Go back to South And Western Australia Trip.
Go back to Albany Day Two.
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6048-3-225x300.jpg)
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
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3460-1024x768.jpg)
First views of Gibraltar Rock from early on the book endorsed (wrong) approach (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3462-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley starting the approach to Gibraltar Rock (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3463-1024x768.jpg)
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).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3468-1024x768.jpg)
Leaving the opening slabs and entering the bush (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3470-1024x768.jpg)
Gibraltar Rock (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3474-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley searching for the browns (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3477-2-768x1024.jpg)
Painful bushwhack (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3481-1024x768.jpg)
That kept on giving (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6486-2-1024x768.jpg)
Starting up The Raven (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6488-2-1024x768.jpg)
Higher on pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5982-2-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley on pitch 1 of The Raven (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6020-1024x768.jpg)
More pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6048-3-768x1024.jpg)
Arriving at the first belay (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6491-1024x768.jpg)
Starting up pitch 2 of The Raven (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6064-2-1024x768.jpg)
Views from low on the route (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6494-1024x768.jpg)
Higher on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6070-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6100-2-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley nearing the cave belay on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6496-1024x768.jpg)
Top of pitch 2 features a cool belay station inside a huge cave (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6106-1024x768.jpg)
Some goodies in the cave (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6108-1024x768.jpg)
Cave belay (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6499-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up the third pitch on the right side of the cave (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6504-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6162-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6195-2-1024x768.jpg)
View from the route (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6187-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley arriving at the third belay (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6512-2-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 4 of The Raven (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6200-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 4 (probably; Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6238-1024x768.jpg)
Topping out on pitch 4(ish; Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6517-2-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 5 or 6 (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6259-768x1024.jpg)
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).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6541-2-1024x768.jpg)
On the rappels (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6524-1024x768.jpg)
Taking some care on the raps as the terrain was low angle, rock was very grippy, and the conditions were windy (Nov. 2023).
![The Raven](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6264-1024x768.jpg)
Back at base as the sun really started to bake things (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3484-2-1024x768.jpg)
Early on the descent (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3487-1024x768.jpg)
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).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3492-2-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back at Gibraltar Rock (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3494-3-768x1024.jpg)
Happy camper on a clear, climbers’ trail (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3497-2-1024x768.jpg)
The trail eventually joins a forest road (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3498-1024x768.jpg)
Back at the car and ready for some beer (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3499-1024x768.jpg)
A parting shot of Gibraltar Rock from the park road (Nov. 2023).
![Gibraltar Rock](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3502-1024x768.jpg)
And one more (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3453-1024x768.jpg)
Packing up at our Airbnb rental (Nov. 2023).
Go to Albany Day Four.
Go back to South And Western Australia Trip.