As usual I’m reporting on events in the deep deep dark distant past, but better late than never I guess. It was April apparently, actually it was Easter I think, and we headed up to the Blue Mountains with Andrew & Penny for some excellent climbing.

We spent Friday at Shipley Upper, doing most of the climbs on the Grey Slabs, we particularly liked one on the far left, Country Special (19) I think. I top roped Lardy Lady’s Lats (22) which was great, after Penny kindly put it up. We also did Jack High (19) which was not bad, although I had Lars or Julien nearly fall on me from the corner on Flaming Flamingo.

After a great sunset and a top pasta cook up we hit the sack, ready for another day. On Saturday we headed to Mt Piddington, for a bit of trad climbing. Meg & I started with the super easy Faith (8) and I think we also did Chastity (14) and Hope (15). In the meantime Andrew lead the much more committing Tombstone Wall (15) just around the corner.

Having had enough of cracks I started up the slabby Sincerity (13), noticing that the guide said “much harder (22?) if you do the final moves” (as opposed to moving right into the crack). Of course I decided I was good enough to do the final moves, and had nearly stuck it when I fell, probably from a metre above the bolt. With the rope stretch I probably fell 2½m, and caught my toe on a ledge, yanking my ankle upward. Ouch!

I felt OK after a minute or two’s swearing, and managed to get to the top and belay Meg up. By the time we’d rappelled back down it was feeling fine, so I thought I was good to go. Later I would realise that this was a false, adrenaline fueled, recovery.

While we’d been enjoying ourselves around the corner, Andrew & Penny’s mates John & Justine had arrived and had been busily climbing routes. Justine led Eternity (18), and then after a bit of egging-on Andrew did too. Penny had climbed something else to the top and got a great sequence of shots of Andrew leading.

After we’d had a bit of lunch Meg was talked into top-roping Eternity, and absolutely cruised up it. Not to be out done I had a go too, and although I didn’t have any major trouble by the time I got down my ankle was hurting a fair bit. Oops!

The walk out is a good couple of kms, and a fair climb, and with only one foot it got a bit interesting! I managed to hobble it, with the assistance of a few sticks, and some pack carrying from the group. Not wanting to miss out on the fun I managed to hobble into the pub for dinner. What a great weekend!

View the photos »