This is the time of the year to head to the green valleys of the Perth hills. The weather is still cool, the brooks are running, the grass is green, and it all smells of life and spring, with the odd tick thrown in for good measure.
10 days ago I headed to Wungong valley with the CAWA mob and kids, and there we toproped Gully Route (11) and Middle Line (13). My 6yo Thomas did a toprope graded at twice his age, what a boy! Even went for a splash with Dad in the dam afterwards.
Last weekend I headed to my crag at Baldwins Bluff, 'tis hard to believe that I bolted those routes 14 years ago. Time flies when yer having fun (or not). Tigervet and I did all the routes, with the rest of CAWA sleeping off the Halloween Party. Even Heat Seeker (20) went, although not without some frigging around the devious crux. I pulled out the old rusty piton at the start of Come On, Pilgrim (16) with my hands and chucked it in the forest. It can be replaced by some equalised small RPs..... I think a zero is pretty essential....or some courage. This gem of a crag seems little visited these days, although all the routes can be toproped. The leading requires much more balls than the quarry bolt ladders though, and bold men are hard to find these days. Did the Matt a Jim 19 also, and it is very good except for the first bolt being a bit low for comfort (when above it). Tigervet did a good job leading the two 15s, neither of which are exactly overprotected, although Elvis got hold of her leg on the last climb of the day :)
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