Blue Mountains – Climbing and Canyoning – 3-4 January 2013

John and Chuin Nee (and their baby Jasper) invited me to join them and Sarah for a few days in the mountains.

Chuin Nee on Honey Dip

We started with some climbing at the Zig Zag crag at Mt Victoria. I had only climbed there once before, many years ago. We started off with one of the classic climbs – “Honey Dip”. This is a trad climb with the modest grade of 13. Chuin Nee led the way up it. It goes up a really nice crack and ends with an airy traverse.

Me on “Just For Fun”

Our second climb was nearby – another classic of the crag – “just for Fun” (15). Sarah led up this. Fine climbing once more up a face.

John on Nappy Action

Climbing as a party of four was slow, and someone also had to look after baby Jasper. By this time it was getting quite hot – so we moved to nearby Corroboree Walls. With a baby in tow, it was appropriate to start off on “Nappy Action” (18). Sarah led up this. It was quite sustained climbing.

Chuin Nee on Nappy Action

Then Chuin Nee led up the steep “Queen Bitch” (21) and Sarah followed. John and myself were content to watch.

Chuin Nee on Queen Bitch

Sarah on Queen Bitch

Then it was time to pack up and head to the pub for dinner. We camped that night at Perrys Lookdown – along with many other campers.

Perrys Lookdown

Sunrise at Perrys Lookdown

Grose Cliffs

The next day, more hot weather, so we headed of to the shady Dam Cliffs at Clarence. We spent the morning climbing and in the afternoon we visited Dargans Creek Canyon – which is a short way downstream of the dam.

This was Jasper’s third canyon – not bad for a 7 month old baby. He was carefully lowered down the few tricky drops in the canyon and had a surf mat to use to float through the pools. On the exit – John, who was carrying him was belayed.

More photos can be viewed on my website. Climbing at the Zig Zag here. The Dam Cliffs here and Dargans Creek Canyon here.