Beginning Anew

Climbing at Urbenville, 6-7th September 2008

Emma Vardy-Bragg

It’s a known fact that climbers are born out of hikers. I am only now coming to realize that the reverse scenario is also out of the question, as once you have had a taste of “vertical fun” (and start collecting shiny climbing bling) there is no going back to the boots and the basics. If the recent Cliffhangers trip to Urbenville (just south of the QLD/ NSW boarder) on the 6th and 7th of September 2008 taught me anything, it was that the weekend warrior walker in me was over and the climbing, gear obsessed junkie was in. An old age is out, so time to begin anew.

There are two places you can climb at Urbenville, or at least they were the two we visited this trip; the Pines and the Crown. I would describe the walk into the latter on Saturday as a stroll in the park; however I am quickly discovering in the Cliffhangers, that if you can’t belay from the steering wheel of your car, there is going to be moderate levels of a sweatin’ and a bitchin’J. Note to self: keep up the cardio.

The aim of the game was to re-bolt the routes at the Crown that were in need of replacement. We broke off into smaller groups to pretend we were being helpful by setting ropes for Adam, Brother Colin and Tristan to do their thing. The other better Adam (as in mooj, who you should call Adam. Not Gibbo) and I set off to climb the 4 pitch route “Fantastic” which certainly lived up to its name.

Upon climbing the first pitch, I looked over to my left to see a rather comical expression of fear and anticipation on Shawn’s face that seemed to scream “crap, I’m about to be cheese gartered!” which for the record, never eventuated. Benni and Annabel, our two resident Germans for the trip did however take some pretty spectacular lead falls, kindly providing their belayer’s with some quality “type three” excitement.

Dinner that night, proved to be equally as entertaining with the usual organized chaos that is campground cooking, debates about Jet-boil versus flame thrower MSRs, and watching Tristan Junior try and open his can of spaghetti with a knife - caveman style. And yes, he still has his fingers.

The GRUBS (Griffith University Bushwalking Society) and members from UQMC (University of Queensland Mountain Club) were also down Mexico way that weekend, and joined us around the campfire for some marshmallows and chips (which seemed to constitute Colin’s dinner). The two Canucks, Tiff and Laura also kindly made some Canadian S'mores which was a tasty end to a great day.

The faff factor on Sunday morning however was off the scales. In fact, it was so extreme that I was beginning to think that maybe Sunday in the Cliffhangers Bible was allocated as a “day of rest?” Then I remembered “There’s no rest for the wicked”, and sure enough, the sinners slowly sidled out of bed, mumbling some inaudible AM babble as they went. I think that Bjorn wakes up not quite knowing where or what he is, as the sounds that came from his tent that morning were well worth getting up early to witness. A slackline was eventually established for the slackers to wobble around upon in varying degrees of elegance, until everyone was ready to jump in the cars and make a B-line for the Pines.

Despite the sleep in on Sunday, there was some awesome climbing had by all. Sylvie and Tiff were ecstatic about the view from the top, but the gutsy award has to go to Laura for braving the sharp crystals in bare feet, and to Mooj for sticking his fingers into what looked like a covered Funnel-web spider hole – commitment brother.

There was much that was new for many of the climbers at Urbenville that weekend, and being a newbie to the Cliffhangers means a few things. Fresh meat is there to be fried, and you will inevitably be tricked (in the most politic way possible) into doing one or all of the following things; 1) Writing trip reports, 2) becoming a rope caddy, 3) enjoying camping, and 4) climbing “13’s”. All of which have their “cult code” but if you jump in there people, you’ll find out just how many moments of “type two” …and even “one” fun there are to be had on your weekends away!

Many thanks to the drivers, Mark for organizing, and to Adam, Colin and Tristan for setting up camp early Friday and spending their entire weekend re-bolting!