Category Archives: Climbing day trips

So following on in the Howsie tradition, Chris has set himself a challenge to lead every grade 20 in 2020.  There is a big end goal in sight that aligns with some big landmarks both in time and place.  You won’t however hear about the end goal for another four years assuming I am stillContinue reading “Ain’t no slouch”

After being back at work, and staying off my wall at home, all week I was itching for some time on rock. While I had taken my top-rope set up along to Castle Rock over the last few months I really wanted some longer routes. So for this weekend I decided on the Dolphin SmilesContinue reading “Feeling groggy”

Having been good and kept off my wall this week I allowed myself to venture out on real rock one more time.  That has evened things up, making it four trips out over my two week holiday.  Not the fierce and more relentless approach I would have taken in the olden days, but no complaintsContinue reading “Wildlife”

It would seem that despite having thought about the way I would approach training on my wall, or maybe it was the back to back harder routes at Welly Dam and then The Terrace, my old shoulder injury has managed to rear the first ugly signs of reappearing.  Any sensible person would back right offContinue reading “A romantic escape”

Conditions were looking better for heading to where I intended to go on Monday.  Clear skies, light winds, and no chance of rain.  I thought that by going on a Friday, as oppose to the weekend, it would be quiet and secondly it might also make me feel better about being on the road.  ThereContinue reading “Changing seasons”

Like probably everywhere else Easter was unnaturally quiet at Peppy Beach, normally it would be crawling with people due to being a favourite place to get away and spend time on the beach.  On Sunday night we met up with the neighbours in our cul-de-sac for a drink, each bringing our own chair, drink andContinue reading “What are the chances!”

While you may laugh, in recent times it feels like I have lost the confidence I used to have on lead.  The likelihood of being able to get out with anyone, to be able to build that confidence back up by leading climbs, is very slim to non-existence for months to come.  With that inContinue reading “The terminator”

With the way the world is going I felt that the great trip down to Mount Frankland last week may have been the last climbing trip for some time to come.  I did touch base with Howsie before this weekend to check if he was still keen, it was a silly question really.  But despiteContinue reading “Risky business”

With the changing season we come to expect glorious weather during the week, while many of us are couped up at work, with weekends threatening rain to dampen any idea of outdoor fun.  This weekend was looking, what the 28 day rain forecast predicts, to be the start of this new normal.  During the weekContinue reading “A Reason for Cake”

Rongy has been dropping hints about getting back to Smiths Beach for a long time now, the last time I had been here with him is close to three year now.  So today we finally got there, and it had been a long time since I have climbed here.  A top rope solo mission inContinue reading “Poor casting”