GRAMPIANS

Tom on American Pie v11, Hollow Mtn Cave

Eric cranking down on Snooky Badlands v11, Taipan Wall

Doug on Gay Hip Flexor v7, Campground Boulders

Doug waits for the barndoor on Nevin Rule v7, Kindergarten

I've been down in the Grampians bouldering for 6 weeks or so. I'll probably stay down for that long again before heading north back home. I've been spending a fair bit of time exploring the Stapylton Area for new rock. I've come up with a few qualtiy lines including Raging Bull v9, a burly line of 12 pockets out a long prow/roof to a cruxy deadpoint rounding the nose. Two more super hard lines still remain waiting unsent (photos to come).

Having not been back to the gramps since 2003 (the pre bouldering years) i've had a smorgasbord of classics to do. I managed to get through my original ticklist of 15 classics in less than 10 days so i have made a new to-do list that extends way beyond my current abilities. Next week i'm off to the Tower area for the first time. It is one of the many areas where the bouldering potential hasn't come close to being tapped out. Can't wait.


I haven't got the camera out all that much lately because i have been climbing solo most of the time. Hopefully that will change as the temps start to drop.

The future is here (ACTUAL PHOTO)

Spotted in the carpark of an In-And-Out Burger store in Bakersfield, CA.

The origins of this bad boy are still unclear. Labelled "Slipstream" it appears to be the chopshop union of a late model Airstream and a Soviet era helicopter. Four seperate exractor fans on the roof, as well as that it is parked outside Bakersfield indicate it may be being used as a mobile meth lab.

Note the similarities to my earlier artistic impression.

The Airstream on crack

So on the way from Bishop to the bay our motley crew passed what could easily have been the pinnacle of motorhome living. I don't have access to photographic proof right now so i made an artists impression based on their current model. Believe it or not but the wave design on the side (although not present on the one we saw) was added with photoshop!!!! the future of the land yacht is here

Sierra Sleet

We made it to Bishop after a long haul drive from El Paso. The weather has closed out so we have taken shelter in a dicey hotel room with no locks on the windows and matresses that look like someone died on them. Hopefully the clouds will part and we can get back out on the rock. The bakery next door is causing dietary problems, luckily we ran into our friends from Innsbruck who are now cooking as cake for breakfast to add some variety to our diets.