Though we had considered driving from Hawker, SA to Albany, WA – a solid two day push – in the end, we decided to fly from Adelaide to Perth which only ate up one day of our vacation (5h + 3.5h + 5h). We arrived at our Airbnb in Albany sometime after dark.
The following morning, we drove 15 minutes to the Peak Head trailhead. The formation is essentially a granite cap encapsulating the tip of a headland that juts out into the ocean. It features routes from 3-5 pitches in length. The hour long hike took us to just below the gentle slopes of the summit where we spent some time looking for a climbers’ access to the tall, ocean-side aspect of the formation. After some back and forth (light bushwhacking), we finally found the start of Albatross, a 3-pitch 15, high above the deep blue ocean. Easy but very enjoyable climbing on perfectly clean, reddish granite brought us back to the top of the formation. We rounded out the day by checking out some of the eateries on the main drag in Albany (a very nice town).
Photos
Packing up for Albatross at the Peak Head trailhead in the morning (Nov. 2023).Starting the approach hike to Peak Head. Its summit is visible in the distance (Nov. 2023).The views (Nov. 2023).A pretty, coastal hike (Nov. 2023).The flora (Nov. 2023).It’s a bit further than it seems from the trailhead (Nov. 2023).More pretty flora (Nov. 2023).Nearing the point where climbers’ trail splits off (Nov. 2023).Looking for the approach trail to Albatross on Peak Head (Nov. 2023).Finally on track to the base of Albatross route (Nov. 2023)The beauty of coastal WA (Nov. 2023).Dropping down to the base of Albatross (Nov. 2023).At the base of Albatross (Nov. 2023).Starting Albatross (Nov. 2023).Looking back at Shirley from pitch one of Albatross (Nov. 2023).More of pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).Shirley starting up Albatross (Nov. 2023).Rising traverse of pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).Albatross (Nov. 2023).Shirley arriving at the first belay (Nov. 2023).Starting up pitch 2 of Albatross (Nov. 2023).Looking back at Shirley from low on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).Higher on P2 (Nov. 2023).More views down towards Shirley (Nov. 2023).Pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).Shirley starting up pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).Views from pitch 2 belay station (Nov. 2023).Shirley on pitch 2 of Albatross (Nov. 2023).Shirley on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).Pitch 3 of Albatross (Nov. 2023).Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).More views from lead of pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).Runout but easy (Nov. 2023).One more from pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).Shirley topping out on Peak Head via pitch 3 of Albatross (Nov. 2023).Atop Peak Head after climbing Albatross (Nov. 2023).Small scale sights during the hike out from Peak Head (Nov. 2023).Shirley hiking off from Peak Head (Nov. 2023).Hiking back (Nov. 2023).Peak Head (Nov. 2023).Almost back at the car (Nov. 2023).Shirley back in Albany (Nov. 2023).Lunchtime (Nov. 2023).We drove out to West Cape Howe National Park in the afternoon to find the trailhead for the Old Man Of Torbey. The park is just to the west/southwest of Albany (Nov. 2023).Shelly Beach in West Cape Howe National Park (Nov. 2023).Shelly Beach. Looks inviting eh (Nov. 2023)?Shelly Beach (Nov. 2023).A long range view of Peak Head from Shelly Beach (Nov. 2023).A highly zoomed in view (Nov. 2023).Shelly Beach. What are all those pebbles?One of thousands of Portuguese man o’wars at Shelly Beach (Nov. 2023).Shelly Beach from the overlook (Nov. 2023).
