Though the routes we’ve been climbing were not that hard or that long, the baking conditions really did a number on my feet. They were positively cooking inside the black, sticky rubber toe-boxed shoes. I developed some painful blisters. Consequently, the final two days of the trip were spent on even shorter routes. On day two, we drove to near the high point of the park and climbed the four short pitches (done in two) of Maharaja route – an aesthetic and clean 17 on the majestic looking Cathedral formation; like a miniature Rockfellows in Arizona’s Cochise. This was followed by extensive bourbon and pool time therapy. The following day, we came back and climbed the harder and prouder looking Sultan route on the same formation – a 4 pitch, 20 and, unlike its neighbor, covered in lichen. Doesn’t get the traffic of its neighbor. Bring large gear for this one and expect some blue collar work. The following morning, we drove to Melbourne with just enough time for a quick brunch. If you can judge a city by a single brunch (I can), Melbourne seems like a larger version of Portland and so the brunch was very good. So ended our nearly 5000 kilometer road trip through southeastern corner of Australia. We flew to Jakarta (nearly 7 hours away) and then onward to Yogyakarta (an hour away) for some family time and lots of good food.
Photos
Racking up at The Cathedral trailhead (Dec. 2019).Shirley admiring The Cathedral formation (Dec. 2019).Mount Buffalo National Park (Dec. 2019).The Cathedral. Sultan route (20, 4 pitches) climbs the obvious dihedral on the right, followed by a rightward traverse to the obvious flake on the right face. Maharajah climbs to the summit on the opposite face (Dec. 2019).Leading pitch 1 and 2 of Maharajah (Dec. 2019).Shirley on pitch 1 of Maharajah (Dec. 2019).Shirley on pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).More pitch 2 action (Dec. 2019).Views from Maharajah (Dec. 2019).Shirley arriving on the summit of The Cathedral (Dec. 2019).Summit bourbon (Dec. 2019).Rapping off. I’m wearing shorts, I swear (Dec. 2019).Shirley rapping into the notch (Dec. 2019).Oddly pitted granite (Dec. 2019).After the climb, we did a bit of sightseeing in the park (Dec. 2019).The Australian Alps (Dec. 2019).Mount Buffalo National Park (Dec. 2019).Dingo Dell (Dec. 2019).At the cabin (Dec. 2019).Quite showy (Dec. 2019).Back to The Cathedral the following day (Dec. 2019).Shirley on the approach (Dec. 2019).Starting the lead of Sultan (Dec. 2019).Wide and not getting much traffic; the face on the left was quite licheny (Dec. 2019).Shirley nearing the top of pitch 1 (Dec. 2019).Starting the lead of pitch 2 of Sultan (Dec. 2019).About to swing out onto the face traverse – more awkward than it looked from below (Dec. 2019).Shirley starting the traverse on pitch 2 of Sultan (Dec. 2019).Views from pitch 2 of Sultan (Dec. 2019).Shirley making progress on the traverse (Dec. 2019).Shirley on the very nice pitch 3 of Sultan (Dec. 2019).Topping out on pitch 3 (Dec. 2019).Leading the short and easy last mini-pitch of Sultan (which is shared with Maharajah which we did the day prior; Dec. 2019).Shirley belaying me on the last pitch (Dec. 2019).Cathedral summit selfie (Dec. 2019).Shirley on the summit. It was windy and almost chilly (in shorts) that day (Dec. 2019).Hiking out (Dec. 2019).One last look (Dec. 2019).Quite proud if small (Dec. 2019).OK, time for celebratory beers. Read somewhere that the town of Bright, Vic. had some well reputed microbreweries (Dec. 2019).They were good (Dec. 2019).Man, the pool was funner than being eaten by flies (Dec. 2019).In search of some iconic Melbourne sights the next day (Dec. 2019).Found them!Melbourne randomness on the drive to the airport (Dec. 2019).More Melbourne from the car (Dec. 2019).Leaving for eating…I mean for Jakarta (Dec. 2019).The red interior of the continent (Dec. 2019).On the way to Jakarta (Dec. 2019).
