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19-Dec-2006 10:36:32 PM
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Hi All,
Considering doing a whirlwind trip up to Booroomba for a granite fix over New Years. Obviously I will have
a look at temps before heading up, but can anyone tell me if there is good climbing in the shade, etc?
I've heard that the Southern Buttress (?) stays in the shade.
Am I being unrealistic in trying to climb there in summer?
Cheers,
Brad
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20-Dec-2006 9:30:38 AM
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South Buttress is pretty shady until later in the day.
If you want to do something on the Central or Northern slabs, just make sure that you get up there early, ie start the walk up just before sunrise (20 mins with a few rests). Navigation is a bit tricky unless you know the appropriate descent gullies. Do not use the North Buttress descent as it is very loose and a jungle on the lower portions (you will get lost, eaten by yowies etc).
My recommendations are Equilibrium 17, Echidna 19, Closer In 23, Hurricane Crack 14, Integral Crack 20, Alligator Wine 22, Vomit 17, Denathor 14, Vent Crack 14. Take a hat, lots of water and sun tan cream.
Give me a ring on 0438413926 and we might be able to tee up a time a place to meet.
Dave.
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20-Dec-2006 10:38:58 AM
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You might be alone on the slabs on very hot days (we have been in the past), but there is still plenty to do around the Southern Buttress. I did Integral in late December in sub 15 degree temps. The weather varies a lot even in summer, and can be 5 or so degrees + cooler up in the hills than in Canberra.
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20-Dec-2006 10:42:04 AM
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We did New Year up there once years ago.... was really good. Much better than the oven - I mean Araps - at that time of year!! First thing in the morning was fine for the sunny routes (e.g. we did Denethor/Ivory Coast) - plus from memory Hermes-Fearon area and Integral Crack area got morning shade. Was also excellent up at Orroral - dappled shade on basically everything and routes on all sides of boulders so you can follow solid shade. Good memories of a hammock and cold beer from the esky in the arvos too.
But yes...check the forecast !
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20-Dec-2006 9:39:01 PM
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Although I have spent the last 12 months waging a fruitless campaign to get victorians up to booroomba, I would be pretty suss about showing up in January. North buttress will roasting by about 10:30, south gets full sun around 12:30. When I go there in summer it's a spastic alpine start, leaving town at 4am!!
Also, the 'bidgee looks like it might stop flowing soon, meaning the post-slab-roasting swim will be off too.
My midsummer pick for N.S.W. (and all of mainland oz, for that matter) is point perp. Swim all morning, then show up at the east facing cliffs after lunch at the fish and chippery.....or just skip the climbing and get another icecream. Otherwise go to tassie, that's what I'm doing.
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21-Dec-2006 8:46:03 AM
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You might also consider getting your alpine granite fix at Blue Lake. Stellar climbing, in one of the most beautiful spots around. Generally lower temps than anywhere else, but the sun is intense and so are the flies/mozzies. I posted a trip report last summer either on this site or Canberraclimbing.com.
Otherwise yeah, like ODH said. Point perp rocks, although it can be bloody hot sitting around up the top for too long with no shade, and all that rock to warm you up - once you drop over the edge it is like you just jumped into a pool. Honeymoon Bay is very busy that time of year as well.
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21-Dec-2006 10:23:31 AM
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Cheers. Thanks for the info, guys. I'll just keep an eye on the forecast and make the call at the last minute.
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31-Dec-2006 12:28:51 PM
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On 20/12/2006 One Day Hero wrote:
>Although I have spent the last 12 months waging a fruitless campaign to
>get victorians up to booroomba, I would be pretty suss about showing up
I just spent a few days up at Baroomba after christmas on a quick visit to the capital. I visited the crag about 7 years ago and (yes it was April) remember it being a picturesque alpine granite crag.. did Integral Crack, Echidna, Equilibrium, etc and loved them all. This time round we spent most of the time scrabbling around unstable scree gullies baking in the sun grasping burnt logs trying to find our way around. The place is totally trashed from the fires. Any hope of a rap in for at least the northern slabs? Or maybe some hints to visitors on the noticeboard about access post-fires ? Even tape on the middle descent ? although that is also quite unstable from the fires & subsequent erosion.
Stu
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31-Dec-2006 6:01:24 PM
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The fires did make the northern access scramble (which you probably used for Equilibrium and Echidna) even more unstable. I always thought that the middle rocks descent route was pretty obvious and clear from the guide. The idea of rap stations was floated on canberraclimbing.com a little while ago. Sorry to hear it was so hot, it really does catch a lot of sun up there after mid-morning.
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20-Dec-2009 7:28:21 AM
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Vent Crack (first 2 pitches) stayed in the shade until 11.30am yesterday. The southern
side of the Northern Buttress (i.e. Hermes) was in the shade until then too. I reckon make
a really early start and be off by midday. One good suggestion I've heard from Brendan
Maggs is to bivvy the night up at the campsite on the top and get going first thing in the
morning from there.
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21-Dec-2009 11:04:38 AM
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With this thread resurrected:
do check the weather - if total fire ban day, it seems that the dirt roads will probably be closed, pretty much ruling out climbing at Booroomba or The Ridge (unless you go VERY old school wrt walk in, puff pant).
Check with Namadgi National Park Visitor Centre, Naas Road, Tharwa
Phone (02) 6207 2900
I suppose Orroral Tor or Snake Rock etc would be alternatives then (more for locals).
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