Pika wrote:I hope you don't mind me knocking off your photo?
No, though maybe you can put an acknowledgement link to the photo - (c) Tom Brennan -
http://ozultimate.comPika wrote:Looking at the pics that second climb is the toughest (most exposed)?
The second (middle) climb is definitely the most exposed. However I'd say that the top climb is technically harder, as the move to get off the ground is overhung, as is one of the other moves. If my life depended on it(!), I could probably climb the middle pitch without the chain. I'm pretty sure I couldn't climb the top one without the chains.
Pika wrote:I did not know you could bypass the cliff. Thanks for the info.
Only useful once you're above the middle cliff. If you walk under the top cliff to the south, you will find a couple of easy spots where you can walk up. I'm not aware of any way of bypassing the middle or lower cliffs.
Pika wrote:Just out of curiosity, did you or your wife have any trepidation at all tackling the climb?
Yes, some - though partly due to a possible storm coming. She got to the second pitch and headed up it at a great rate. She wasn't keen on hanging around contemplating it, she just wanted to get it over with! She was half way up the third pitch by the time I got to the top of the second pitch! That said, it was back in 2007, when there were a few more rungs. I had climbed it the year before, so had a fair idea of what I was getting myself in for. I was mainly worried about her, but she was fine. I was also still doing a bit of rockclimbing at the time.
That said, I probably wouldn't have done it in the conditions that you look like you had. Sounds like everything was a bit wet. The wet rock and wet chain is a dangerous combo. Best done on cool (less sweat), dry days.
I returned last year to check on the condition of the chains, and wrote a report at the time
http://ozultimate.com/tom/bushwalking/2 ... /index.htm