After a fantastic week of surfing, our bodies were demanding a rest from the rigours of the ocean. We took our time getting up and revelled in the new found temperatures of Queensland. Breakfast out on the rug, with only shorts and a sun hat required. Blissful.
Drove inland for a few hours in search of a mountain called Mt French, and in particular, what was billed as Australia's third best crag - Frog Buttress.
It's an amazing cliff comprising of tall, steep columns of igneous rock. Crack climbing is the name of the game here, with hand jams and chimmneys being the main events.
Because of the particular style of the climbs, the grades seem very tough at first! We had to aim for the (few) lower grade climbs to get accustomed.
The views form the top were good though. We're surrounded by rolling hills of forest and farmland, with the odd pointy peaks off in the distance.
Both routes that we did felt tough in their own particular way. Mine involved a lot of bridging, jamming and a fair amount of grunting as I struggled up an overhanging chimmney, which we were told was a classic route of the cliff!? Might take some getting used to this place!
There's a small campsite at the top of the cliff, so we were able to climb until dusk.
There was, however, a spectacular sunset as I sat, catching my breath while belaying Clare up the horrors of my route. (which she flew up, wanting to know what all the fuss had been about!).
There's a lookout point not far from camp, so on the way back through the woods, we took a detour to enjoy the evenings natural light show.
Even though the views were far reaching, there was no sign of the sea or the coast that we had left this morning...
Frog Rock - West:
- Witches Cauldron, 12*
- Clockwork Orange Corner, 13**
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