Ahh the world of trad climbing! Quite new to me and yes, it still scares the panties off me. It is now fully into Frog* season, world class concentrated crack climbing with a 5 minute walk-in! Wooohoo to a non hideous walk-in. So I had a couple of goes at crack climbing last season (winter) and lets just say, I found leading a 15 was super hard. Trad climbing just didn't really interest me at this stage.

This season I was up for the challenge of sticking my fingers, fists, arms; anything I can think of into the crack.  Got to climb with Duncan Steel on the weekend, he is a fantastic man and an experienced one at that. Duncan chose a few climbs for me to lead and they were fantastic. I seconded Barbed Wire Canoe clean, Dunc did a fantastic job leading it, as it had very marginal gear!  

Liza popped her first bit of gear and came to about 30cm off hitting a ledge. I was leading the climb to the left of her and got all shaken up.  I started placing more gear and then had to run it out at the end...

What an amazing day!!! Can't wait to do it again :)


*Frog Buttress Crag on Mt French, Boonah

It's hard to get psyched, especially when you get home from a place like the Grampians.  So it was back to the local crag (Pulpit), I have been on this project for several days before the Grampians trip. It is a slightly steep, pumpy hit or miss climb named Count Down. The last day I spent on it, every shot I had only 1 sit on the rope.  How frustrating!!!

This time it was another 3 burns with only 1 fall. 4th and last burn of the day, I was just focused on going up so that I could get the draws back.  I had reached the crux cleanly and just went for it! Missing the hold I was going for I still managed to hold on.  Amazed that I was still on, I churned out the next few moves and it was in the bag!!!! Super happy chappy after that!

Maybe it was the presence of Peta Barrett :P I got to touch her behind. WoooWhoo!