Anthony's tale
The fun began bright and early Saturday morning, with people forgetting wallets, pillows, and brains, but all still managing to turn up early enough at KP that none were left behind. Our convoy began in fine style, with 3 cars and a motorbike heading North. With one car going on ahead and picking up another on the way, 6 vehicles arrived at an unsuspecting Tinbeerwah.
"You were true to your word, but I didn't realise they'd be so loutish" said JJ when we turned up, but that didn't stop him handing out belays and beta. Sending the first ascent of a 24 started his morning off well, while the rest of us jumped on much easier climbs. "Find the bolt" was the theme of the morning, with many a cry of "Where's my next bolt?" to be heard. The slabby goodness was largely enjoyed, though late in the day saw a rash of attempts on 24s, some of which were largely successful and some of which were not.
Late evening (read as: after dark) saw us wandering off to Coochin Creek camping ground for the night. A few stuff-ups on the behalf of Forestry and an unfriendly reaction from other campers (who brought everything, including the kitchen sink) led us to a few beers over dinner, an early start, and a quick getaway to the bakery.
After some more chaos, we ended up at Ngungun, with a few extras joining our expanding crew. Some of us felt lazy, some were motivated, but all were climbing something. I was stuffed, so escaped to the beach, but the word is that more climbing was had, and then beers at the pub on the way home.
Because of changing plans, the weekend trip got shortened, and a few of us... headed to FROG! Oh, for more chaos. The Birgin Adam (the lanky one) ended up tailing Dave and I into the carpark, with Cam and Tris turning up not long after. DanS, Nadia, Neil and Meegs turned up later, and traddy goodness was had.
After warming up on Clockwork Orange Corner (13) and Witches' Cauldron (12), Dave and I jumped on Rest Area Ahead (15), my hardest Frog lead yet. A bit of beta, some thoughtful pauses, and judicious gear placement led to a flash ascent! A decent break, then time for Theory (14). A lot longer, and difficulty finding gear around the crux made this harder, and we were starting to tire. Still, successful ascents and time for a quick lap on Baby's Bottom (12) before we retired to the pub for frosty beers and food!
A glorious weekend all round, and thanks to those who joined in the fun...
Cams recollection
Tinbeerwah is an awesome crag, just as long as you can get your head around the slabby, lichenous runnout exposure!! I would highly recommend NOT jumping on "Me And My Dog" (45m grade 15 with 11 bolts) to get you in the mood for Timbeerwah! There are 11 bolts, but they are not where you want em, and after 90minutes frickin about getting used to the crappy lichinous slabb you find yourself finally at the top with a strong ambition to turn your back on Timbeerwah and piss off to the pub for a few stiff drinks!! (AK, thanks for the belay dude! Cant believe you stayed awake for so long!!)
I can however recommend "Sports Fan" (45m grade 17 with 11 bolts). Its an easy romp playing connect the bolts all the way up to a small roof protected by a couple of close bolts. 10 minutes and I was at the top jumping with joy and taking back all the crass slang and slanderous filth that I had been yelling only a little while earlier!
Another fantastic line has just been bolted, with thanks to JJ up a glorious line taking in one huge roof at 15m, a runnout slab fest for another 15m to a second small roof, with neigh a foot dimple or a crimpy hand bump, followed by yet another 15m of slabby slab in the slabbiest of slabfests!! 45m of grade 24. JJ did the first ascent while we were there, then Damo jumped on for a second ascent. What a spankfest! As I seconded Damo I kept wondering how the little dude fits his monstrous testicles in his trousers!!
By now, we were really stuffed, but Damo decided to give another 24 a try.... but the bounce was gone from his bungee so he lowered off the roof, and we all made haste for camp!
YAY CAMP! I have a new found loathing for caravan toating fisherman families! Somehow, these people with monster caravans, fly proof kitchenettes, complete with fridges and gas BBQ's, portable clotheslines and boat trailers can be so unfriendly to a small bunch of quiet climbers with a couple of dometents?! 11 of us fit into less space than their 4 people family "camp site"!! When we didn't move, they decided to setup their fire about 2 meters from Pontus's tent!! Hope their wheels fall off!! Bastards!
Sunday morning started with a strategic breaking of camp at 6am, with happy jibbering from all of us and the clanging of tent-pegs and pots thrown in, just for the early morning pleasure of the caravanning bastards!! A mass exodus for the Glasshouse Bakery followed shortly after where we enjoyed fresh coffee and baked goods. YUM!
After a short but healthy debate we all decided that we should go to Gnungnun for lots of fun happy climbing! Damo and I were a little tired, so a lot of sitting around was our primary focus, but we soon got our arms twisted and a climbing we did go. Christian and Matias had been kept busy all weekend by the whip of Tom, their ever enthusiastic belaying overlord!! =] They could easily fit 5 climbs into the time it would take the average climber to complete 3 (or me to do one!!) =] A highlight of my day was jumping on a 22 to retrieve the first stick clipped quick draw that Christian, Matias and Tom couldn't reach, and then found I was at the second bolt and had the third in my reach! Anthony dragged me up a couple of 18's with secret holds and Damo dragged me up a 20 with a super pumpy crux made even harder with a swift bashing of the funny bone, and shooting pins and needles in my little pinky!! OUCH!! The climbing day ended with Damo and I offering encouragement to Sinead who had to bail off a 17 in an afternoon rain storm!! She did well, considering the climb is a waterfall 90% of the year!!
Beers at the Pub, and Hamburgers at the fish-hut capped off a memorable 2 day camping fest before we headed home to collapse from exhaustion.... shortly after hanging out wet tents and repacking bags for the next days trip to......
FROG!! =]
Frog is an awesome place and best enjoyed at sun-up! Driving out in the early morning Ipswich fog, Tristan and I were in awe as we came up a small rise, peaked above the fog, and were greeted to a valley of mist, and the dividing range beyond awash with a glow of orange from the first morning sun!! Pictures wouldn't do justice... (unless Pontus was taking them!) Adam, Dave and Anthony were waiting in the carpark for us, eager and keen as mustard. However, Tristan, Adam and I soon found that sleep deprivation, coupled with back-to-back climbing for 3 weekends straight had taken its toll. 2 climbs was our limit today, but 2 fun climbs indeed.
Tristan jumped on "Neon Philharmonic"(40m 17) and after a fair amount of bridging and grunting he launched himself head first into the crux... Ohh the laughs!! After getting his helmet stuck, it added a whole new element to the climb!! But he was able to unclip his helmet, pull through to some nice gear placements above, retrieve his helmet, and climb on to the top!! Awesome!! =]
I drew the short straw for the next route, "Bad Company - Illusion link up" (20m 16) a nice little romp up a sweet line, and stepping left to avoid diving into a hideous thrutchfest of body jamming joy, instead finishing up a short airy bridging chimney. I set one of my best anchors yet on this climb!! 4 bits of gear equalised with bunny-ears, alpine butterfly and clovehitches!! Just the thing if you wana haul your yak and sherpa up!!!! And just to be sure, we rapped off our 20m climb with 2x60m ropes!!! Whos Idea was that!! Definitely time to head home before we decided to do something silly like send Adam up "Whistling Kite" (32?).
Now completely buggered, and a smile plastered on my face, I returned home and went straight for an ice cooled beer from the fridge. Ahhhhh. These long weekends have been great, but damn I'm looking forward to having a rest at work for a few weeks!! =]
Thanks for the fun times guys and galls.
Cheers and Beers,
Cam "Horay for the working rest day" Sear
PS - Check out all the pics here
http://gallery.qutcliffhangers.com/thumbnails.php?album=93
Adams Bit
Frog: Worked saturday from 4am-3pm, then got kept awake by my 2yo niece and 4yo nephew until about 2am, got up to go to frog at 4am, the view from the tops of the hills 10 minutes north of boonah down into the fog-filled valley was truly breathtaking, I actually stopped the car and got out to admire it despite it being about 2degrees and me being in shorts and t-shirt, it was a shame pontus (unofficial official club photographer) wasn't there.
Met up with the rest of the group in the carpark, and to be honest I'd only really forced myself to go because I was worried of a gear shortage... We had basically 4 complete racks and 4 or 5 ropes between 6 people so I really could have caught up on some sorely needed sleep. A big cheers to Tris and Cam for keeping me awake and motivated enough to follow them up their respective leads.
Two great memories, one was the sound as tristan thrutched his way into a little nook and his helmet compressed into a constriction and then firmly locked into place, even from 20 metres below you could tell what had happened by the sound alone only to then have it confirmed by tristan moments later.
The second was cam at the top of Illusion, where he tried to avoid the crackline with the snakeskin in it. Further inspection revealed there were snakeskins in just about everywhere. The Indiana Jones quotes of "why is it always snakes" etc flowed thick and fast.
A great, albeit short and sleep-deprived day.
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