Seb is back in town after several years in tropical climates. But only for a few days before he hits the high seas. Having succeeded in scoring a job on a superyacht. Although the vessel is at the smaller end of what is classified as a superyacht, so don’t expect him to make an appearances on Below Deck just yet. Before heading off he was keen to hit rock, and my calendar allowed me to help provide an experience that was to be unfamiliar in several ways. Firstly it is winter and he hasn’t experienced a South West winter for some four years:
We came well rugged up, but unexpectedly my buffalo and beanie stayed in the bag. It felt quite comfortable being a couple of degrees above the forecast, at approx. ten degrees, and was completely calm with not a breeze. Even Seb, used to tropical winters, didn’t find it at all bracing. Next he has only climbed a couple of times this year, so wasn’t sure how he would go stamina wise. No matter I’m more than happy to hit lower grade routes. Thirdly, he has climbed on trad is twice, both times at Wilyabrup with me and over a year and a half back:
Seeing he was warmed up enough, and in my usual manner, I suggested he rack up and take the first lead. Nothing too serious to start with. Long slabby lines to get the body moving, start to remember how to place trad gear, and figure out the art of setting up belays. All of which seemed to come back to him very quickly, as he gobbled up the first two lines. Above while on the second one a Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) is taking a dive. Named as the sight of these aerial acrobats were a sign for early sailors that land was not far away:
These birds are a common sight in the area. Found year round but more so from September to February, before on the onset of Autumn. They rarely perch, and seem to do everything on the wing. Not only do they catch and eat prey during flight but also skim freshwater bodies to drink, even feeding their fledglings while flying. After a couple of gentle climbs it was time to steepen things up. With Seb taking the lead of course, as I belayed from higher up than he was. Just for the photoshoot. His preferred gear was wires and tricams, all placed solidly:
Not bad considering so few times of climbing on trad and an eighteen month abstinence. And when required his cam placements were also well thought out and bomber. With so few visits here, it was easy to pick lines that he had not been on before. Allowing him the chance to nab them as on-sight leads. The best way to climb! I also suggested he have a crack at one of my most recent creations, The Christening. And just like Howsie had on the second ascent, Seb snuck a little to the left as the gear got further below on the runout section:
Sorry Adrian we think my original thought of grade 13 was right. Our intentions today were very much fun lower grade stuff, but all that changed when Seb spied gear high up on Steel Wall. Yes we could have rapped in from above to retrieve it, but that felt like cheating. As such after four stellar leads under his belt, it was my turn to tie in and take and floppy end. Needing to change my mindset and also prepare for a sharp increase in grade. Luckily the gear could be reached from a line I have led many a time, so that’s the way I went:
While it was a well-rehearsed climb for me, it felt really, really tough today. Several times I felt like I was going to peel off. Added to that the spaced gear made it a nervous lead. Luckily no one else was about, as they would have wondered what the hullabaloo was all about each time I noisily pulled on small holds. Seb managed to get up, but had to fight hard testing my belay set up several times. I thought he may have been toasted after that, but as we came back down he was keen for another lead. On a route that was now in full sun:
This not only warmed us up, but also woke up heaps of Buchanan’s Snake-eyed Skinks (Cryptoblepharus buchananii). These were racing across the ground at break neck speed. Assisted by a low centre of gravity and long toes, especially on their hind legs. They are also capable of leaping right into the air to snatch flying insects, not that I’ve been lucky enough to witness that. And as I watched the skinks, just like when Howsie and were here last, here is a blurry picture of a Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) circling above watching Seb:
Being the smallest Australian falcon and one of the only Australian raptors that can hoover in one spot. Something it does as it looks for prey. Not that this female, determined by its more rufous (rust-coloured) crown and tail, was eyeing up Seb. It was more likely watching what he was looking at. While they are known to go for them, snakes are not the small falcons primary food source. So this Southwestern Carpet Python (Morelia imbricata) may well have been safe. The name imbricata coming from the Latin word imbricatus, meaning overlapping:
Referring to the snakes overlapping dorsal scales, that look like roof tiles. Although why is unclear as it is not something that is unique to this species, being common for terrestrial snakes. When I followed Seb, and again like last time, the Nankeen Kestrel sat and watched us. Not flying off until we had packed up and started to walk back down. Where I tied in for the last lead, using my crag booty on the first piece of gear. It was a great session made all the better due to the perfect rock, wonderful conditions, and having the place all to ourselves:
Sandbagged 