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VIC Northwest (General) (General) (General)

Author

Climbing at Mt Hope (NW Victoria)

DaniG81

21-Oct-2012
9:47:22 PM

Hi all. I am just getting into climbing here and looking for any advice and others thoughts about climbing at Mt Hope.... I live ages away from anything higher than a channel bank so this is the closest I can get to for a fun day out....
I have only really done sport climbing in Europe but looking to learn more trad etc so I can enjoy more of the Aussie climbs ;)
So... anyone's ideas and help would be greatly appreciated I in regards to gear, if there are bolts etc, and basically if it's any good.
Thanks

lacto

22-Oct-2012
9:33:11 AM

the guide available off here sums it up , very much granite, fairly short very slabby and would certainly be hot , scrubby at base with snakes maybe worth a visit but doubt if you would go back again . the drive to the wimmera will start to look attractive

mattbrooks

22-Oct-2012
12:35:28 PM

I dont completely agree with Lacto!

Mt Hope has a few good routes. On the main face there are some quite long slabs and faces, with some shorter routes up over the back side of the hill. The rock varies in quality from very nice large grain granite to crumbly shitty shite. In amongst it there are some good climbs and some potential for new routes.

If its close by its worth a visit. We used to drive out there from Bendigo when I was at Uni. Its worth a day visit or two, some exploring and there is probably some potential for bouldering also with many small to large boulders dotting the hillsides out that way.

dalai

22-Oct-2012
3:28:37 PM

Like mattbrooks I disagree with Lacto. I have driven out to Mount Hope a few times over the years and thought it okay. It does though only have a limited number of routes, so expect to get bored pretty quickly. Nice enough place for a few quiet climbs in winter. Definitely still potential for new routes if you are keen to brush and bolt.

Disagree about the bouldering potential though. I went out to Mount Hope again years after I had climbed there purely in the quest to see if there was bouldering potential… I didn’t see anything to return for.

If looking for bouldering, I found Pyramid rock a better option and did some okay problems over the hill.

DaniG81

22-Oct-2012
5:56:52 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys, i appreciate it. Hoping to go out there for a look around this weekend :)

IdratherbeclimbingM9

24-Oct-2012
12:28:37 PM

On 22/10/2012 lacto wrote:
>the guide available off here sums it up (snip)

Link to same...

lacto

25-Oct-2012
1:30:50 PM

My judgement of Mt Hope is probably skewed by the 2 big friendly brown snakes I came across . Don't mind tigers but Big Browns definitely scare me got a 6' 6" specimen the other day (guarding my faulty pressure pump ). Mt hope is definitely not Tiger territory - wet swampy , but dry , so the range of browns- keep your eyes open when wandering around and enjoy the climbing

mattbrooks

1-Nov-2012
4:30:59 PM

If you ever head out there Marty, I remember a quarry on the way in with a massive boulder lying on the floor of it. From memory this had some good boulder potential. Will have to go look next time I cross out to the Gramps that way.

dalai

1-Nov-2012
8:08:21 PM

On 1/11/2012 mattbrooks wrote:
>If you ever head out there Marty, I remember a quarry on the way in with
>a massive boulder lying on the floor of it. From memory this had some good
>boulder potential. Will have to go look next time I cross out to the Gramps
>that way.

I looked at that block too. Only recall one line of holds out a super steep wall and the rest was blank I thought... Was quite a few years ago when I went looking, so memory is a little hazy.

But even with a few other lines on this block, not really enough in my mind to return from Melbourne.

jpo

5-Dec-2012
11:41:52 PM

Hey, Dani, did you make your trip to Mt Hope? I visited recently and clambered all over it (not a climber, just like exploring rocky places with rope and harness). Wind and sun were fierce, but great vistas and that main rock is fantastic - looks like a gigantic loaf of bread. Was wondering what it's like to climb.

There are 10 messages in this topic.