One week in paradise (AKA The Grampians). I have just returned from a week in the Gramps. This was just a bouldering trip, no ropes, harnesses, draws etc. I have not been back to the Gramps since 2006 where I was able to get there 3 times that year. Since starting uni I have not had the chance to get back there as it academics and injuries have stopped me, so I am very grateful to have the chance to go back to such an amazing place. Once you don't do something for a while I think you easily forget how good it actually is until you go back and try or experience it again. Going back to the Gramps felt so good and I really felt blessed. Anyway enough of that now. I went there with my good friend Jim and another local Novocastrian future crusher Michael. All of us had a great trip, one I don't think any of us will ever forget. We stayed at the Mt Zero cabins, these are 6mins from Hollow Mountain car park, and have all the necessities. These cabins make climbing much more enjoyable especially in the cold winter months. Maybe I am just getting old and can't handle roughing it anymore? The Gramps is a 16.5 hr drive from Newcastle via Canberra as we had to pick up Jim, epic but totally worth it. We arrived Friday night, climbed sat and sun, rested Mon, climbed Tues, rested wed and climbed Thurs and Fri. This I think was optimal as we were able to perform and recover as best as we could without wasting additional days. I had been training for this trip for a while and was happy with my performance, usually I over train and either burnout a little or peak too late, or I peak to early. I think this was probably the first time everything has gone to plan. I think all 3 of us climbed well and we all left with sends under the belt and heaps more experience! Michael has only been climbing for 18months or something and has never been to any of the premier places in Australia. As climbing in Hollow Mountain cave and the like is such a different experience he did extremely well and I congratulate him. He managed to send Rave Heart V8 easily within a few shots, Silver hands V5, A horse is a horse V4 and came very close to numerous other blocs in the V7 range. No doubt he will do well the next time he visits the area. Jimbo managed to send Aphrodite V7, A horse is a horse V4, Spanking the monkey bars V8 and came really close to Rave Heart V8. I managed to do Cave Heart V10, Desire V8, A new? link-up at Kindergarten starting at the end of flash gordon with the double toe hooks, reversing it then going into Spankin the Monkey Bars coming in at V9, Amniotic World V9, Point and Shoot V11 and Dead Can't Dance V11. This last bloc was a surprise as I managed to injure my right hamstring on my last training sesh and could not do it when I first got there because of this injury. Luckily for me it healed enough by the second last day. I also got very close to "Amazing sounds of a she-male squealing v12" falling after the Sleepy Hollow crux 6 times! Hmmm, will have to go back for that one later in the year. Top two photos are of Michael on Amniotic World V9 (top), Rave Heart V8 and the lower two of me on point and shoot V11 and Dead Can't Dance V11 (bottom)
