To beat the traffic I left Sydney early on Good Friday and headed out the Blue Mountains. It would be my first time there and I was more than a little excited to be making the journey.
I caught up with Luke at his friend's house in Leura. after a quick coffee we left under grey skies and made our way to Sublime Point. Cliffs and rocks as far as the eye could see!
We scrambled down the cliffs, squirmed down through the Magic Hole, before arriving at Choc Chip Chai wall. I roped up and finally got my hands on some rock, the first time in three weeks! And it was great!
We went up its namesake (20) before heading further around the cliff to the Theory of Negativity Wall, where we climbed the route of the same name (20). After that we headed to the Binary Cave to tackle a few harder climbs. The climbing was steep and juggy, and before long my arms and hands were wiped out.
In the late afternoon we scrambled back up the cliffs and returned to Leura, where I met Cherie and Byron, owners of the house we would be staying. A very friendly and accommodating couple, I soon had a glass of amazing red wine in my hands and after a delicious vegetarian meal we spent the night chatting, laughing and playing board-games while my glass never went empty.
I woke earlier than the rest of the guests so I drove quickly into Katoomba to check out the iconic Three Sisters rock formation. I returned home just at the bus loads of tourists arrive, and after a hearty breakfast Marik and I went off climbing while the others relaxed. The clouds had disappeared and it was a splendid late summer day.
My next climbing session was at Boronia point, and I spent the day on more steep, overhung and juggy climbs.
Climbing at the limit of my talent I had a great time on the rock, at the end of the day on the classic 'Lyptus' (23) I was spent. I climbed bolt to bolt, needing too many rests and pulling on draws before my arms gave way. Not particularly elegant climbing (if you can even call it that) but I felt great at the end of the day. My hands would suggest otherwise.
I said farewell to Marik who had climbed hard and well all weekend, and returned home to Leura. It was my lucky night, waiting for me were some colds beers and hot tacos. A better post-climbing meal I couldn't imagine, and I made short work of the food and drink provided. Another fantastic day down.
The next morning Luke, Byron, Cherie and I drove to Mount Victoria to climb at the New York crag. Another sunny day, but the constant cool breeze kept the climbing cool. After two days of strenuous climbing it was nice to climb some slabby routes which involved a lot of core balance, tiny delicate footholds and minute ridges and crimps for the hands.
We spent the afternoon on some sport and mixed routes, ticking off some routes at an easier grade. My fingertips couldn't take any more punishment, as the day came to a close we returned to the car as a few dark clouds hovered.
We stopped off at the small township of Mt Victoria for dinner at the grand Hotel Imperial, the oldest tourist hotel in Australia. We ate a much needed pub meal before finally heading back to Leura.
It was getting dark and starting to lightly sprinkle, so I packed my car for the long drive home. After saying farewell my wonderful hosts Byron, Cherie and Luke, I drove back down the mountain range through increasingly heaving rain and back to Sydney.
I was exhausted when I arrived back home, but I couldn't have asked for a better long weekend. I met and made friends with some great people, saw an amazing part of the world, and got to climb in several beautiful places. And still had a day to recover!
More photos here
