Go back to South And Western Australia Trip.
Go back to Albany Day Two.
The Raven.
So the following day, we drove about 45 minutes inland to the guidebook-described trailhead for the Gibraltar formation. We should’ve consulted the more up to date online beta as opposed to relying on the guidebook. Though that would’ve denied us a 1.25h bushwhack (aka a herping safari). The fully bolted Raven route, a 6-pitch 15, was easy but fairly scenic and included a belay inside a large cave. We opted to rap vs. hiking off the top. Really, the climbing was the easiest part of the day. On the hike down, we picked a direct heading for the car – might as well bushwhack in a straight line – and stumbled onto a nicely flagged climbers’ path cutting the hiking time in half.
Photos
First views of Gibraltar Rock from early on the book endorsed (wrong) approach (Nov. 2023).
Shirley starting the approach to Gibraltar Rock (Nov. 2023).
Gibraltar Rock from the approach. Raven route climbs the right hand side of the formation, passing through the large cave (highest one on the right; Nov. 2023).
Leaving the opening slabs and entering the bush (Nov. 2023).
Gibraltar Rock (Nov. 2023).
Shirley searching for the browns (Nov. 2023).
Painful bushwhack (Nov. 2023).
That kept on giving (Nov. 2023).
Starting up The Raven (Nov. 2023).
Higher on pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).
Shirley on pitch 1 of The Raven (Nov. 2023).
More pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).
Arriving at the first belay (Nov. 2023).
Starting up pitch 2 of The Raven (Nov. 2023).
Views from low on the route (Nov. 2023).
Higher on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
Shirley on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
Shirley nearing the cave belay on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
Top of pitch 2 features a cool belay station inside a huge cave (Nov. 2023).
Some goodies in the cave (Nov. 2023).
Cave belay (Nov. 2023).
Starting up the third pitch on the right side of the cave (Nov. 2023).
Pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
Pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
View from the route (Nov. 2023).
Shirley arriving at the third belay (Nov. 2023).
Pitch 4 of The Raven (Nov. 2023).
Pitch 4 (probably; Nov. 2023).
Topping out on pitch 4(ish; Nov. 2023).
Pitch 5 or 6 (Nov. 2023).
Shirley at the 6th and final belay on The Raven. We decided to rap given that we’ve already done more than a fair share of bushwhacking on approach (Nov. 2023).
On the rappels (Nov. 2023).
Taking some care on the raps as the terrain was low angle, rock was very grippy, and the conditions were windy (Nov. 2023).
Back at base as the sun really started to bake things (Nov. 2023).
Early on the descent (Nov. 2023).
Views of Gibraltar Rock from the descent hike. Raven route has its second belay in the left/lower cave and then exits on its right side (Nov. 2023).
Looking back at Gibraltar Rock (Nov. 2023).
Happy camper on a clear, climbers’ trail (Nov. 2023).
The trail eventually joins a forest road (Nov. 2023).
Back at the car and ready for some beer (Nov. 2023).
A parting shot of Gibraltar Rock from the park road (Nov. 2023).
And one more (Nov. 2023).
Packing up at our Airbnb rental (Nov. 2023).
Go to Albany Day Four.
Go back to South And Western Australia Trip.