Keeping things sensible while still trying to shake things up, I can see all the lesser frequented and smaller crags along our coastline will get a visit over the next few months. Today, Howsie and I headed out today to Lost Buttress. A place I am particularly fond of, not just because of the climbing but also the lovely approach. Walking out along the coast he told me how his ‘app-led’ training program had reached the 9km mark, with the goal of being ready for a half marathon in April. Suddenly the longer approach didn’t seem like the best idea:
Even more so when he said things had been ‘niggled’ by yesterday’s 9km run. With the ever increasing distances the technology will instruct him to complete the niggles are a bit of a worry. It seems that it is not just me that has to make some sensible decisions. Fortunately the rock hopping did not aggravate his niggles, and we soon arrived at our destination. Here I started the proceedings on a route that has, in my opinion, one of the most comfortable jams of any route. With a perfectly sized crack, for my hand, that has smooth yet grippy rock:
Being rationale I left Howsie to tackle the harder of the moderate routes here. Allowing him to enjoy the exposure that seems so out of balance for such a relatively small crag. Then before my second lead I was maybe not so wise. Prior to today the far northern wall, which is even shorter, only had one line on it. A significant back story about that climb is detailed in this past post https://sandbagged.blog/2015/10/09/no-longer-scarred-for-life/. Much to my joy the tide and swell defied today’s forecast, and the normally wave washed wall was dry:
Not only that but the boulders at the base were also dry, allowing easy and safe access. This lead to a flurry of four new lines being put up. All solo’s, meaning neither of us were being entirely sensible. While the routes were nothing too hard, should we slip the landings were not particularly inviting. However, when conditions like this come along they are not to be sniffed at. We simply got carried away with the excitement, feasting on the opportunity. Having developed all the mini-guides it is now easy for me to update these with new climbs as we establish them:
As such you’ll need to head to that post and look at the guide for Lost Buttress to see what new lines we did https://sandbagged.blog/2025/12/29/mini-guides-for-crags-of-the-south-west-of-western-australia/. Not seeing anything else worth bagging on the short wall, it was back to the main and taller area. Here we gobbled up another four splendid routes, with Howsie again keen to take on the slightly stiffer opposition, before we called it a day. Whether it was the morning’s activities or the building heat of the day, the legs felt more lethargic walking out:
Passing The Playground, and despite the great bouldering on offer, our shoes stayed in our packs. Our arms were satisfied with the morning’s adventures. We did however briefly stop to inspect the highway of activity under the wall. Trying to make out what had been shuffling about, looking likely to have been visited by crabs and reptiles, as well as a Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus). I mentioned how surprised I was that we do not see more reptiles, during these morning trips out. Especially considering time we are out and the lesser frequented areas we visit:
Someone must have been listening, as when we were nearing the carpark we came across a juvenile Southern Heath Monitor (Varanus rosenbergi). So well camouflaged we nearly didn’t see it. This one being approx. a foot long, just a fifth of what they can grow to. I’ve read the eggs are laid in active termite mounds, which have sophisticated passive ventilation. This provides the warmth and humidity required for incubation. Once hatched the young monitor can then feast on their host, and will continue to make use of the mound for shelter for several months:
Sandbagged 