Today we were heading to Wilyabrup with a crowd. Seven of us, which is more than the normal trip out. That said Kellie was, as per normal, would be heading off for a run to leave the rest of us to it. The number sadly dropped before we began, as on arrival at Capel Rongy got a call to say that the shop he manages had just been raided. A smash and grab job. It seems there have been a number of these raids over recent times in Bunbury. This of course meant he had to jump in his car and head back to Bunbury:
Alana decided that she would still tag along, after all there was nothing she could have done to Rongy out. We headed onwards meeting Rob, Josh, Kellie and a new tag called Shannon, who Kellie had recently met at runners club. Shannon, however, was not joining Kellie for a run. While suggesting she was a little rusty, she was keen to have a climb. Having very recently moved west from Brisbane for a year, she was feeling lucky and very happy today to sample her first taste of WA climbing:
With Rongy being out, it kinda turned the concept of today a little on its head. The primary reason for coming this way started with Rob suggesting the location, as he had his eye on a few leads. But with Josh, Alana, and Shannon we also had to make sure they were kept busy. After organising a top rope for them, we set off. Rob was keen to warm up on a gentle slab route. And as with many slab routes here that meant not much gear, but the grade being low enough not rattle Rob as set off:
After the warm up it was back to the group, where Rob was sounding a little hesitant about the two leads he had really been keen on. They are not ridiculously hard and have plenty of gear, but in the build up to today he had worked them up in his mind into something else. Managing to shake just enough of the doubt, and with a little encouragement he set off on the first lead. Once the gear started to slot in he became more comfortable and at ease. The others were still working the routes on the top rope, but Shannon was eyeing the route Rob was climbing:
She followed up after Rob and climbed it with relative ease. Even if rusty, her past climbing experience showing through. A dangerous thing for me to see, as this resulted in me suggesting that she should have a bash at a lead. While a little slow to agree and then start, once on the rock she made short work of the next route. This line happened to be the other one Rob was keen to lead, and watching her climb it so well he was encouraged to have a bash himself on lead:
As indicated by the ropes round us in the images above and below, the place quickly packed out making our paltry six people, once Kellie returned, seem small and insignificant. Several groups arrived in addition to a 40-50 strong university group that was practising rescue techniques. While we moved onto two more routes, which was a challenge in itself with all the ropes hanging about, the atmosphere certainly changed. Both in relation to the feel of the busy place, but also the sharply rising humidity making the holds sweaty and uninviting. Therefore, as the sun crept round we decided it was time to call it a wrap:
Sandbagged 