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Some of you may have met me about the place but I am a fairly recent Hobart resident of the last 18 months. I've just recently headed up the mountain and noted that there is a lot of work that has commenced on access tracks, tags and the like. At the outset I must congratulate those that have taken the time and effort to do this, the small tags are unobtrusive and a good way to mark the start of tracks. I am not sure if this is in conjunction with Wellington Park management or not, I know that there were murmurings of this about the place. I must admit that I am a little disturbed by the extent of some of the track clearing that has been done. Climbing for me is a minimal disturbance activity, I can't speak for all others but part of the enjoyment for myself and many other climbers I know in all parts of the world is the sense of untouched natural beauty. I have at times taken secateurs or small folding saws into places that I have frequented to keep tracks just clear enough that you aren't getting a face full of the dozens of spikey plants in the Australian bush however the works that have been done on the mountain I feel are a little excessive.

I am also somewhat shocked to read that people have been "gardening" established vegetation on routes such as Digitalis. On previous visits I have also seen shrubs and small trees around Great Tier and Bulging Buttress have been removed from cracks and ledges on the rock face. Removing established vegetation as opposed to the odd bit of grass or moss ceases to be gardening and progresses to vandalism. Established vegetation in cracks and on ledges are a part of the trad climbing landscape, they often form holds or viable protection, but this is also their home. We are all temporary and transient visitors to these places and should be more considerate and cognisant of the environment and ecosystem that vegetation in the vertical world represents.

Aside from this removal of vegetation in Wellington Park and National Parks/Conservation Areas is illegal. If you happen to find yourself with a new gardening tool for Christmas or a birthday present then get your fix at home on the wood pile or the neighbour's fruit trees, not halfway up a cliff where a warratah or hakea seems inconveniently placed. Again I must stress that I am appreciative of the efforts made by people to improve the tracks to single clear points of access however if there is to be significant work or removal of vegetation or even new routes for that matter then the pulse of the wider climbing community should be sought not just those who have the time, tools and inclination to act on the community's behalf.

I am more than happy to discuss

Regards, Tim Smith

Simon Young has done the steep bulge to the right of Remembrance, which has some great climbing on steep water washed rock:

★★ 3. V 17m 25 8Þ
A fun little sport climb starting 5m R of Remembrance and climbing to the same anchor. Climb up and into shallow R facing corner, continue up to steep bulge. Jugs lead to good side-pulls on the face above. Head up and R before stepping back L to lower-off. Bestest 25 on the buttress.
Simon Young, Jan 2013

Number 3 in the topo below:

Yesterday saw the removal of the last remaining shrub (waratah) at the top of this route. Never easy to negotiate past, this shrub has been taunting climbers for the past year since the Robinson gang gardened the dirct finish. Back to yesterday..... An older gentleman tooled up with his new Xmas pressie (retractable pruning saw), made short work of this recidivist offender. Waratah dispatched! It is worth noting that if you've not done the direct finish yet you might be tempted to include a couple of additional hand to fist size cams to augment what you would normally take.  Is the direct finish better than the original? My money is on the original finish.... Any comments?

For anyone that missed it, the roads to both the Tasman (arthur highway) and Freycinet peninsulas (Coles bay rd) are currently closed and all the roads in Freycinet national park are closed.

the police site has the latest:

http://police.tas.gov.au/community-alerts/

Pinnacle Rd to mt wellington was closed yesterday (it always is on days of extreme fire danger), but appears to be open today

A Sony Xperia was found on top of Bare Rock after a party completed Orange of Bisso a few days ago. PM me if the phone is yours and I will post it back to you. The same party also handed me a bolt and hanger which was pulled out by hand on the upper part of the route. I will check out exactly where (and maybe how) when things cool off a little.

See link to new Fingal Guide, professionally designed with all routes, topos. action photos and history.

http://climbnortherntasmania.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=453&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2

G'day,

I'm visiting Tassie for a few days before NYE and am keen to climb in or around Launceston. I'll be free to climb 26th-29th ish. I have my own rack, rope and car. Always keen to climb trad, but happy to clip bolts if that's whats on offer. Feel free to get in touch (email is best - dodgy reception courtesty of Optus).

Johno

(alwyn.johnson@gmail.com)

Hi all,

I've been working on making topos easier to make, and have the first cut of online topo drawing done. This lets you upload the image and then draw the lines on it within the web page.

Thanks to Jed who has been finding all the bugs and Brendan Heywood who wrote the original code (now heavily modified) for thecrag.

Jed has done a bunch of topos in the new tool already on the Mount Brown and Step Tier pages.

Its probably about 80-90% finished, still needs more bug fixed and more user friendliness, and a few more features still to be added. It also needs some different styles for bouldering topos. If you find any bugs let me know.

Have also been working on improving the maps, but thats not finished yet.

Here's a quick run through of how to use it:

To edit, click "Edit this guide" and edit the image as per normal

Hey everyone,

Will be on holidays in Tassie all January, am based in Launceston but have a car so am flexible with location and enjoy an adventure. Am originally from Tassie so have done a bit of climbing at most of the popular spots. Happy to lead trad upto 19/20. 

Give me a buzz on 0428147430 or kostberg000@gmail.com

Cheers, Karl

Anyone short a couple of nuts after recently climbing at the pipes? I found a couple just above the Daedalus rap anchor at the top of the columns, most likely they have slipped off a biner. If you can tell me the brand and sizes (roughly) they can once more join their true rack.... If there is no response in a week, consider these nuts adopted!

See link for details, guide and topos to 10 new routes at the Hidden Face of Mt Brown

http://climbnortherntasmania.wordpress.com/2012/12/17/mt-brown-hidden-face-10-new-routes/

Hi, just a plug for 'Recycled Recreation', a shop just selling second hand outdoor stuff.  They are at 59 Liverpool St (just up the street from Goulds).  They are happy to sell stuff for you too. Good to see this gear getting a second life!

They are open 12-5.30pm  Tues to Sat

I went bouldering with a mate up at the Reservoir (Waverley Park) yesterday evening, perfect conditions for it and a great way to end the day.

Whilst i was there i noticed that there were a lot of gouge marks on the left hand wall. It looks to me (although i could be mistaken) very much like someone has been climbing there in crampons. Now i know that its not exactly Font but it is one of the nicest pieces of featured sandstone around Hobart and unlike the huge tick marks the impacts of crampons on this quite soft rock are permanent and pretty unsightly.

Im not against practicing for mixed climbing or whatever the perpetrator was up to, but maybe a quarry of harder rock might be a much better venue for this sort of thing, there are plenty of those around.

G

Hi all,

The Point Perpendicular guide has its first anniversary this month and to celebrate I’ve decided to have a sale. Pick up a copy for a paltry $29.95 including delivery within Australia (that’s 25% off).

Available from http://www.pointperp.com

Sale ends Christmas Eve.

Happy climbing,

Robert Dun

See link for details and topo for latest new route at Bare Rock. Stay tune for new updated guide for the whole cliff out in next few weeks.

http://climbnortherntasmania.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/bare-rock-opens-another-new-route/