if you water them with it. So if you have been drinking this without any problems, congratulations. You have completed your acclimatisation for developing nation drinking water and need not take anything to treat water across africa and india, whose water is of a similar standard.

kuu

20-Sep-2009
1:19:00 PM

On 20/09/2009 timfreddo wrote:

>
>Showers at wimmera plains van park (easy to sneak extra people in, use
>extra money for beer) ...
>

Not sure it's a good idea to promote this kind of behaviour given what Kaj said in a post earlier in this
thread, i.e.

"There are no longer showers available at the caravan park in Natimuk. Poster up on the notice board
stating abuse of the provision by climbers handing out codes to the amenities block to others who
haven't paid."

timfreddo

20-Sep-2009
5:47:12 PM

Yeah, thats what they said. I remember now. Kinda weired how some "not fit for drinking" water is like that, and pines water is fine. same sign on both, so we figured it'd be ok. Live n learn.

I'm sure the people taking advantage of "free" showers isnt a new thing in horsham. That $5 could be spent on a shower.... OR an extra week of Arapilean climbing.
Cant just go around calling ourselves Climbing bums if we dont make use of the title.

Also, take the Tri-cams. They are perfect for the little pebble pockets found on watchtower faces.

Pat

21-Sep-2009
12:14:43 AM

Just going off topic, what's the caravan park at Nati like?

Eduardo Slabofvic

21-Sep-2009
7:35:36 AM

It's like the set of a B grade Horror film staring teenagers.

Pat

21-Sep-2009
8:15:56 AM

Sounds cosy. Me and the family are taking advantage of the horrendous weather forecast this coming
week and coming out for seven days of school holiday bliss at the mountain. Do I get the impression of
rusting swing sets swaying in the breeze?

Eduardo Slabofvic

21-Sep-2009
8:37:13 AM

If you see some old disheveled guy leaning on a shovel, and drooling out of one side of his mouth and
staring at you blankly; then don't worry, that's just me.

IdratherbeclimbingM9

21-Sep-2009
10:34:14 AM

On 20/09/2009 timfreddo wrote:
>Yeah, thats what they said. I remember now. Kinda weired how some "not
>fit for drinking" water is like that, and pines water is fine. same sign
>on both, so we figured it'd be ok. Live n learn.
>
... or get bad-sick ~> possibly die!, and others will learn from your experience?

I am curious about your logic. If the authorities differentiated their safety signs with the inclusion of 'fine print' explaining why, ... would it have made a difference to you?

timfreddo

21-Sep-2009
4:31:45 PM

I just recon its just pretty broad signage. If the water is that bad in the Natti dunnies, why bother washing your hands in the public toilet anyway? You've got shit on your hands either whether you do or not.
Probably would have made a difference if they said irrigation water on the toilets sign.
I had been told that Natti was having water trucked in from elsewhere. i figured this was being pumped into some sort of ' town water suply' but guess it must be a neverfail truck or whatever.

ambyeok

21-Sep-2009
4:42:17 PM

On 21/09/2009 timfreddo wrote:
>If the water is that bad in the Natti dunnies, why bother washing your hands in
>the public toilet anyway? You've got shit on your hands either whether you do or not.

Its called soap; I dont use it but apparently the upper classes do.

slackjaw

21-Sep-2009
4:51:29 PM

Thanks to all concerned for the info and advice.
We'll leave the hexes behind and probably lighten up the rack a bit (if I can bear to do so!)
Sounds like the tank water should be OK, but as a precaution we'll boil or treat our drinking water as we don't want to risk loosing climbing time to the trots.
The motor camp sounds like the go for showers. Will check it out once we arrive.

Thanks again

ambyeok

21-Sep-2009
4:56:26 PM

In peak season if your lucky you might find some free water. When I leave I usually leave my remaining water near the bins and needy people can help themselves (as the bin divers usually need something to wash it down with)

slackjaw

21-Sep-2009
6:46:08 PM

Cool , good to know.

There are 19 messages in this topic.