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Cold weather climbing in Canberra

evanbb

2-Jul-2009
12:15:00 PM

Where do you other Canberra climbers go when it's cold and windy? Weather this weekend looks great, but it'll be brass-monkey temps up at Booroomba and surrounds.

pharmamatt

2-Jul-2009
12:22:23 PM

nowra?

evanbb

2-Jul-2009
12:28:18 PM

Tis a bit far for a day trip. I probably should have specified that. I don't really want to drive for more than an hour or so.

cruze

2-Jul-2009
1:12:20 PM

Cold AND windy? (I was going to say cold, sunny and not windy is usually quite beautiful at Booroomba).

Perhaps Bandido Wall (quite sheltered) or Red Rocks?

Alternatively you could stretch your one hour time limit and head up to Mt Alexandra near Mittagong?

grangrump

2-Jul-2009
2:14:30 PM

Yeah Gibraltar etc (incl Snake Rock) are traditional in Winter
but really only tolerable while the sun shines...

Dunno about Red Rocks: it is officially closed July-December? (from memory)
and only gets morning sun I think.
If you go, dont slip into the river.

evanbb

2-Jul-2009
4:02:18 PM

On 2/07/2009 cruze wrote:
>Cold AND windy? (I was going to say cold, sunny and not windy is usually
>quite beautiful at Booroomba).

It's not obvious ATM from the forecast if it's going to be windy as well, but after today, I guess yes. I find Booroomba miserable in the wind, and a bit spooky. After the fires a lot of the dead wood continues to come down in heavy wind, and I've seen some big bits of timber hit the deck.

Gibraltar sounds good. I want a look at Another Roadside Attraction among other things.

cruze

2-Jul-2009
4:10:20 PM

Scarborough Fair packs a great punch into 30 odd metres. It is rare that a pitch has three discrete phases of different climbing styles. It can just get pretty cold at Gibralter because it is exposed all around. At least at Booroomba if the wind is coming from the backside of the hill it can be quite calm...

One Day Hero

3-Jul-2009
6:46:34 PM

On 2/07/2009 evanbb wrote:

>Gibraltar sounds good. I want a look at Another Roadside Attraction among
>other things.
>
ARA gets shade till late arvo, your belayer will freeze their clacker shut!

Red Rocks is sheltered from westerlies, has sun on from very early till mid arvo. It's my pick for freezing but sunny winter days......you just have to man up and jump the 'bidgee!

evanbb

5-Jul-2009
3:57:07 PM

Ended up climbing at Gibraltar, which was beautiful in the sun, but diabolical in the shade.

Traipsed around the hill for an hour or more looking for something manageable and in the sun. Failed miserably. Decided to man up and lead Nailbiter instead; it was miserably cold, my hands cramped closed, I fell 5 times, and generally bought shame to my family. It was incredible the difference the shade made, and my not warming up properly. Toproped it again later and cruised it. Big part of the problem is my layback technique, which I never tested much in the Blueys, but I seem to need every time I climb something in Canberra.

Had a play on the 21/23 to the left of The Groove, learnt a few things about slab climbing, and identified a few more holes in my technique. At least I did a few slab moves, which is progress. The temptation is to make big foot moves, but I found much more success taking small steps and padding along. Might pop some photos up later.

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