Whiskey Jim Hill is a sandstone crag above the Liffey Valley up to 50m high and with some sections of good quality rock. It features the steepest crack climb in Tasmania, the incredible Whiskey Jim Crack (25) which climbs a splitter crack through a 9m stepped roof on excellent rock. Potential is limited though there is alot of rock, many of the faces are blank and featureless or just choss. Access is very easy; a 45 minute drive from Launceston and a 15 minute flat walk on a track, though very complicated to explain. People wanting to visit this cliff should ring Gerry Narkowicz (0428 505259) for a guided tour, otherwise you are likely to get lost. It is quite close to the Cluan Tiers, so a visit to both cliffs would be possible on the same day. So far 2 routes have been done:

The Wailing Wall 15m 27.
The bolted face climb at the far LHS of the cliff. FA: Nick Hancock 2008

Whiskey Jim Crack 20m 25
Starts up an overhanging fist crack through a small roof for the first 10m. The crack then becomes splitter hand size but goes virtually 6m horizontal out to the lip. A hanging slab just before the lip gives some respite before tackling the crux, which is turning the lip and gaining the flared finger crack for the last 5m up the headwall. It opens up again to hands before the final offwidth slot. The lip is 15m off the ground, and a rope will hang 9m out from the base of the route. A unique crack climb in Tasmania. Gear: Wild Country Cams
3.5, 3, 4, 3, 2.5. Camalots 0.5, 1, 2, 3. FA: Gerry Narkowicz 26/9/10

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4 Comments

  1. Jed Parkes

    Sounds like fun, Got any photos? GPS coordinates? could stop people getting lost.

  2. Ian Ferrier

    Well done Gerry, all those laps on Trojan must have payed off.  Have you booked HB in for his requested second ascent yet?

  3. Jon Nermut

    The full guide with map and GPS points to Cluan and Whiskey Jim Hill is here:
    Cluan Tiers and Whiskey Jim Hill

    Thanks to Gerry for the info.

    1. Gerry Narkowicz AUTHOR

      Would be interested to know of any repeats of Whiskey Jim Crack to confirm the grade please. Thanks Jon for putting the guide together.