What better way to spend New Year’s Eve than camping with great friends from around the world, and climbing on some of the best rock in the universe? This is the best kind of party I can imagine. The Northern Grampians has a huge concentration of stellar routes, bolted and trad, that span from introductory grades all the way to the grade 30+ lines of Taipan Wall. We lucked out, with mostly perfect 26 degree dry weather. Cracker weekend and an awesome start to 2017!
Day 1 – Wave Wall
A slightly overhanging wall with lines that were bolted fairly recently, spanning from grade 18 to 21. A great place to get some intermediate grades into the tick list. Walk in takes ~20 minutes.
Day 2- Tribute wall and Van Diemen’s Land
New Year’s Eve had slightly cooler and overcast weather. We spent half the day ticking facey routes at Tribute wall, described in the guidebook as ‘The Grampians answer to Nowra’s Decent Gully Walls’….’Densely packed fun’.
After a solid morning at Tribute wall, we proceeded to traverse along the cliffside to Van Diemen’s land, where some very atmospheric and technical routes awaited.
Day 3 – West Flank
One of the easiest walk ins to a crag I’ve ever done, this place near Mt. Zero picnic area has bolted routes that are so new they didn’t make it into the 2015 guidebook. Mostly facey technical climbing, a great way to start 2017 before heading home!
Best New Year’s I’ve ever had. I will definitely be coming back here. The Northern Grampians have so much climbing, and it’s all so convenient and densely concentrated. The rock is five star quality, and the crags feel remote enough that you feel like you’re on an adventure, even though the main camp is only a 10 minute drive away. Can’t wait to come back!