Every day as we carried a heavy trad rack around Australia, we thought about how a time would come when we would be happy that we actually brought it with us. That day came when we arrived at Mt. Arapiles. The Arapilies are said to be one of the best climbing areas in the world and after climbing there it is easy to see why. The rock at the Arapiles is a very hard type of sandstone that is easily protected while lead climbing. Most of the climbs are at least 120ft if not mulit-pitched. The one aspect that sets the Arapiles apart from most other climbing areas is how steep and exposed even the easiest climbs are. Because the sandstone has great friction and large holds are abundant, even most of the easy climbs are vertical and in some spots overhanging. Oftentimes we would find ourselves on a 5.5 climb (very easy) one or two hundred feet off the ground and climbing over an eight foot overhang! This is not typical of 5.5 climbs anywhere. All in all the Arapiles was our favorite climbing area in Australia. There were beautiful sunsets, endless climbing and Jenelle's favorite thing; seeing kangaroos boxing far below while she belayed from high atop the crag.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
On belay!
Every day as we carried a heavy trad rack around Australia, we thought about how a time would come when we would be happy that we actually brought it with us. That day came when we arrived at Mt. Arapiles. The Arapilies are said to be one of the best climbing areas in the world and after climbing there it is easy to see why. The rock at the Arapiles is a very hard type of sandstone that is easily protected while lead climbing. Most of the climbs are at least 120ft if not mulit-pitched. The one aspect that sets the Arapiles apart from most other climbing areas is how steep and exposed even the easiest climbs are. Because the sandstone has great friction and large holds are abundant, even most of the easy climbs are vertical and in some spots overhanging. Oftentimes we would find ourselves on a 5.5 climb (very easy) one or two hundred feet off the ground and climbing over an eight foot overhang! This is not typical of 5.5 climbs anywhere. All in all the Arapiles was our favorite climbing area in Australia. There were beautiful sunsets, endless climbing and Jenelle's favorite thing; seeing kangaroos boxing far below while she belayed from high atop the crag.
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Nice photo. It looks like a wonderfully acute inside corner that you are climbing. You can see all that exposure underneath Jenelle!
ReplyDeleteSounds incredible! I love the pic! Be safe :)
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! I am amazed...you two are incredible, I would freak if encountered with a climbing expidition such as yours (you saw me up there struggling that day:)!!! Best to you in 2010...keep climbing up! lots of love, and yes, be safe!!
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