Last week Josh put the feelers out for a climb. Sadly he didn’t get a positive response from anyone on our local group, and I was hoping to get in the water on both Saturday and Sunday instead of on rock. However, after becoming disillusioned by my murky underwater adventures yesterday, I suggested I would be up for a quick Welly Dam visit. It takes about the same time to get here, as it does to a few coastal areas where the water would be clear. But somehow it doesn’t feel as worthwhile to drive for an hour, just for an hour in the water:
On arrival I was struck at how the usually green turfed area of Welly Dam was dry, bone dry. The grass has been allowed to brown off and was crunchy underfoot, a sign that they have not been irrigating the area. It is the first time I have seen them leave the area to get to this state. It is a bit of a shame as it used to be the perfect place to throw a blanket on the grass and have a picnic. Filling up with families during the morning of a day like today, out making use of the BBQs in a very kid friendly environment:
The place is not what I would consider Josh friendly. With how often, or more correctly how little, he gets out to climb, the place can feel pretty stiff. This didn’t stop him at jumping at that chance of a climb, and we tailored the day to ease him back onto rock with a few of the shorter and easier routes. Three lines in and he was already feeling the pump. The slick feeling of rock, as the temperature was rising, wasn’t helping. To allow his arms to recover when we jumped on the big walls, I snuck in another route in-between each climb he did:
As the morning wore on, no families arrived but a couple from Perth turned up for their first taste of climbing at Welly Dam. After a bit of a chat, and having watched how they went on the usual warm up route people go for, I suggested they jump on the most contested line here. They admitted they hadn’t considered it due to the write up it gets on The Crag, which gives it a bit of a slating. I’m pleased to report that they really enjoyed and rated it, and didn’t flinch at the bolting but did suggest it may be a grade more than we had given it:
That is not an uncommon thing to hear about most of the routes here, so I accept that. And as they continued to enjoy the fine lines on offer, Josh and I bagged a few more ourselves. Each time Josh looked like he was well and truly toasted, slumping onto the rope. He jumped back on to continue the battle, after a quick rest. For our last line I’m pleased he pulled through, as he got to see this Mallee Grass Mantis (Archimantis sobrina) egg sac that I spotted near the top. Called an oothecae, the female exudes the foamy substance over her eggs:
Hardening up to form an intricate pattern. When the eggs hatch, worm-like larvae emerge and hang from the oothecae by threads. Moulting their exoskeleton, to become tiny functional mantis nymphs. Ready to hunt for their first meal one day after hatching. After this discovery, it was time to hit the road leaving the guys from Perth to continue to discover the climbing delights on offer here. We were however a bit gobsmacked when another couple arrived, with the temperature inching into the thirties, and set up on a face in full sun:
Sandbagged 