Go back to South And Western Australia Trip.
Go back to Albany Day One.
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5870-2-225x300.jpg)
On The Lee Side.
Back to Peak Head the following day. Having figured out access on the previous day, the approach went quickly. This time the goal was a 5-pitch line called On The Lee Side (16) which required a 25 meter rappel followed by a 2-pitch horizontal traverse not far above the waves. Once again, the route offered a stunning position, fantastic rock, and some very enjoyable climbing.
As we were hiking back, we ran into a trio of local climbers who recommended a route on the Gibraltar formation in the Porongurup NP. The route was was supposed to be new and well protected; unlike some of the options in our oldish guidebook that we were considering.
Photos
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6405-2-768x1024.jpg)
On the way to the trailhead in the morning (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6413-1024x768.jpg)
Take off (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6398-2-1024x768.jpg)
Mother and her joey outside of Albany (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6416-1024x768.jpg)
Back to the Peak Head. Shirley startled a (brown?) snake early on the trail here (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5630-3-1024x768.jpg)
Stashing the packs before dropping down to access On The Lee Side route (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5632-768x1024.jpg)
Light and short bushwhack to the rap-off point (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5635-1024x768.jpg)
Short approach on a faint climbers’ trail (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5636-2-1024x768.jpg)
Cool geology on the approach (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5639-768x1024.jpg)
Nearing the rap-off point which is at the start of Albatross (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6422-1024x768.jpg)
Rapping down to reach the traverse (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5643-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley rapping down to the traverse (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5650-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6427-1024x768.jpg)
The first pitch of the traverse was actually pretty technical (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6429-2-1024x768.jpg)
It included a bit of slab climbing (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5653-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of the first traverse pitch (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6433-2-1024x768.jpg)
And even some awkward chimney & offwidth terrain (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5663-2-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley starting the first pitch of the traverse to the start of On The Lee Side (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5674-1024x768.jpg)
Slab moves (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5681-1024x768.jpg)
More of the traverse (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5717-768x1024.jpg)
Bit of a chimney (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5752-1024x768.jpg)
View back from the second pitch of the traverse (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5746-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley on the second pitch of the traverse – mostly a hike, though exposed in places (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6436-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up pitch 1 (crux) of On The Lee Side (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6442-1024x768.jpg)
A nice splitter crack followed by a somewhat awkward traverse (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5761-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley in the crack section of pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5783-768x1024.jpg)
Starting the somewhat awkward traverse on pitch 1 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5790-2-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley on the traverse (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5801-768x1024.jpg)
The crawl (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6449-2-1024x768.jpg)
Starting up pitch 2 of On The Lee Side (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5808-768x1024.jpg)
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5813-2-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley on pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5831-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 2 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5853-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley arriving at the second belay (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6456-2-768x1024.jpg)
Starting up pitch 3 – much nicer than it looks from below (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5862-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back at Shirley from the lead of pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6461-2-768x1024.jpg)
More pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5870-2-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley low on pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5880-2-1024x768.jpg)
Pitch 3 of On The Lee Side (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5908-768x1024.jpg)
More pitch 3 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5939-3-1024x768.jpg)
Views from high on the route (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5928-768x1024.jpg)
Shirley arriving at our third belay. I cut this pitch a bit short to take some photos (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5935-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley leading a bonus 4th pitch up a ramp (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5943-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley on pitch 4 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5950-768x1024.jpg)
Our fourth belay (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6467-768x1024.jpg)
Leading our pitch 5 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5953-1024x768.jpg)
Looking back at Shirley from pitch 5 (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6469-768x1024.jpg)
Fifth and final pitch (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5959-2-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley arriving on the summit of Peak Head (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5961-1024x768.jpg)
Start of the hike-off (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_5964-1024x768.jpg)
Back at the packs (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6475-1024x768.jpg)
Shirley on the very scenic hike back (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6479-2-1024x768.jpg)
Pretty flora (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6482-1024x768.jpg)
The hike back from Peak Head (Nov. 2023).
![On The Lee Side](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6484-1024x768.jpg)
Almost back at the car. Top of Peak Head visible in the distance (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6383-1024x768.jpg)
Albany’s main drag (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6388-1024x768.jpg)
Main drag in Albany (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3459-3-1024x768.jpg)
Sweet little rental place (Nov. 2023).
![Albany](https://chossclimbers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_6390-2-1024x768.jpg)
A squatter at our Albany Airbnb (Nov. 2023).
Go to Albany Day Three.
Go back to South And Western Australia Trip.