36) A REAL climbing trip!

The guidebook promised a unique and exhilarating experience (only one of four in the world), a full 360 degree uninterrupted panorama, awe inspiring views. This was a real climbing destination (unlike Kangaroo Cliff with its old-world urban charm), a spectacular monolith, an iconic symbol of Down Under itself. A climbing destination worthy of coming half way around the globe.......

After weeks of brutal training and sacrifice, early light saw us trundled into the car, loaded with gear and guidebooks in hand and heading north. We felt pretty fit after weeks of punishing runs in sopping heat, scads of pullups, hill sprints and severely curtailing our Apple Fritter with fresh cream consumption. Little traffic on the MI (which still sounds like a small version of either a gun or a British spy organization) so we buzzed north, ever north, with the haunting call of the Australian outback beckoning us ever onward till finally, after what seemed like an hour, the towering crags of the CBD came into view. A quick consult of the guide, and we headed west. Our destination?

The fabled "Story Bridge" (I can't find the fable actually...)


Opened in 1940 and synonymous with Brisbane, the fabled Story Bridge can now be climbed legally via an award winning commercial climbing operation. Groups of climbers who are fixed to a static line are carefully guided across its structure over a leisurely period of two and a half hours. The knowledgeable guides provide an insightful commentary about the bridge�s history and the characters that built and worked upon it. At the same height as a 22-storey building, the 360� panoramic vista looking across Brisbane and surrounding hinterland is exceptional



In this undated photo from last week, you can see the Australian team topping out on the Wombat Ridge Route (R-skyline) just ahead of the Austrian team (L skyline - the perilous "Windtunnel Arete". The Austrians had been forced into an extended emergency bivy at "The Pass" due to ferocious winds at midday (they were at the one protected spot on the stretch known as "the Abyss"- where a fall will take you and your team dozens of feet down the sheer S face into ---- the river. See detailed route topo below) . This allowed the Aussies, who were obviously much fitter, had better training, and greater beer and sausage sizzle consumption behind them, to sneak a quick refreshing "turp and a slab" to refuel and gain the summit first. We had watched them all day from our bivy at the RiverWalk Cafe - we wanted to have full beta before we made our bid for this elegant and fragile summit. We also hoped to be the first co-ed team to start at the "Point of No Return" and complete the dreaded "Jumping the Shark Tank" traverse down the Koala Ridge--- an incontrovertible prize and well worth the weeks of training and mental preparation - 22 stories - that is a loooong way up! Do we even have enough ropes for the fixed lines the guide talked about? I only brought five 60m ropes over - we may be in for some rope soloing! The morning, which comes too early, will tell!


After a light meal of Grilled Baramundi, crisp greens in an aromatic vinaigrette and a Belgian chocolate mousse with orange shavings we sacked out early in preparation for a dawn start. Nancy was all for making use of the ambient lite conditions but I really felt we would have a better chance not counting on the AU's somewhat sketchy power supply!



We hit our stride early but sadly, the stars were aligned against us. Someplace along the way our navigation went wrong. Nancy, who had the map, told me to turn R so I did. She claims I turned Left (which I did not. I never get those mixed up! We are still squabbling over that.) But at any rate, we were suddenly off the known and planned approach route, on the wrong side of the river and there was no damn place to park! One way streets all over and unreal traffic hazards. People were driving ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD! No stop lights - just roundabouts, no signs with speed limits, just "kph" - it was like being in a foreign country!
Now anyone in the right mind, who was writing a guidebook to a famous iconic monolith like this should damn well remember to at least MENTION a frigging river in the guide don't you think!


We did eventually find an approach - of sorts. Here we are geared up at our closet approach point with the icon, the legend , the prize behind us. But it was too late in the day to really make a solid go of it. So close and yet - across the river!

So somewhat devastated we headed for a bakery - after weeks of deprivation an Apple Fritter with Fresh Cream was to be our prize and our solace. We have our memories and some good pictures. It was a dream .. that may still come to pass.

But NEXT time. I bring a GPS navigation unit.

And a boat!