Go back to Tasmania.
Go back to Candlestick.
Despite a marginal forecast, we drove up 2.5 hours to the Ben Lomond National Park. The place is famous as it’s home to Tassie’s only ski area. For climbers, it’s the “best crack climbing in Tasmania.” Indeed, Frews Flutes buttress offers soaring crack routes up to 200 meters tall. Think Smith Rock’s Lower Gorge but 600 feet in length. A boulder hopping approach (45-60 minutes) complete with scurrying wallabies brought us to the Robins Buttress and the start of our two-pitch Ramadan-Rajah (19) link-up. Two long-pitches (40 meters each) of splitter climbing put us at the edge of the Ben Lomond Plateau. The weather was deteriorating and by the time Shirley was topping out there was sustained wind with 100kph gusts (as we’d later find out on the drive home). There was sideways rain and the two long rappels would prove to be good practice for Frey some 5 weeks later. We were back at our cozy house later that evening and I have to say that the pellet stove was a big hit.
The Ambiance
Photos
Go to Freycinet 1.
Go back to Tasmania.