Category Archives: Climbing day trips

Today was take 2.  My lack of experience, and to a degree observations, led Rongy and my last attempt to bolt the three new routes at Welly Dam come to a grinding halt.  What was lacking was grunt in the equipment we had, but also the fact that there is a difference between a hammerContinue reading “What’s in a name”

Ash has been a little quiet on our climbing chat group, but was keen to get out on Friday this week.  A day that suited Howsie, Rob and myself for a quick not too serious morning session.  And the best place for such situations is Castle Rock.  It wasn’t a crazy early start, but theContinue reading “I can see you”

Everything that was needed had arrived, so all that was left was to head out and start bolting.  Today was the day the three new routes at Welly Dam would spring to life, and Rongy would get his first experience of bolting.  In view of the noisy nature of the process it is not somethingContinue reading “Insufficient grunt”

On my last trip back to the UK to see my folks we went for a few car trips to the Peak District, including one visit to Hathersage.  An old haunt of mine from my climbing days in the UK.  I was keen to see the village and familiar sights and also to go toContinue reading “Passing through”

There is only one place to head when there is limited time for a play, and that is Welly Dam.  Today’s trip started with Howsie and myself, and as the day got closer the group expanded with Josh, Rongy and finally Rob also keen to tag along.  Josh was accompanied by Kellie, although she wentContinue reading “Time to fly”

It is of course possible to have too much of a good thing, with climbing for me that has mostly come about from strain injuries sustained from the artificial style of climbing by pulling on plastic holds indoors.  When it comes to climbing outdoors, other than managing the physical bodily risks to avoid strains andContinue reading “Accepting it for what it is”

On Christmas Eve, when growing up in UK, I would be hoping that we might wake up to a white Christmas.  Here there is no hope of that occurring, and in truth I still struggle to feel Christmassy in the heat of summer.  But, as once happened twelve years back, I do quietly hope thatContinue reading “Ending on a high note”

It was way too much like hard work this morning, when at 4am the alarm violently shook me out of my deep slumber.  When we had agreed the time earlier that week our reasoning was sound.  The destination being just a wee bit further than usual, and the temperatures threatening to tip into the thirties. Continue reading “Just one regret…”

I thought I had been pretty good with taking time off from work this year, but I seem to have got towards the end of the year with a fair bit of leave up my sleeve.  This included one day of a particular type of leave that if I did not use it I wouldContinue reading “Big brother”

A sixteen hour round trip to catch up with friends down in Esperance was just a bit too much to think about for Ash this weekend.  This worked out well for me, as it meant I had someone to hold the rope and I didn’t have to go solo again.  As Sam found out lastContinue reading “Give a dog a bone”