Blog from April, 2015

CCT Anniversary BBQ

The founding members of the CCT, those that are still around, are having a BBQ to celebrate the founding of the Club 50 years ago (and Max Cutliff’s birthday – he turns 83 I think!).

When: This Saturday, 25^th April at 2.00pm onwards

Where: Attila Vrana’s block, 781 Summerleas Rd, Fern Tree

What to bring: Whatever you want to eat and drink – BYO everything essentially

Who: Any CCT members or others you want to invite – partners welcome - or any climbers past or present from around the state.

They may be a bit wrinkled round the edges  now but many of these “older” lads went on to climb significant mountains and routes  on Denali (Mt McKinley), in Europe and the Alps, NZ, S America, Antarctica  and of course the Himalayas. Worth talking to!

Hope to see you there.

Tony McKenny

Gerry on Farewell Companions 21 at Appetite Hill

Bob McMahon on 1st asent of Amundsen 18 at Appetite Hill

9 NEW CLIMBS in the last 2 weeks on school holidays. Township Creek area is proving to be a little gold mine of new routes. Bob McMahon and I did the obvious cracks in 1984, but since September we've done 31 new routes. New ones include sport routes graded 21, 23, 24, 24, 25, 25, and trad graded 16, 18, 19. My 16 yr old daughter led the trad routes and we are going back soon to knock off another 4 that we found. Plus Ingvar and I bolted 3 more projects at Appetite Hill - mine... is about 25 and both his are 28; Appetite Hill is another major cliff in the Township Creek area that Bob and I did 6 trad routes on n 1984, now there is lots of arêtes and faces to keep us busy for a year or two. Here are some photos from 1984 - Bob McMahon leading the first ascent of Amundsen (18) and me bridging up the mighty corner of Farewell Companions (21), both at Appetite Hill. I repeated Amundsen the other day - a perfect splitter about red camalot size - 3 star on any cliff in Australia, but being at Appetite Hill, it wouldn't surprise me if I did the 2nd ascent, some 31 years later.

I noticed a a couple of nice looking buttresses out on Cape Huoy, RHS heading out to the end. Thought I had myself a swag of newies, especially a beautiful pock-marked arete, only to discover a nice line of rings already in situ. Wondering if there is any info about them out there anyone?  BenM   

Tomorrow's Dream at Bare Rock, Fingal has a new 2nd pitch, a fully bolted grade 23. The whole 3 pitch route can now be done as a sport route, with pitches of 16, 23 and 19. The new 2nd pitch moves right 5m from the belay along the old route of Conan Macmorna,(no trad gear required) then blasts straight up the wall with some excellent technical face climbing. The original 2nd pitch at grade 18 is still an option, requiring several medium size cams. FA: Gerry Narkowicz. 12/4/15

Seeking climbing partner in Tasmania during either April 17-18-19 or April 25-26-27.  Female, age 53, from the USA.  Sport climber (no trad), lead 19-20, follow up to 23.  Only bringing harness and shoes.  Good belay slave, good climber.  Will have rental car.  email:  lsafford99@gmail.com.  

Hi 

Looking for a partner for 1 or 2 days in Tasmania, between the 24th of April til 2nd of may would be awesome between these dates. I have full trad and sport rack keen for sea stacks. Not climber to hard for a while but should still be able to lead up to 18 to 20 trad. My email goucher.123@hotmail.do.uk. Keen on a day trip to the maoi think that's how you spell it. Also for some to climb at araps and Grampians in the next wee while , here for the next 8 months . 

Cheers
antony

Fruehauf is open again!

Message from council

The Fruehauf climbing site is open. The Council has received written advice that the measures in place to manage the construction works at 19 Thelma Drive (fences, berms, site movement restrictions ) are sufficient to ensure public safety within the Hobart Rivulet Park (including the cliff site). Earthworks will continue to occur on private land above the Fruehauf cliff area over the next couple of months (further up the site away from the edge area). There may be a need to close the site for a day towards the end of the project to finalise works. We will endeavour to provide the community advanced notice if this is required.

Hi guys,

There has been an incident of a U bolt failing at Sisters Beach - nobody was injured fortunately.  The bolt that failed has been replaced.    It appears that the bolt has failed because the u bolts were not correctly "notched" to ensure a sufficient glue bond, none of the u bolts at this crag have been notched.  There are bound to be various opinions about the significance of this.  It's up to each climber to make a personal decision about whether they will trust these anchors.  I am just putting the information out there so people can do this.  A note has been made in the climbing guide for Sisters on thesarvo.

Since last September there has been 22 new routes added to the Township Creek crags in the Fingal Valley. See this link to the guide and some nice photos

http://climbtasmania.com.au/blogs/news/17958632-township-creek-guide-to-22-new-routes