Final update from Oz

Well my time here is coming to an end....I have had a BRILLIANT time climbing and cant wait to return to sample The Grampians next........

I dont want to bore you with to much but over the last few day I have managed to ssend a couple of great routes. First up was Pooferator (8b)....This is a fantastic route and was the last of harder climbs left on my ticklist.....it went down on a super strong windy day ;) then I met back up with Nick a few days later and got some great pictures on a climb called Equaliser (8a)......

Here is my list of 8's from the last 25 days of climbing over 2 months.......Climbing in the Blue mountains is just unreal......The rock/views and wildlife are just truely incerdible!! I want to thank everyone who helped with places to stay and showing/giving me belays at some of the best crags in the world!!

Equaliser 8a.

Photo - Nick Fletcher

Tiger Cat 8c (4th ascent)
Mr Tickle 8b+
Mr Line 8b+ (2nd go)
Pooferator 8b
Staring at the sea 8b
Point Break 8b (2nd go)
Dont Believe the hype 8b
Big Wednesday 8b (2nd go)
Aristocat 8b
Some Kind Of Bliss 8b (2nd go)
Bloodline 8b
Brain Haemorrhage 8b (flash)
Mr meaner 8a+ (flash)
Microwave 8a+ (flash)
Tripe 8a+
Tuckered Out 8a+
Bloodshot 8a+ (2nd go)
Tiger Snatch 8a (2nd go)
Green Grass 8a (flash)
August 1914 8a (flash)
Tsunami 8a (2nd go)
Mostly harmless 8a
Dont believe the tripe 8a (2nd go)
Mudeye 8a
Tutu sullied flesh 8a (2nd go)
Super Duper Goo 8a
Equaliser 7c+/8a (2nd go)

Brain Haemorrhage 8b.

Photo - Nick Fletcher

I hope to return soon to meet back up with so many great people and test out some new crags/areas ......I am chillin in Sydney for the last few days before heading back to Uk.....I am only there for 2 weeks and then heading with Ethan,Ted and me bro to the Frankenjura for 1 month in April/May......Bring on the good times ;)
Cheers guys

Ed

Oz part 4 (Diamond Falls)

Well yesterday I went back down to Diamond Falls with Karen. After warming up on a fantastic 23 pitch we headed around to the main wall for the really buissness. I had one quick go on 'Mr Tickle' (8b+) but fell going out for this really small crimp which is around this little bulge, so you cant see it for shiiiiitt!! Great moves on perfect small edges......for me this is a sort of style I dream about!! Then it was Karens turn on 'Mr Meaner' (8a+)....she climbed the first wall very smoothly and then came the crux....she punched through it and clipped the chains ;)....She had been working this route for a while so was totally made up when she climbed it! Totally crushed! Her first of the grade!

Then it was my turn to keep the send train rolling......I didnt climb the lower wall as well as I would have liked but got through it again and found myself resting before the hard slap to the crimp...... I went fully for it and stuck it!! After this it eases off and so I also clipped the chains on Mr Tickle!! Good times ;) I then finished the day by repeating Hairline 2000 and Super Duper Goo in order to get some pictures and a little video footage.....good training!!

 

Super Duper Goo (8a) Diamond Falls

SDG (8a)

Last roof section!!!!

Getting stuck in!!!

 

Well thats all for now.....I only have 3 days left of climbing so will hopefully make them count!!

Pooferator tomoz..........;)

Oz Part 3

Well again its been a pretty busy week....It started off at The Glen where Nick was hoping to get a few more pictures but unfortunatly the weather wasnt so great so we both just decided to climbed instead. I managed to make a send of 'Tutu Sullied Flesh' (8a) and finished the day with a great couple of 7c's.

 Next up was Bardens Lookout, I was keen to try and tick a climb called Bloodline (8b/+) which is an amazing route with plenty of roof climbing. The conditions that day where just excellent. After warming up I managed to send the route first red-point. I was super happy about that!

 After a rest Holger had recommended I go for the flash on its neighbour 'Brain Haemorrhage' (8b) at first I thought that was a little to much but finally decided to go for it and to my surprise I climbed all the way to the top ;) This was my first flash of this grade.....and what a great feeling it was!!!!

'Some Kind Of Bliss' (8b) The Besst!!!

Hiding from the dog!!

 

Represent CAC in da house!!

Photo - Nick Fletcher

 

The next day I met up with Karen who was keen to head to Diamond Falls. She was trying to finished off a route called 'Mr Meaner' (8a+). She came very close that morning but unfortunalty fell high up on the last hard move of the crux.....I was keen to try Mr Line (8b+). This link adds a much harder start into the crux of Hairline 2000 (7c+) After working out the moves low down....I rested and then sent on my 2nd try ;) good moves!!!.....I am heading back to DF tomoz to meet up with Karen. Cant wait to try Mr Tickle (8b+).....Lets see what happens.....5 days to go!!!!

Ed Downunder....Part 2

Its been a busy last 2 weeks......I have been out and about, hitting up some seriously good crags. The main 2 crags that I just really wanted to climb on were Boronia and Diamond falls.....I have officially climbed on both now.
After ticking this great 8b called 'Aristocat' down at Elphinstone I decided to have a break from that place and just try and go down to Boronia point and Diamond falls in my last few remainding weeks.
First up was Boronia.....
Day 1 >>>
I had been in contact with a great local climber called Dave Viner also who was keen to hit up Boronia n try and tick his project. We had 3 great days climbing.....My main goal was to tick 'Tripe (8a+) a classic Blue Mountains test piece. After warming up on Onions extension (7c+) I decided to go for 'Dont Believe the trip' (8a)....I managed to send this 2nd go which was fantastic....I then Tied back in and went for Mudeye (8a).....This is a great link-up, It starts up DBTT and then has a slightly different crux to a pocket! I manged to get it first try which was a nice suprise....Next up was 'Tripe' (8a+). I had one good go from the floor falling going for the jug after the crux on my first attempt but was just outa steem to hold it.....Next go I latched the crimpy jug and climbed to the top....Dave had some very good goes on DBTT falling very high up....next time buddy!! All in all I was Very happy with my sends!! It was a great feeling climbing 3 8's in a day.....
Day 2 >>>
After having a great rest day Canyoning, I was back at Boronia. My goal was to try a route called Big WEdnesday (8b).....The line stands on its own out right from the main wall so was really keen to try it......I decided to go for the Onsight and actually got further than I thought I would, falling for the good crimp at the end of the crux.....shit!!! I retsed abit and then Sent on my next try.....What a great gymnastic route! I finished the day by sending 'Green eggs and ham' (7c+), Vertins Affair (7c), Anyerism (7c)....good day ;).
Day 3 >>>
It was a weekend and it was BUSY!!! After feeling pretty tired warming up.....I qucikly put the clips on 'Dont Believe the hype' (8b), This line traverses pretty much over 3 routes which proved to be quite difficult as there were many people on those exact ones haha..... It climbs the crux of vetrins affair (7c) and then traverses right into the crux of Mudeye (8a) and finishes up DBTT (8a) at its crux......after a couple goes it was in the bag. Thank god! Its a great link with some sick moves.

Staring at the sea (8b) Centennial Glen

 

 

3 Sisters ;)

 

View from Diamond Falls

 

Shipley

 

View from Boronia Point!!

Next crag was Diamond Falls >>>
Day 1
I was really greatful of climbing there with Dave as he knew where plenty of the classics went.....I started by doing 'Super Weak' (7b+) which felt REALLY hard for the grade....Spicy times! Next on the list was Mr Magoo (7c)....This is a great line. I onsighted this and then sent Super duper goo (8a) which is its neighbour first try......I then walked around to check out 'Some Kind Of Bliss' (8b), This is a route that I have wanted to try for ages....Luckly there were qucik draws in the route so I jumped on and went for a onsight go....I gave it my best shot but fell half way through the crux section...bummer!! I worked out the top section and came down! I rested for abit and then gave it another go....I punched through the first crux and found myself resting before the final tricky section....I climbed through n touched the chains....Psyched outa my mind I decided to take a massive lob off the top......good day! Thanks to dave for all the belays ;)

Microwave (8a+) Centennial Glen.

Day 2 >>>
Today I went down with a strong climber called Logan Barber. We both got warm up as best as we could by bouldering around at the foot of the crag....I had already decided to go for the flash on a route called 'Mr Meaner' (8a+).....Logan had previously done this a few days before so had some good beta knowledge. I crimped up and sent. I felt pretty happy!! Logan then put the draws in on 'Super Duper Goo' (8a)....He was feeing pretty wasted from climbing days before and had no skin left so wasnt gunz blazzzing. He came down and rested....I then had a go on 'Tuckered Out' (8a+), You pretty much climb most of Super Duper Goo and the break out right into a steep 4m roof. I went for it and found myself resting below the final roof.....Logan shouted up the beta and I looked up to see if i could make sense of it and of course it was perfect...I climbed through with a few shouts and topped. Amazing climbing!!! To finish the session I managed to make an onsight of a bloody fantastic route called 'Hairline 2000' (7c+).....this for me is one of the best routes of this grade I have ever done.....The position is just unreal!! It was a great 2nd day donw at Diamond falls. Cant wait for more.......

'Dont Believe the tripe' (8a) Boronia Point

 

I would also just like to say a MASSIVE big up to Nick Fletcher, who has just recently been taking some amazing photographs of myself climbing on some great routes.
To see more of his work visit - http://www.nickfletcherphotography.com/
Will be meeting up again this evening to shoot some more tomoz.......cant wait.......

Big Wednesday (8b) Boronia Point

Thats all for now.....
Hope you are all out crushing!
Cheers
Ed Hamer

Grrrrritastic

It has all been about grit trad these last few weeks and I've been lovin it big time!

So starting the train rolling was a trip over to Eastwood rocks a couple of weeks ago now, to have a look at the famous roof climb Fat Slapper E7 6c. This was made famous by Seb's ascent in the dvd Hard Grit, although I hadn't heard of many ascents since then! So wasn't sure what to expect. Anyway, after having a quick look at the moves and checking out the gear we both made ascents in good time.

The following day we spent the morning in some dirty little quarry, on an amazing sharp arête called Speak the Truth E7 6b. Having no gear on it, its just a solo with quite a balancy start above a slopey landing. Another a quick look at the moves and it was in the bag. Even got both ascents on film! Check out the little vieo edit..

We then headed down the road to Black rocks to have a look at some stuff on the green slab up at the top. The next line to go down was Velvet Silnece E6 6c and then finally to finish off a great day Jumping on Beatle E6/7 6c.

Then a couple of weekends ago we headed up firstly to Froggat where I sketched my way up Benign lives E6/7 6c and then over at Moon buttress on Curbur, Ethan cruised his way up Moon maddness E7 6c.

This last weekend we were back up at Curbar with photographer Mike Hutton to finish off Cool Moon E7 6c and then hopped across to Gardoms to do Spanish Fly E6 6c and The Igloo E5 6b. 

Check out Mikes website for more cool shots! http://www.mikehuttonphotography.com/

Then finally, last Sunday I met up with London boy Andre Hedger and his Dad and managed to fight my way up Coventry Street E5 6b and Andre pulled off a great onsight of London wall!

So thats all folks for now.

Weather seems to have turned to shit this last week but hey...rugby and cricket on this weekend so I'm happy!!!!!

Cheers bru

Cool Moon

 ( photo Mike Hutton) 

Spanish Fly

(photo Mike Hutton)

 

Sketching up Benign lives (photo Ethan)

Evening light on The Igloo

Mike getting in close!

Ethan nearly there on Cool Moon

Evening sun at Gardoms

The Igloo

Mid-way on Cool Moon

Starting up Coventry Street 

Onto the top headwall on Coventry

Andre rocking it on London wall (photo Hedger)

Crux on Coventry Street!