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<guide><header
access="This is not for the faint hearted! From Cockle Creek, follow the South Coast Track north for three days to New Lagoon, then wade up the river for another day to Damper Creek. From here, follow a taped "track" for maybe four hours up to the cliff line. The track turns north here and follows the cliff base to a major gully - this has been climbed (difficult) as a way to the summit but the main route continues on for about another hour, then up and round another narrow gully before climbing more easily up the ascent gully, exiting L when it ends and into the next gully which leads to the top. Descent is via this path.
<br/>Camping is available at a rough campsite on the south bank of the Damper River (658850), or there is a small bivvy near a permanent pool about 15mins after the track turns north at the base of the cliffs. The best weather is usually February and March although you can expect lousy conditions at any time.
<br/>PB is in Tasmania's World Heritage Area and is a fuel stove only area. Full details on the South Coast Track, access and transport are available in John Chapman's South West Tasmania Guide, 1998 (new edition due for in 2008). See also TASMAP 1:25 000 Precipitous and/or 1:100 000 South Coast Walks, and http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/recreation/tracknotes/scoast.html for track information."
acknowledgement="Compiled from original material by Phil Robinson and Steve Monks"
history="Nevertheless, over the years climbers have braved the elements and explored a little of the enormous potential of the area. Details are scant but it seems the peak was probably first climbed by Mac Urquhart in the 1930s. Dave Neilson from Melbourne is reputed to have visited and left a rope there in the mid 70s, but it isn't known what, if any, climbing was done. Phil Robinson, Tasmania's leading exploratory climber for many years, was there with Chris (Basil) Rathbone in 1986. "We climbed a good long ridge to the summit, some short routes but the main face had blank corners (needed pegs which we didn't have) like the E. Face of Mt Anne. We had hexs and wires and 2 or 3 original Friends but we never used to aid anything in those days. If it didn't go free there was always another line to try."
<br/>Most recently, visiting Victorian climbers, Steve Monks and Jane Wilkinson, undaunted by the out-there location and access problems, yomped in the gear in 1994 and created a major multi-pitch wilderness climb, Precipitous Arête (23)."
intro="Located deep in the South West wilderness, Precipitous Bluff (PB for short) is an impressive dolerite peak, with a towering rampart of columnar cliffs facing out to the Southern Ocean. The problem of course is access as any prospecting climber faces at least four days walk in, and out, and has to brave the sometimes appalling weather."
name="Precipitous Bluff" new="false"
rock="Columnar Dolerite, over 250m high"
sun="Mixed sun and shade"
walk="Four days tough walking"></header><text class="heading2"
new="false">Summit Buttress</text><climb extra="" grade="23"
length="265m" name="Precipitous Arête" new="false" number="" stars="">The climb follows the L arête of the Summit Buttress, giving excellent climbing on steep, sound and clean dolerite.
Access: Where the track first meets the cliff line, follow the "track" north for about another 20 mins along the base of the cliff to a tree marked with a tape (well, it was there in 1994!), just before the track descends to cross a large gully. Ten minutes of easy scrub bashing, then up and L beneath the main cliff to the start of the climb.
Start: At knife-edge, horizontal ridge below L edge of cliff.
1) 25m (17) Arête to ledge at 20m, then up to next ledge.
2) 30m (21) Corner crack L of arête for 20m, then R-tending diagonal crack to bush in groove. Now R, up crack to re-gain arête at ledge.
3) 20m (23) Up to ledge, then short difficult crack just L of arête to ledge.
4) 30m (21) Corner behind ledge for 10m, then L to slight L-leading ramp. Follow ramp to deep groove/crack. Belay on block.
5) 20 (18) Groove.
6-8) 80m Easy, spectacular climbing up crest of summit ridge.
9) 30m (17) Middle crack in final, steep wall to ledge.
10) 30m (16) Up.
Steve Monks, Jane Wilkinson 9 February 1994</climb></guide>
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