After much of the landscape had a good soaking over Friday and Saturday, delivering well over half of the total March average, Craig was keen to risk an atmospheric climb. As mentioned in my last post the winds hadn’t picked up at all. However, the clouds still hung heavy and showers were still about. Wilyabrup is the obvious choice on days like these, providing shelter under overhangs and a raft of lower grade routes we are capable of scaling in most conditions. This also meant that the rack was relatively simple with single set of wires and cams:
We were amazed to find a car already parked up as we rolled in. There was no need for a crazy early start in unsettled weather, so admittedly it was a late’ish arrival at 6:30. We guessed rightly that whoever it was, they were not climbers. As with the chance of a shower or two today, there was a strong possibility that no one else would be out climbing. Indeed we had the place to ourselves all morning, other than on the last route when several groups of Sunday strollers wandered in to take in the scenery:
We arrived to find the rock faces pretty well dry, other than the seepage areas. Seeing I had taken the first lead with Howsie yesterday, I felt it only right to offer up the first climb to Craig today. Being more of a statement than an offer, which he didn’t seem to object too and promptly sailed up the first route of the day. As I reached the top out to see a wide band of rain was coming our way, but we were prepared for this. We rapped down, made sure the gear we weren’t using was undercover, and then I set off:
Managing the first third of my, maybe not so wisely, chosen climb before the rain hit. Within moments the dry rock was no more. Above me still to come was the sketchy run out section for which friction is most definitely desirable. I found an additional piece of physiological gear, not one I have used before, which helped me push through the steepening crux sequence. Upon reaching the better hand holds, my foot brushed that piece of gear and it fell out. I won’t be using it again, but it did help me break the mental barrier and go for it:
While there were a few more sprinkles to come, as the morning rolled on they mostly reduced in intensity and frequency. And we also rolled on, the showers didn’t hamper our pace. Helped by having picked spots to allow raps back down and reasonably quick set ups for belay anchors, we soon had four fun lines under our belt. The image below of Craig coming up that fourth route may be a bit fuzzy, but my phone and I were aligned on the focus needing to be on the brew that Craig had poured just before coming up:
On a slightly wintery day such as this one had started, a hot brew was very welcome before we moved along to another spot to hit a couple more well-trodden lines. Not expecting to see much on the reptile front, as I followed after Craig I was very happy to find a one and a half meter long shed of a South-western Carpet Python (Morelia imbricata). Something that he somehow missed. It was a good job we were doing two lines close together, allowing him a good look at the discovery second time round:
The sky was breaking up allowing partial, or as Lisa would like to say dappled, sunlight to warm the world below up. With sufficient warmth to draw out the odd Southwestern Crevice Skink (Egernia napoleonis), as shown below, and we also got to spot a King’s Skink (Egernia kingii) before is scampered to a hidden retreat. The conditions also resulted in the rock drying out nicely, despite there being very little wind. Working in our favour, as while the last two lines were in keeping of the lower grades they both have what can feel nervy runout sections:
And in kinda keeping with tradition we climbed with packs to avoid the walk back down after the last route and then up again with all the gear. However, due to the route selection, and being at least a little bit sensible, we decided only the second on each of the last two lines could carry a pack. Allowing the leader an unencumbered climb, which we were both very grateful for on our respective more runout sections. It was certainly a wonderful morning out, mostly having the place to ourselves until the very end when the day walkers came in:
More of whom were drifting in as we walked out. The sun was properly out and it felt a bit hot and muggy on the track. Chatting as we sweated along, I also kept an eye out and was feeling hopeful. Sure enough we stumbled across one, and just one, of the first flowering orchids. A species reputed to be one of Western Australia’s best known, a Common Bunny Orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. multiflorus). The first find of the year. And so the great hunt begins, as the ocean conditions start to make the chance of a local snorkel less likely:
Sandbagged 