Arapiles Day 2

Australia

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Go back to Arapiles Day 1.

The Watchtower Crack
Watchtower Crack.
Next day, we headed back to the crag for The Watchtower Crack, a 4 pitch 16. If you told me that the route was a solid 5.9, I would not argue with that. Touch exciting especially with nothing larger than a #4 Camalot – perfectly safe but you need to work some moves a bit above the last carrot bolt. On the upside, we got to clip our first carrot bolts (we came back to Australia armed with a dozen hangers) and the route remained nicely shaded being tucked into a large dihedral. Though we were positively baking on the hike down, we decided to make a quick detour to the shady backside of the The Pharos formation and its well reputed Lamplighter – a very appealing 3-pitcher with another sandbag rating of 14. The second pitch was indeed excellent and the third offered up a downwardly flaring chimney requisite of most classics. A quick rehydration in Natimuk and an hour later we were in Halls Gap, the touristy basecamp for the Grampians National Park.

Photos

Arapiles
Mount Arapiles (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Shirley on approach on our day two at Mount Arapiles (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
A denizen of Mount Arapiles (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Shirley hiking up towards the Watchtower Faces (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Starting up The Watchtower Crack on Right Watchtower Face (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Higher on pitch 1 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley and Mitre Rock in the distance (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
More pitch 1 action (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley arriving at the first belay (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Leading pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley starting up pitch 2 of The Watchtower Crack (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Mitre Rock from low on The Watchtower Crack route (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley higher on pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Views across the Right Watchtower Face from the second belay (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 3 of The Watchtower Crack (Dec. 2019)
The Watchtower Crack
Leading pitch 3 of The Watchtower Crack (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
A dressed up carrot bolt (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley on pitch 3 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Starting the lead of pitch 4 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Looking back at Shirley from above the difficulties on pitch 4 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Higher on pitch 4 (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley topping out (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
At the top of the wall (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
A view of the crux pitch 3 from the rappels (Dec. 2019).
The Watchtower Crack
Shirley rapping down (second of two) with most of the The Watchtower Crack route visible. Click photo for a video (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Changing course and hiking over to the Pharos formation (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
The Pharos formation (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Shirley topping out on pitch 1 of Lamplighter on the Pharos (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Leading pitch 2 of Lamplighter (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
And one more look back from pitch 2 lead (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Shirley topping out on the very nice pitch 2 of Lamplighter (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
A buttshot from pitch 3 (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Shirley on pitch 3 of Lamplighter – this is the section below the chimney (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Shirley in the finishing chimney on pitch 3 of Lamplighter (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Shirley finishing the Lamplighter route (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Rapping down into the notch behind the Pharos (Dec. 2019).
Lamplighter
Hiking down from the backside of the Pharos formation (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Admiring the geology of Mount Arapiles at the base of the Pharos (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Hiking down with the Pharos formation in the background (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Hiking back to the car (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
A black roo (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Bard Buttress in profile (Dec. 2019).
Arapiles
Packing up for the short drive over to the Grampians (Dec. 2019).
Grampians
Our very nice little cabin in Halls Gap, Victoria near to Grampians National Park (Dec. 2019).

Go to Grampians Day 1.
Go back to Southeastern Australia Roadtrip.