Looking down Megalong Valley from Mr Big

Disclaimer:  I have no idea how to use this thing so if it comes out weird I apologise.

Tom, Kate, Lachlan and I (Sean) set out early Saturday morning, as the second dust storm in a week settled across a Sydney morning.  We could have taken it as an omen for a week filled with unusual happenings and twists, but instead we lamented this was the lame little brother of the first dust storm.  The trusty tarago, stuffed with gear, chuffed up the hills as we watched the Sydney disappear into a mustardy haze below us.

The Tarago already to go

After stopping at Blackheath for pies and supplies we headed to Mount York campground and pitched our tents, including Kate’s Sad Tent.  After only the first night Sad Tent was abandoned by Kate, and put on suicide watch as result.  We then hit possibly the worst crag any of us had been to at New York.  As the temperature dropped and the sun set we all through it would be a great idea to go for some night bouldering.  Unfortunately we had not reconed the area earlier.  The highlight was definitely Pinkie’s raincoat.

Kate and her short lived Blackheath Bakery

Pinkie in his state of the art raincoat

That night it decided to snow a little.  Tom was totally unprepared even though the night before leaving I had warned him that it would get down around freezing for the first couple of nights, and wouldn’t get above 10C during the first couple of days.  This resulted in Tom wearing everything he had, PLUS some stuff on loan from myself, saving him from his overly skinny fate.  Tom now owes me a potentially unlimited amount of favours, and these can be purchased from me for the low low price of $10 a favour.  I hear he is quite good at cleaning.  The snow also led to the first classic line of the trip when it was discovered that Sad Tent had not kept Kate dry and Tom quipping, “Kate’s wet, but not in a good way.”

Sad Tent - It was touch and go there for a while

The following day we hit Dam Cliffs.  After setting some top ropes for Nathan and Aaron (sorry if that’s spelt wrong) we branched out and tried some routes not usually done on SURMC trips there.  While attempting the 23 overhang Lachlan was caught making a most enlightening observation about my photography skills and his climbing status.

Monday saw us head for James Bond, with ambitions to climb Mr Big.  We followed the directions in the book and pulled over in what looked like the parking area.  After picking what looked most like a path up the hillside, and trusting Tom that there was a path further up underneath the cliff we could see we headed out.  Four hours and an impromptu canyoning trip later we sat exhausted in the forest just off the roadside.  Tom decided to heed to the call of nature, but before that he had to “chalk up” a certain body part.  I am concerned that Tom’s chalk obsession has moved into addiction.We finally made it to James Bond.  Lachlan, Pinkie and I scaled the first two pitches of Mr Big.  The wind picked up by the time I had started to lead the second pitch and we were all quite cold by the time we abseiled back down, after snapping a few photos from the top including the picture at the top of this post.

Lachlan topping out on the second pitch of Mr Big

Meanwhile Kate and Tom had been sandbagged onto an easy 11 and 15 by a couple of old locals.  Lesson learnt: Beware friendly and kind looking 60+ year old climbers.  Tom then sandbagged himself onto a 24, which he did not finish.  The day finished with a hearty meal at Blackheath, where there was a clear No Sit Zone around our table.  Personally I thought I smelt fine and continue to blame Kate.

Tuesday saw us head to Zig Zag.  Lachlan and Kate did the classic trad route of the area Honey Dip, giving them the opportunity to legitimately place the Number 5 cam.  Pinkie and Tom, and later Lachlan, scaled a nearby 21 in the meantime.  I tried my hand unsucessfully and enjoyed the warmth of the sun until the trad rack was free and did my first, very short and straightforward trad lead.  I later decided to try my hand at a 17, which turned out to be exceptionally pumpy.  It did however turn out to have a great hands free rest half way up.

Hands free rest

Lachlan also took the opportunity to get artistic by channeling Andy Warhol.

That night Tom continued to prove that he really shouldn’t be trusted with anything flamable and hot.  With the Fire v Titanium Spork score standing at 3:0, Tom almost lost his eyebrows while trying to refill the metho stove after having already been warned not to pour it into the stove.  After a couple of beers and many marshmellows we hit the sack.

Wednesday morning rolled around and we thought one last hurrah was in order.  Medlow Bath was chosen, and after only doing one route each we decided to call it a day and get the jump on peak hour traffic.  This of course was not before Spidey, who up until now had been quite happy to just hitch a ride around, decided to get in some climbing.

Spidey scoping out his next move