Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

FREIGHT FREE
in Australia

Edelrid: "Ultralight Helmet" (Red) 54 - 60cm. Special! Limited time only! $100.00
23% Off

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Author

Starting out in the SouthWest Vic

Gavo

25/07/2010
11:47:28 PM

Hi all,

Firstly let me apologise because I know the "how do I get into it" thing has been done to death. I did some searching and couldnt really find an answer to my question as such... Joining the VCC and tagging along on a trip seems the way but Im not sure... Ill ask again!

Ive done a tiny bit of climbing when I was younger. Kind of drawn to it. Bought my first Rock magazine when I was about 12. Havnt really had the time or ability to follow it up though because I was living in Melbourne and I could give excuses but theyre just excuses... long story short, Im not experienced.

Anyway Ive moved from Melbourne to the Southern Grampians area... so now I think its about time I looked at doing some climbing. But I dont want to go to some dodgy tourist climbing group thing, nor do I want to head out with just a "someone" from work who is inexperienced.

I want to know what THE way is.. if there is some guru in the area that doesnt mind going way below their climb-grade and have extreme patience in dealing with beginners, or if joining the VCC and tagging along really IS the way to go. Id also like to know if people suggest bouldering before outdoor (since gyms are out of the question, not that Im particularly drawn to gyms)...

I should mention that I have my own harness, shoes and krab so expect to have to get some more.

Now its early days so I wont get into it too much but what Ive always been interested in, is multi-pitch traditional. I KNOW thats years and many climbs away, but thats the kind of thing Id love to aim for, to find out if Im even capable of it...

Anyway, some advice and direction would be great.

Thanks in advance and with any luck Ill see you around.

Gav

Hugh

26/07/2010
7:47:22 AM

I thought going out with someone dodgy and inexperienced was ''the way''..?

VCC trips are good, they'll pair you up with people who do actually know what they're doing. You will need a few pices of gear *check website* in particular, a helmet.

As for multipitch trad. *especially if you're seconding* it won't take years. For instance, tip toe at araps is great. Easy climbing at about grade 5. Sweet adventure! So there is something for everyone, regardless of ability

WM

Online Now
26/07/2010
8:58:51 AM

Ramon Francis in Portland might be worth a call: http://www.southwestadventures.com.au/

He does professional guiding, which would be useful if you want to spend a little bit to get the ball rolling, but is also a (very good) recreational climber himself, so could probably introduce you to others in the climbing scene down south.

Paz

26/07/2010
12:16:18 PM

Buy a slab of beer, a cask of red, a bag of weed and head to araps for a week. read up on how to tie certain knots listed on this site and how anchors work beforehand. visit a gym to understand some basic belaying techniques in relative safety.

Most times of the year you can show up to araps and find someone to climb with, this'd be by far the easiest and cheapest way to learn and would mean not waiting for a VCC trip, just make sure your sensei does everything first and checks what you're doing and is fed enough beer and bud to be enjoying their well earning rest day....
before climbing doesn't hurt to ask a few questions about the others experience as well....

It's amazing how nice people are when they're away from a metropolitian city, people'll help you out if you show you're keen and willing to coil the rope and carry it back to camp....

Gavo

26/07/2010
8:24:26 PM

Hi guys,

cool, so... VCC or professional might really be the way to go?

Ill join up the VCC soon I reckon, I just thought maybe there is some other special way of doing it!

And about the weed thing.. mmmmmmm are climbers stoners? I thought that hippy thing was a bit stereotypical? Cant say Id be keen to hang on a rock with someone drinking, or smoking! haha.

Thanks for the replies guys, Ill look into the VCC and might make a daytrip down to Arapiles sometime.

Your not kidding about the people being nicer out here are ya, its a strange feeling!

Gavo

26/07/2010
8:25:37 PM

On 26/07/2010 Hugh wrote:
>As for multipitch trad. *especially if you're seconding* it won't take
>years. For instance, tip toe at araps is great. Easy climbing at about
>grade 5. Sweet adventure! So there is something for everyone, regardless
>of ability

ooOOohhh Im freaking out already... awesome!

egosan

26/07/2010
9:14:36 PM

The VCC membership doesn't bite.... much. Looking forward to seeing you on a trip.

Fish Boy

26/07/2010
10:31:20 PM

On 26/07/2010 Gavo wrote:
>And about the weed thing.. mmmmmmm are climbers stoners? I thought that
>hippy thing was a bit stereotypical? Cant say Id be keen to hang on a rock
>with someone drinking, or smoking! haha.

Dont climb with paz then...

bl@ke

26/07/2010
10:37:45 PM

On 26/07/2010 Fish Boy wrote:
>On 26/07/2010 Gavo wrote:
>>And about the weed thing.. mmmmmmm are climbers stoners? I thought that
>>hippy thing was a bit stereotypical? Cant say Id be keen to hang on a
>rock
>>with someone drinking, or smoking! haha.
>
>Dont climb with paz then...

Chuckle chuckle. Thats why the far side crags at Arapiles arnt in the guide. Thats where the crops are!

Gavo

26/07/2010
11:25:28 PM

haha bl@ke they wont be happy with ya now!!!

bl@ke

26/07/2010
11:38:09 PM

Oops :s but then again, Sharing is caring. lol
When I first started climbing I thought "bugger multipitch" but then I did one as my first Arapiles climb and shat myself and I have climbed them ever since.

widewetandslippery

27/07/2010
9:03:51 AM

Gavo get someone, a club or professional to teach you basic belaying and cliff management (getting in and out of belays, calls etc.) Go to araps or the gramps and go bouldering. Firstly a second who is a strong climber and can belay ads to your attractivness as a novice to take along and secondly good chance you'll meet people. Don't get hung up on diffferent styles of climbing"multipitch" just means you do more than one pitch in a day and its on top of the last one rather than next to it.

IdratherbeclimbingM9

27/07/2010
9:07:24 AM

On 27/07/2010 widewetandslippery wrote:
>Don't get hung up on diffferent styles of climbing"multipitch" just means you do more than one pitch in a day and its on top of the last one rather than next to it.

... as opposed to multislab s?
Heh, heh, heh.

(Gavo, ww&s is right/offered good advice!)

kieranl

27/07/2010
10:16:32 AM

On 26/07/2010 bl@ke wrote:
>Chuckle chuckle. Thats why the far side crags at Arapiles arnt in the
>guide. Thats where the crops are!
It's only the Select guide that doesn't include these crags. They're all in the ACA guide ;)
**post-edit ** And during field work I didn't stumble across any unusual crops.

There are 14 messages in this topic.