We’re just back to civilisation from the Grampians National Park. The closest town is Horsham which is about a hour drive away. 70km on a paved road plus 10km on a really bad dirtroad. On the campground where all the climbers stay there are restrooms, a rainwatertank and fireplaces, but that’s it. You can’t grab a shower, you won’t find drinkable water and there’s no chance to get rid of your rubbish without driving back to Horsham.
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| Katinka in „Cold Hands, Cold Hearth“, V7 – The Cave of Man Hand |
On the campground we met other climbers (partly friends known from previous trips, partly new made friends) and since there is not really a guidebook pubished yet, it was a good chance to get a tour through the areas. The bouldering in the southern Grampians Nationalpark is still in development. While some good looking lines have been cleaned and climbed there’s plenty a chance to find a new line noone has ever looked at, or even tried to climb yet.
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| The red marked area is closed due to bushfires in january. We are at Buandik (bottom left) Campground now |
Since the weather was not really good we did quiet some walking to get acquainted the the area. It was mostly either really humid, or slightly drizzling or sweltering and windless. But we got to climb a little anyways. I could almost Flash „The Sound of One Man Hand Clapping“ in the Cave of Man Hands Area. Apparently graded as a V11 i decided to call it a V8 after climbing it in ease in my second attempt. Also I could do a first ascent of a new steep and slopy line, nothing for small people, as the only feetholds are far away from the handholds. I called it „Northern Fire“, since this is the reason why we are climbing in the south and not in the established and famous north of Grampians Nationalpark.
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| „Northern Fire“, V10?! – Buandik |