It’s good to see a place with a fresh pair of eyes. Things we take for granted once again become fresh, interesting, and noticed. We had a relatively late arrival at the Wilyabrup carpark, which I didn’t complain about. With the sun up in the sky that bit more, the view back up the gravel road caught Sarah’s attention. The dust we had kicked up on the way in was still suspended in the air, giving the sunlight something to play on. There was hardly a breeze, and the late change in the forecast to hint rain would come seemed unlikely:
Sarah has been on the road mostly over east for some time, and it has been a long while since she has been to Wilyabrup. Like Howsie yesterday, despite being forewarned of the potential risk of getting out with me, the call of rock won out. It was also the only chance for a catch up. Confessing on the way down that she hadn’t roped up for some months, it was unclear how things would play out. Regardless of that, once we talked about a few of the possible lines she was game to have a lead. The first route did however have her questioning her choice:
After much pondering just before the hardest sequence, and pushing back the mental thoughts holding her back, she went for it. The route is aptly named Twenty Questions, on which I have witnessed many a person considering the multiple approaches of getting past the crux. All of which have their element of insecurity and uncertainty. It was a good start, indicating I may get Sarah on the sharp end again. Without prompting she remarked on the winter like conditions of the ocean, seemingly out of character for this time of the year:
But at least there was no hint of the rain that had been forecast. To make things easier we set up a abseil anchor above the next wall. Once down we found this curious creature tucked away at the base of the corner crack. There are five species of Slender Snout-nosed Katydid in Australia, this one being Mygalopsis marki and confined to the south west of Western Australia with very few recorded sighting on the usual online databases. I did find a few details and both genders can be brown or green, but it is not known what triggers the change:
Some say it is for camouflage, which is clearly not working in this case. Others say they have only observed the male being green in January, so it could be linked to environmental conditions. This one is therefore likely to be a male. And the conditions were, so far, conducive for climbing so I put my leading head on. We were however sheltered by the north facing wall, and as I topped out the strengthening southerly winds hit me. Looking south clouds were rolling in but there were no signs of rain. Sarah was keen so it was a quick abseil:
And she jumped on a route that was the second hardest lead she would have ever done. It took a little encouragement, and despite the lack of being on the sharp end in recent times, she surprised herself with a clean lead. Feeling all upbeat, and rightly so, her eyes were then set on leading the first route she had ever been on https://sandbagged.blog/2022/09/22/d-mob/. The sky was looking more dicey now, but not put off she quickly racked up. Part way up, before any gear was placed, the rain started to fall. Quickly becoming harder and harder:
After a careful down climb we sheltered under a big overhang, watching the place get drenched. Only then realising at least three other parties were about as they also dashed for cover, some joining us. The walls were soaked and there was no sign of it relenting. We made the decision to pack up, walking out and leaving the other groups to decide whether it worth staying our not. Completely forgetting about the rap anchors we had set up until I got home. I guess it was my turn to give back, and offer up some crag booty for someone else to find:
Sandbagged 