I’ve been back from my Kalbarri trip for just over ten days now and I have still been feeling somewhat achy and sore. That may also be down to the sudden increase in temperature and/or the hay fever that has hit me worse than any previous year. So there was only one thing for it, to get out climbing and figure out if I really was in bad shape or just been a wuss. So a few of us decided to head out to Welly Dam, and an early’ish start was more than warranted:
Denis and I got there soon after six and had racked up a couple of warm up climbs on Welcome to Edges and Raging Torrent. Denis hinted at the need to pull the rope so both people led each climb, but that only happened for the first climb. He then realised just how out of shape he was and opted to second the next route. As we were finishing off on these lines Andrew rocked up with Steve and Howsie and they soon got down to business:
It had been a while since any of them had been out, and Welly Dam being Welly Dam it was a sharp shock to the system for those who had had the longer break from climbing. Steve however seemed to be in fine form and marched up Edges without breaking a sweat. Andrew hasn’t been out since May so he like Denis decided it was quite acceptable going on second:
Howsie opted for Pocket Knife, for which the top was starting to creep into the sun. When he came down we had a vote and agreed that Denis was more than capable of leading this line, so we pulled the rope leaving him no option. He gave it a red hot go and with ever tiring arms he finally beat his demons and made it up the strangely troublesome crux sequence:
There was lots of repeating the lines today and I accidentally (and I still stand by that) pulled the rope through meaning Steve had to lead Pocket Knife. But I needn’t have felt bad about the accident I made as he romped up it, with a ‘cheeky’ move at the crux that Andrew then copied:
After one more warm up route on BBQ Howsie decided to pull out the big guns and went for Red Alert, with the direct start. He made fine work up to the third bolt before gassing out, but he didn’t freak and with encouragement down climbed to a rest stance rather than sit on the rope. Then when he pushed for the top he did it cleanly and in good form, with a big ear to ear grin:
Following on from my learnings in Kalbarri, and reinforced by Denis’s early enthusiasm, we pulled the rope and I headed up Red Alert on lead. Someone stole my camera and took this very cool image, so thank you. I hadn’t been on this route since I pulled the enormous flake off about a year ago so was a tad nervous, but needn’t have been and lapped it up:
At the top anchors, rather than rush back down I took advantage of the birds eye view. Steve was taking on one of his favourite climbs, Raging Torrent and the position was perfect. Showing great core muscle control and foot work he navigated the lower sections of the route, and as usual on this line moved with relative ease:
Even at the crux he didn’t falter and pushed through so fast that I would have missed it if I had blinked. He has certainly tamed this bad boy, and more impressively that was now three clean leads out of three for him today:
Steve did have one minor complaint and that was that I had not brought the tea making set, so there was no morning tea break to be had. That said we didn’t rush things and took a casual pace in-between climbs and for the most part moving along the crag as a group being very social:
Andrew was determine to have at least one lead so we sent him up This Murky Corner. It was aptly named as this mind game of a climb messed with Andrew. However, rather than lower off he asked for moral support. So while he was battling his seeping strength, disco legs and disbelieving mind we encouraged him along and he made a good ascent of this fine line, nice:
The heat was turning up and it was getting close to the time we all needed to head off, so just for giggles we did a couple of final fun lines. Denis headed off leaving me on Ebonie Road, and after I lead it I stayed atop allowing Howsie to pull the rope and climbed up. This gave me another chance to nab more great images from an angle we don’t usually get:
Then as Steve and Andrew tried in vain to get past the bottom sequence of Ebonie Lane, I suggested that Howsie might fancy jumping on one last climb. So while Steve and Andrew were being held back by heat and exhaustion, Howsie continually fell off before being able to clip the third bolt on Taj Vs The World. We reckon he was either trying to recreate the image of him in the SW Guide, or that the shorts he was wearing were unlucky on this climb. Some research of past images is needed:
It was definitely time to wrap things up so after taking the lead on Taj I left Howsie to second that while I cleaned Ebonie. With another opportunity for a different angle shot I was a little disappointed to see him hauling past the second and third bolt. Well I guess it is safe to say that everyone climbed themselves out at Welly Dam, and that is a good thing:
A quick clear up of gear in the shade and then it was back down the hill for all of us. So looking back I have decided that I was being a wuss, but feel like I have repented with nine climbs today. Admittedly, unlike in Kalbarri the highest (not the lowest) grade was 22. Maybe next time I’ll have to push the boat out a wee bit more, that said I do have that satisfying achy feeling after a great day on rock. So thank you to the crew:
For those that were not aware of this morning’s trip we have set up a local SW climbers WhatsApp group; so as and when trips out or boulder sessions might occur we can all stay informed. If you are keen to be included on that then get onto WhatsApp and let me know.
I’m looking forward to getting out again!
Sandbagged 