Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.
Comment: Guide edited
Guide
<guide version="3">
  <header access="Approach via the Step Tier Track, which is signposted from the Organ Pipes Track.&lt;br/&gt;Descent: The Step Tier rap station is found at the top of Ophthalmia (2 x 40m; 40m to a sloping ledge, 40m to the ground). There is a rap station 5m right and below Step Tier rap station, at the top of Conjunctivitis, (1 x 52m15m to the terraceBokeh and 1 x 20m from tree torap station).. From the ground). ABokeh rap station also exists at the top of Bokehit is (1 x 55m) to the ground or 1 x 35m to the terrace)." acknowledgement="" history="" intro="Step Tier offers several fine climbs, all virtually next door to each other. The tier is narrow with a conspicuous platform (the Step), a third of the way up the left prow. The base of Step Tier supports a large tilted slab, and the gully to the left is known as Teardrop Gully. " rock="Clean dolerite cracks up to 80m" sun="Morning sun" walk="15 min" camping="" autonumber="true" name="Step Tier" id="1"/>
  <image id="16" legend="true" legendTitle="Step Tier" legendx="12" legendy="10" src="Step Tier - Original.png" height="693">
    <drawing>
      <path id="45275" points="35.0,549.0, 84.0,416.0, 109.0,400.0, 189.0,402.0, 206.0,366.0, 221.0,252.0,belay 235.0,237.0, 270.0,95.0, 287.0,69.0, 293.0,37.0, 300.0,31.0,belay 333.0,35.0, 346.0,20.0,belay" d="M35.0,549.0C54.6,495.8 78.7,426.6 84.0,416.0C89.3,405.4 97.2,401.6 109.0,400.0C120.8,398.4 174.0,407.3 189.0,402.0C204.0,396.7 202.7,381.6 206.0,366.0C209.3,350.4 220.1,260.2 221.0,252.0C221.9,243.8 232.6,244.8 235.0,237.0C237.4,229.2 266.3,106.9 270.0,95.0C273.7,83.1 282.4,80.6 287.0,69.0C291.6,57.4 291.8,40.5 293.0,37.0C294.2,33.5 296.3,31.2 300.0,31.0C303.7,30.8 328.4,41.4 333.0,35.0C337.6,28.6 341.4,26.4 346.0,20.0" linkedTo="10"/>
      <path id="80406" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="69905" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="37427" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="72430" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="60993" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="47366" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="63033" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="64242" points="370.0,254257.0,lower" d="M370.0,254257.0"/>
      <path id="79771" points="46.0,525.0, 174.0,465.0, 203.0,383.0," d="M46.0,525.0C97.2,501.0 157.6,495.7 174.0,465.0C190.4,434.3 191.4,415.8 203.0,383.0"/>
      <path id="95429" points="167.0,602.0, 189.0,476.0, 221.0,350.0, 232.0,283.0, 221.0,252.0," d="M167.0,602.0C175.8,551.6 172.6,506.7 189.0,476.0C205.4,445.3 215.1,376.5 221.0,350.0C226.9,323.5 232.0,296.2 232.0,283.0C232.0,269.8 220.1,260.2 221.0,252.0" linkedTo="9"/>
      <path id="904" points="216.0,646.0, 265.0,372.0,belay 281.0,218.0, 297.0,145.0,belay 346.0,21.0," d="M216.0,646.0C235.6,536.4 255.7,433.2 265.0,372.0C274.3,310.8 276.8,247.6 281.0,218.0C285.2,188.4 287.6,173.4 297.0,145.0C306.4,116.6 341.4,27.4 346.0,21.0" linkedTo="7"/>
      <path id="86308" points="289.0,683.0,label 317.0,435.0, 336.0,363.0, 339.0,319.0,belay 360.0,142.0,belay 403.0,126.0,label 407.0,56.0, 399.0,36.0,belay" d="M289.0,683.0C300.2,583.8 312.7,464.5 317.0,435.0C321.3,405.5 332.7,380.3 336.0,363.0C339.3,345.7 337.1,336.5 339.0,319.0C340.9,301.5 354.2,159.4 360.0,142.0C365.8,124.6 394.2,142.1 403.0,126.0C411.8,109.9 407.4,64.6 407.0,56.0C406.6,47.4 402.2,44.0 399.0,36.0" linkedTo="6"/>
      <path id="45519" points="319.0,434.0, 405.0,418.0, 479.0,421.0,belay 480.0,290.0,label 482.0,224.0,belay 466.0,59.0,belay" d="M319.0,434.0C353.4,427.6 386.9,430.8 405.0,418.0C423.1,405.2 464.0,446.6 479.0,421.0C494.0,395.4 479.6,316.4 480.0,290.0C480.4,263.6 483.6,250.4 482.0,224.0C480.4,197.6 472.4,125.0 466.0,59.0" linkedTo="4"/>
      <path id="44037" points="545.0,678.0, 522.0,366.0,belay" d="M545.0,678.0C535.8,553.2 531.2,490.8 522.0,366.0" linkedTo="3"/>
      <rect style="black_text_on_solid_white" id="36492" height="22" x="356318" y="228229" text="40m to ground" width="3186"/>
      <rect style="black_text_on_solid_white" id="71520" height="22" x="360369" y="103" text="40m" width="31"/>
      <path id="41738" points="127.0,470.0," d="M127.0,470.0" labelText="1b"/>
      <path id="76078" points="72.0,421.0," d="M72.0,421.0" labelText="1a"/>
      <path id="89336" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="51682" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="32323" points="408405.0,183174.0, 424426.0,137152.0, 421.0,82.0,label 425427.0,4755.0,lower" d="M408M405.0,183174.0C4140C413.4,164165.62 422424.02,153164.40 424426.0,137152.0C4260C427.08,120140.60 420.89,9693.1 421.0,82.0C421.21,6770.9 423424.46,6165.08 425427.0,4755.0" linkedTo="20"/>
      <path id="23733" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="65337" points="377.0,688.0,label 386.0,612.0, 394.0,527.0, 396.0,480.0, 372.0,461.0, 376.0,422.0,belay 431.0,421.0,belay 438.0,394.0, 426.0,370.0, 424.0,335.0, 427.0,242.0,label 429.0,174.0, 433431.0,133143.0,lower-right" d="M377.0,688.0C380.6,657.6 382.8,642.4 386.0,612.0C389.2,581.6 392.6,545.8 394.0,527.0C395.4,508.2 399.9,491.6 396.0,480.0C392.1,468.4 376.0,472.6 372.0,461.0C368.0,449.4 363.0,430.8 376.0,422.0C389.0,413.2 420.8,425.6 431.0,421.0C441.2,416.4 439.0,404.7 438.0,394.0C437.0,383.3 428.5,380.4 426.0,370.0C423.5,359.6 423.9,349.0 424.0,335.0C424.1,321.0 426.2,269.2 427.0,242.0C427.8,214.8 428.15,190186.54 429.0,174.0C429.95,157161.56 431429.02,149155.40 433431.0,133143.0" linkedTo="21"/>
      <path id="97916" points="424427.0,134.0, 427.0,142133.0," d="M424M427.0,142.0"/134.0C427.0,133.6 427.0,133.4 427.0,133.0"/>
      <path id="75081" points="" d=""/>
      <path id="89240" points="339.0,684.0,label 351.0,541.0, 350.0,515.0, 347.0,483.0, 351.0,430.0, 404.0,414.0,belay 405.0,291.0,label 405403.0,158157.0,belay 366.0,110.0,label 368.0,68.0, 376377.0,3330.0,lower" d="M339.0,684.0C343.8,626.8 350.3,551.4 351.0,541.0C351.7,530.6 350.7,525.4 350.0,515.0C349.3,504.6 346.8,495.9 347.0,483.0C347.2,470.1 337.5,446.4 351.0,430.0C364.5,413.6 385.9,426.8 404.0,414.0C422.1,401.2 404405.82,340.2 405.0,291.0C4050C404.28,241.8 410408.20,182180.24 405403.0,158157.0C3990C398.80,133.86 372.42,125.67 366.0,110.0C359.68,94.43 366365.29,8283.25 368.0,68.0C3690C370.81,5352.85 372373.84,4745.02 376377.0,3330.0" linkedTo="5"/>
      <rect id="18226" x="431" y="111123" width="86" height="22" style="black_text_on_solid_white" text="55m to ground"/>
      <rect id="7391" x="389384" y="426421" width="48" height="22" style="black_text_on_solid_white" text="Terrace"/>
      <rect id="18067" x="417420" y="2029" width="9031" height="22" style="black_text_on_solid_white" text="52m to terrrace15m"/>
    </drawing>
    <legend>
      <climb>10</climb>
      <climb>9</climb>
      <climb>7</climb>
      <climb>6</climb>
      <climb>5</climb>
      <climb>21</climb>
      <climb>20</climb>
      <climb>4</climb>
      <climb>3</climb>
    </legend>
  </image>
  <text class="text" id="19">The first two routes start from the top ot the step in the prow of the tier.</text>
  <climb name="Left Out" id="13" stars="***" extra="↓" length="50m" grade="21" fa="D. Fife, Pete Steane, Jan 1991." number="1.">A sustained pitch with a big reputation. Climbs the face, left of Moonraker's second pitch. Take some small cams. Starts from the step at the top of the first pitch of Moonraker. Traverse left on the horizontal break and down 5m below the step to the intermittent crack line. Up this and the face above for 20m to another horizontal break. Move left to the arête and climb up it to the shallow corner. Up this to The Colour of Magic DBB. Abseil from here down the wet gully or better still rap from Step Tier rap station at the top of Ophthalmia (2 x 40m)..</climb>
  <climb name=" Sucked In" id="12" stars="**" extra="" length="45m" grade="23" fa="K. Robinson, C. Godfrey, Jan 2001." number="2.">A direct finish to Left Out. Instead of going left onto the arête at the higher horizontal break, continue straight up.</climb>
  <text class="text" id="17">Clutching at Straws starts on the wall of the left hand side of the prow, to the left of Mothers on Adrenalin. The start is best accessed from the right hand side of lower Teardrop Gully.</text>
  <climb name="Clutching at Straws         " id="18" stars="" extra="" length="28m" grade="17" fa="P. Robinson, C. (Basil) Rathbone, 5 Feb 2015." number="3.">Takes a crack line that leads to the step, broken by a ledge at 5m. Start on a grassy ledge at the base at a thin crack left of a short wall. Climb crack to a good hold and continue by using the V groove and/or by pinching the rib. Scramble up 3m past a bush and continue up the corner/V groove above. Easy climbing above to reach the step. Rap off from slings (28m) or continue up Moonraker.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;</climb>
  <climb name="Mothers on Adrenaline" id="11" stars="" extra="" length="25m" grade="20" fa="D. Fife, 1996." number="4.">Follows cracks on the prow of the buttress left of Moonraker. Start as for Moonraker but instead of traversing, continue straight up and follow the prow to the Step at the foot of Moonraker Pitch 2. Finish up Moonraker or Left Out or abseil on slings (30m) back to the access ledge.</climb>
  <climb name="Moonraker" id="10" stars="***" extra="↓" length="77m" grade="16" fa="M. Douglas, R. Williams, Nov 1966. (1a): D. Hain, M. Dunstan, B. Kennedy, Jan 1975. (2b) H. Jackson, S. Joseph, 2011." number="5.">A terrific climb, this popular route climbs the left side of the wall to the step and then the steep wall just left of the prow. Start at the far left-hand end of the main access terrace, at a pile of stacked blocks (The original route climbed the easy angled slab below the blocks (Grade 8) to join the terrace, but access is now very vegetated, and it is rarely climbed).&lt;br/&gt;1a. 30m 17. Alternative start. Climb the finger crack on the left for 10m and then hand traverse right on the horizontal break to rejoin the original start at the cave, or…&lt;br/&gt;1b.30m 15. Climb the crack for 2m before traversing right and up across the face on dubious rock to the next crack line. Up the crack to the cave then continue up the crack directly above to reach the 'step' of the tier.&lt;br/&gt;2a. 42m 16. Follow the crack line up the steep wall left of the arête past an old piton (present in 2019). At a small ledge, either keep left of the prow all the way through the bulge and the tight chimney to a large ledge or, better, step right onto a small ledge on the arête and climb the crack and short corner till a step back left over the corner joins the line left of the arête. &lt;br/&gt;2b. 42m 17. Face and Arête Variation. From the belay head up and right to the arête and climb up boldly for 20m, mostly on the right side, to the small ledge of Pitch 2a. Continue straight up, or step right onto a small ledge on the arête and climb the crack and short corner till a step back left over the corner joins the line left of the arête. &lt;br/&gt;3. 7m 14. Chimney up behind the pillar to finish at the Step Tier rap station at the top of Ophthalmia (2 x 40m).&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;</climb>
  <climb name="Explorer" id="14" stars="" extra="" length="135m" grade="12" fa="J. Whelan, R. Williams, Oct 1966." number="6.">Take a GPS. An early route of consistent standard that starts at the slab below Moonraker. The route wanders rightward across the entire cliff, then finishes up the vegetated chimney right of Peacepipe. &lt;br/&gt;1. 18m. Up the easy angled slab to belay at the stacked blocks. &lt;br/&gt;2. 20m. Up Moonraker 2m on good holds, then traverse diagonally right for 10m to the vertical groove. Up this for 6m. &lt;br/&gt;3. 10m. Move right onto the scrubby Terrace and traverse across into a deep vee-groove (Peacepipe Pitch 2). &lt;br/&gt;4. 25m. Chimney up the vee-groove as for Peacepipe, then move right up the nasty steep grassy slope and belay above the vegetation. &lt;br/&gt;5. 10m. Up the corner crack on the left to belay on a large shelf at foot of the irregular chimney. &lt;br/&gt;6. 30m. Follow the chimney over a bulge and into a deep recess. Continue up the wider chimney above and belay on a scrubby flat on top of the main buttress. &lt;br/&gt;7. 22m. Up a line of weakness to finish on a ridge leading to the top.</climb>
  <climb name="One Way to the Moon" id="9" stars="" extra="↓" length="40m" grade="19" fa="A. Wilson, J. Otlowski, Dec 2001." number="7.">You'll need to escape earth's gravity first. The start is midway between Moonraker and Xenophanes. Climb the crack to the right side of the Moonraker 'hole', continue straight up the face and climb the black water-streaked wall with the thin cracks above. The gear is adequate but well spaced. Belay on the step as for Moonraker. Rap off using slings (30m).</climb>
  <climb name="Xenophanes" id="7" stars="**" extra="↓" length="80m" grade="17" fa="I. Lewis, D. Hain, Jan 1974." number="8.">A clean and consistent line that is genuinely thrilling. The second line right of the start of Moonraker. Take a #4 and #5 camelot if you have them.&lt;br/&gt;1. 24m 16. Climb the crack to a small sloping ledge. &lt;br/&gt;2. 30m 17. Up a short corner and face above to a ledge below a wide crack. Take a deep breath, climb the crack and establish yourself in the corner above (crux). Continue to a belay ledge. &lt;br/&gt;3. 26m 16. Follow the sensuous hand crack to a ledge, then up a short chimney behind a pillar to reach the Step Tier rap station (2 x 40m).</climb>
  <climb name="Lone Stranger" id="6" stars="***" extra="↓" length="78m" grade="19" fa="K. Carrigan, I. Lewis, Jan 1974." number="9.">Test out your finger strength! The brilliant corner that takes the left hand of the two cracks in the middle of the Tier right of Xenophenese. &lt;br/&gt;1. 26m 16. Up a short groove, negotiate the suspect wall, then up twin cracks to left hand end of terrace. Climb the groove, then over a bulge to an alcove below the overhung corner. &lt;br/&gt;2. 26m 19. Bridge, hip smear and finger jam the steep corner to a large ledge (crux). &lt;br/&gt;3. 26m 18. Switch right to the natural continuation of the Ophthalmia line. Follow the crack round two roofs to the top. Traverse left 3m to Step Tier rap station (2 x 40m).</climb>
  <climb name="Ophthalmia" id="5" stars="**" extra="↓" length="81m" grade="18" fa="J. Moore, R. Williams, Mar 1967. Direct start: Phil Steane, Pete Steane, Oct 1982." number="10.">So named after the large quantities of loose dirt which once remained after the devastating 1967 bush fires. The route follows the right hand of two crack lines in the middle of the Tier that are 4m apart. The second pitch is steep and sustained and harder now the dead tree has departed. &lt;br/&gt;1a. 24m 16. Climb the first pitch of Lone Stranger as far as the terrace. Traverse right 4m and belay at the foot of the prominent crack. &lt;br/&gt;1b. 20m 17. Alternatively climb the direct start up the blocky orange face 3m right of Lone Stranger.. &lt;br/&gt;2. 36m 18. Up the prominent crack into a chimney to reach a small bush (50-50 friend or foe). Navigate past the bush and up the delightful crack above to large belay ledge. &lt;br/&gt;3. 21m 16. Switch to the left hand crack, moving up past two awkward trees to reach Step Tier rap station (2 x 40m).</climb>
  <climb id="20" stars="" extra="5Þ↓" number="11." name="Conjunctivitis" length="82m15m" grade="22" fa="D. Rollins, L. Besnard, Mar 2013">Links>Originally a trad route done as an alternative finish to Ophthalmia pitch two. intoThis theroute upperwas halfinadvertently ofbolted thein wall2017 toas the rightoriginal fordescription ahad longnot pitch.appeared Startin asthe forpipes Ophthalmia.&lt;br/&gt;1a. 24m 16. Climbguide. To reach the firststart, pitch of Lone Stranger as far as the terrace. Traverse right 4m and belay at the foot of the prominent crack.&lt;br/&gt;1b. 20m 17. Alternatively climb the direct start up the blocky orange face 3m right of Lone Stranger.&lt;br/&gt;2. 58m 22. Climb most of either climb Bokeh or pitch two of Ophthalmia until just below the final bushes., Frombefore here,heading traverse2m right toand around the arête to andthe thenBokeh head up this andrap station.&lt;br/&gt;1. 15m. Up the face on the right to the major overlap. Bouldery moves through a finger crack in the bulge lead to a widening hand crack and a stance on the arête (#4 Camalot). A reachy move right gains the airy face which is climbed to the top and rap station rap station. The bolt runners on this route are spaced considerably more sportingly than most. Rap (1 x 52m15m) to the reachBokeh therap terracestation, (1 x 20m55m) from a tree toto the ground).</climb>
  <climb id="21" stars="**" extra="12Þ↓ " number="12." name="Bokeh" length="62m" grade="24" fa="H. Jackson, M. Spicer and S.Joseph, Mar 2020. Direct start: H. Jackson, M. Spicer and S.Joseph, Feb 2020.">The direct start begins 5m right of Lone Stranger (2m right of Ophthalmia direct start). The second pitch navigates the middle part of the wall and hanging corner right of Ophthalmia. Bokeh joins Conjunctivitis 15m from the top, making it possible to combine the two into a single 50m pitch.&lt;br/&gt;1a. 27m 19. Direct start: Climb up and right to reach the right hand end of the half way ledge. Up a thin crack through black rock (crux) until the gear runs out, then traverse left 2m on the thin wall to an exciting final crank to reach a jug. Belay on the terrace. Traverse across the terrace to the right for 7m and reset the belay directly under the rooflets 4m right of Ophthalmia.&lt;br/&gt;1b. 28m 16. Alternatively climb the first pitch of Lone Stranger as far as the terrace (an easier option, cams only are needed) and traverse 8m right along the terrace to belay under the rooflets.&lt;br/&gt;2. 35m 24. A bouldery start up through the rooflets, then up an easier face to the base of a hanging corner. Note it is best to clip the 5th BR bolt (equipped with a single maillon) with a single screw gate. Up the hanging corner and arete with increasing difficulty, then through an overlap to a DBBledge onand arap ledgestation. Either abseil off (35m)Rap to the terraceground or straight to the ground ((1 x 55m) or continue up Conjunctivitis for a further 15m (grade 22 and 5+BR) to Conjunctivitis rap station (1 x 52m15m; to1 thex terrace). Note there is a single maillon on the 5th BR, 7m above the terrace55m)).</climb>
  <climb name="Peacepipe" id="4" stars="*" extra="↓" length="80m" grade="16" fa="J. Friend, D. Bowman, Jan 1977." number="13.">Excellent, sustained climbing on the fourth major vertical line on the Tier, at the right hand end. Either start as for Lone Stranger or abseil in via the Step Tier rap anchors to the terrace (1x 52m) and climb pitches two and three.&lt;br/&gt;1. 28m 15. Climb first pitch of Lone Stranger as far as the terrace and traverse right for 9m to the base of the crack system (the original first pitch to the terrace followed the loose and scrubby corner below here).&lt;br/&gt;2. 24m 16. Up the open crack past an overhang (crux) formed by a large flake: the left hand variant via the small tree is about the same grade but a tad loose. Belay on the wide ledge (worth saving a medium sized cam or two for the belay).&lt;br/&gt;3. 28m 16. Continue up the interesting and sustained steep crack and chimney, moving right at the top over the chockstone. Belay at the trees. Traverse 8m horizontally left from here to Step Tier rap station (2 x 40m).</climb>
  <climb name="Sunday Morning Fever" id="3" stars="*" extra="" length="25m" grade="17" fa="A. Wilson, J. Otlowski, et al, Dec 2001." number="14.">The face to the right of the scrubby corner. Start to the left and then climb the cracks and flakes, staying on the middle of the face: it's a bit run out at the bottom. Belay to the left on the step at the tree. Rap from here also (tape).</climb>
</guide>