<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<guide guidestars="*"><text class="heading1"
new="false">Handsome Crag</text><text class="text"
new="false">Handsome Crag has quite a decent amound of reasonable sandstone. There is a quite a lot of potential here for bouldering, but it is only in its earliest stage of development.
The crag faces north and gets a lot of sun, so is a good winter venue, but too hot in summer. It's high enough that it mostly escapes the New Norfolk fog.</text><text
class="text"
new="false">It is possible to drive to within fifty meters of the cliff. There used to be a locked gate at the bottom of the road, but this is no longer present. The crag is on Crown Land, administered by Forestry Tasmania. To get there head up to New Norfolk and cross to the northern side of the Derwent River. Head up river and take the first right, followed by a left. Follow this through the outer suburbs of New Norfolk to the T-junction: to get to the cliff turn right along Back River Road. The turn-off to the crag is about 2km along Back River Road from the T-junction. Turn right at the driveway to house numbers 658, 660 & 662 (this is the middle of 3 dirt tracks) and drive for another 1km before reaching where the locked gate used to be on the left. This is Handsome Caves Road. After a few kilometers of zigging and zagging up a steep, rough road, when it flattens out a bit take a track which turns off sharply to the left. The crag will soon be visible on the right. The road is "good fun" in a 2wd - the extra clearance and traction of a softroader makes the drive a bit more comfortable. If you can't get your car up the road the walk up isn't too grim (takes about 30 minutes). The approach takes about 45 min / 40km from Hobart.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="handsomeMap.png" width=""/><gps
new="true"><point code="HAN110"
description="The Stronghold - Don't Fight It Boulder"
easting="507745" height="523" northing="5268080"
zone="55G"/><point code="HAN100"
description="The Stronghold - car park" easting="507674"
height="462" northing="5268131" zone="55G"/></gps><text
class="heading2" new="false">Main Cliff Boulders</text><text
class="text"
new="false">There are lots of boulders under the main amphitheatre of cliffs. The potential isn't quite as good as you'ld expect, but there are a couple of OK boulders down the left hand end. Mostly these boulders are undeveloped.</text><text
class="heading2" new="false">The Stronghold</text><text
class="text"
new="false">This area has area has about a dozen beautiful free standing boulders with some fantastic lines. Good rock too.
Continue on Handsome Caves Rd past the Main Cliff for another couple of hundred metres until you get to an area with a couple of free standing boulders in a flat area on the right, with a small cliff line behind. You should be able to spy some more boulders up above the left side of the cliff line - this is where the good stuff is. Park in a small sandy pull out, and head up the hill for 5 minutes. Once you are above the small cliff line you should be able to see the boulders.
The boulders are described pretty much top-to-bottom and left-to-right as they appear in the plan topo below.</text><text
class="text"
new="false">There are plenty of new problems to do here. Bring a brush and spend some effort to contribute to this great area.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="stronghold overview.jpg"
width=""></image>
<text class="heading3"
new="false">Barad-dur</text>
<text class="text"
new="false">The northern of the two towers.</text>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Orthanc</text><text class="text"
new="false">The southern of the Two Towers is pretty high with some awesome lines to be done.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="orthanc.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V0?" name="James' Arete"
new="false" number="1."
stars="">The right hand arete, with pockets.</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Zinc Fingers Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">Zinc Fingers Boulder is just NE from Don't Fight It Boulder.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="zincfingers.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(SDS)" grade="V4" name="Zinc Fingers"
new="false" number="2."
stars="*">Groove up middle of the boulder. Stand start is about V2.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="">Easy arete on right side of boulder.</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Don't Fight It Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">This is one of the first boulders you come to.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="dontfightit.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V?" name=""
new="false" number="1." stars="">Project</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3/4" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Start a bit left of Don't Fight It, and traverse right to The Panics. Could start further left but pretty hard.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="Don't Fight It" new="false"
number="3."
stars="***">Blunt arete using pockets to slopers.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="The Panics" new="false"
number="4."
stars="*">Overhang on right side of face.</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Grey Slab</text><text class="text"
new="false">There is a small slab just up behind Don't Fight It Boulder.</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="">Left side of slab.</problem><problem extra="(Stand)"
grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="*">Right side of slab.</problem>
<text class="heading3"
new="false">Straight Lines Area</text><text class="text"
new="false">These first problems are on the down hill side of the Vitriol Boulder, facing the Don't Fight It Boulder.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="straightlines.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name=""
new="false" number="1."
stars="*">Nice face on the opposite side of the boulder from Straight Lines.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Left arete and scoop</problem><problem extra="(SDS)"
grade="V4" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="*">Up arete then dyno up left to the scoop.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V1" name="" new="false" number="4."
stars="">Up from flat hold, right of arete.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="Straight Lines" new="false"
number="5."
stars="***">Pull up from very nice rail at head hight, at bottom end of the slot between the two boulders.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="6."
stars="">Slab opposite Straight Lines.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="7."
stars="">Pull up on jug left of arete.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V1" name="" new="false" number="8."
stars="">Right of arete</problem><problem extra="(Stand)"
grade="V1" name="Fuckin Jeezus" new="false" number="9."
stars="">Right hand side of slab</problem><text class="heading3"
new="false">Vitriol Area</text><text class="text"
new="false">The next problems are at the top end of the slot.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="vitriol.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="">Arete opposite Vitriol.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="Vitriol" new="false"
number="2."
stars="***">The beautiful curved arete. Needs a sit start.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="*">On block just around to the R of vitriol traverse lip rightwards. Sit start would go, but don't rip the flake off.</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Dave's Arete Area</text><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V?" name="Dave's Arete"
new="false" number="4."
stars="">Project - the awesome looking arete.</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Gatekeeper Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">Featured boulder to the right of Inchman.</text><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Various lines up the face.</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Inchman Boulder</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Slab</problem><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0"
name="" new="false" number="" stars="">Slab</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Slab</problem><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0"
name="" new="false" number="" stars="">Slab</problem><text
class="text"
new="false">The back side of Inchman has an impressive steep face, with nothing done yet.</text><text
class="heading3" new="false">Not My Problem Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">This is the most southern decent boulder of the area.</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="">Project - crimpy slab a couple of metres left of the arete.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V3/4" name="Not My Problem" new="false"
number="2."
stars="**">Steep arete to balancy top out.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="">Project - right hand arete</problem><text new="true"/>
</guide>
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