<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<guide guidestars="*" pagesize="200"><text class="heading1"
new="false">Handsome Crag</text><text class="text"
new="false">Handsome Crag has quite a decent amount 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 metres 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 kilometres 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 drive takes about 45 min or 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 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=""/><text class="heading3"
new="false">Smear Boulder</text><text class="text"
new="false">A smaller boulder with a nice clean face down the hill a bit.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="smearBoulder.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V4/5"
name="Smear Test" new="false" number="1."
stars="**">Up the clean face starting with the opposing side pulls. There is also a desperate sit start (V6/7).</problem><problem
extra="(Hang)" grade="V5/6" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="*">Hang start on the sloper. A couple of tricky move will take you onto the holds on 1, up this to finish.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V?" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">On the other side of the boulder from Smear Test. Sit start on the left at the jug, follow the slopers right. Don't know if this has been done.</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Fat Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">This small boulder is just across from the Smear face.</text><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="VE" name="Big Fat Crap" new="false"
number="" stars="">Arete</problem><problem extra="(Stand)"
grade="VE" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Dirty face to right of arete</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Inner City Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">These are two smallish boulders that lie against each other.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="city1.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="">On the left of the cave, start from slopers on lip.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">On right of cave start at hueco, finish over tree.</problem><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="city2.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V9/10" name="Inner City Pressure"
new="false" number="3."
stars="*">On the back of the boulder, left side of face</problem><problem
extra="(Hang)" grade="V5/6" name="City Migi" new="false"
number="4."
stars="*">In middle of face, hang start off lower holds</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Dirt Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">Nice little face just across from Barad-dur boulder.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="dirt.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V2" name="Fight Through the Dirt"
new="false" number="1."
stars="">Sit start on left of boulder, follow lip up right to jug then up.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Straight up to jug.</problem><problem extra="(SDS)"
grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="">Project - centre of face from sitstart.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V0" name="Dirt Music" new="false"
number="4."
stars="">Sit start on right side of boulder, follow lip left then up.</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Barad-dur</text>
<text
class="text"
new="false">The eastern of the two towers.</text><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V4" name="Crack of Doom"
new="false" number=""
stars="***">The awesome highball crack</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Orthanc</text><text class="text"
new="false">The western of the Two Towers is pretty high with some awesome lines to be done.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="orthanc back.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(Highball, SDS)" grade="V0" name=""
new="false" number="1."
stars="*">Up the arete using pocket, then up jugs to top. Descent is to drop off onto the face to the left and step across to the block.</problem><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false"
number="2." stars="">Up slab</problem><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V6" name="" new="false"
number="3."
stars="**">Up to the right of the arete. Tricky moves at the start lead to exciting moves to get onto the slab</problem><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="orthanc.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V0?" name="Orthanc 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="(Stand)" grade="V0" name=""
new="false" number=""
stars="">Dirty slab to L of arete on back of boulder</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V2" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="*">Sit start and climb steeper R side of nice featured arete.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V11" name="Uprising" new="false"
number="1."
stars="**">Sit start on left arete, head right to sloper on the arete then up Zinc Fingers to finish.</problem><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="(SDS)" grade="V4" name="Setting Sun"
new="false" number="1."
stars="**">Sit start of ramp, up on pockets then side pulls</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V4" name="Bug, Powder, Dust" new="false"
number="2."
stars="*">Sit start and straight up into crack and over the top.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3/4" name="" new="false" number="3."
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="4."
stars="**">Blunt arete using pockets to slopers.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="The Panics" new="false"
number="5."
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="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="" new="false"
number=""
stars="">Short arete on left side of the Better With Age face, from a sit start.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V1" name="Better With Age" new="false"
number="1."
stars="*">Nice face on the opposite side of the boulder from Straight Lines.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V1" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Variant to Better With Age on flakes just to the right.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Left arete and scoop</problem><problem extra="(SDS)"
grade="V4" name="Busted" 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 height, at bottom end of the slot between the two boulders. There is a pretty hard sit start using the arete.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="6."
stars="">Slab opposite Straight Lines.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V9" name="Mouthful of Love" new="false"
number=""
stars="">Sit start using thin crack and edge.</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="(SDS)" grade="V6" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="*">Start at narrow pocket, move left to arete and up</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Arete opposite Vitriol.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="Vitriol" new="false"
number="3."
stars="***">The beautiful curved arete. Needs a sit start.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V4" name="Vitriol Sit" new="false"
number="3a." stars=""/><text class="heading3"
new="false">Two Face Boulder</text><header new="true"/><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="" new="false" number="4."
stars="*">On block just around to the R of vitriol traverse lip rightwards.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V1" name="Sheriff Jeff Acid" new="false"
number="4a."
stars="">On the right hand side of the block, sit-start of the pinch on the arete and up to flat jug just below top of boulder and top-out as for problem 4.</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Dave's Arete Area</text><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V1" name="Pedro" new="false" number="4b."
stars="*">On boulder between Dave's Arete and Two Face boulder. Sit-start off large rightward sloping ledge via slot to left arete then up to top.</problem><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V6" name="Dave's Arete"
new="false" number="5."
stars="">The awesome looking arete. Gets a bit desperate at the top. Can be done with a sit start if the arete isn't inspiring enough for you.</problem>
<text
class="heading3" new="false">Gatekeeper Boulder</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="gatekeeper.jpg" width=""/><text
class="text"
new="false">Featured boulder to the right of Inchman - could do with some more cleaning and traffic.</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name=""
new="false" number="2." stars=""/><problem extra="(Stand)"
grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="3." stars=""/><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number="4."
stars=""/><problem extra="(SDS)" grade="V0" name="" new="false"
number="5." stars=""/>
<text class="heading3"
new="false">Inchman Boulder</text><image new="false"
noPrint="false" src="inchman.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="">Slab</problem><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0"
name="" new="false" number="2." stars="">Slab</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="">Slab</problem><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0"
name="" new="false" number="4." stars="">Slab</problem><text
class="text"
new="false">The back side of Inchman has an impressive steep face.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="inchman back.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V5/6"
name="Hang Me Up To Dry" new="false" number="1."
stars="***">Nice face with slopers. Start on the edges below the big sloper. Take a grade or so off if you stack the pads up and start on the sloper.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V7" name="Chain Gang Bang" new="false"
number=""
stars="***">start as for Hang Me Up, traverse right and finish up Chain Gang.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V6" name="Chain Gang" new="false"
number=""
stars="**">Start matched on incut diagonal hold a couple of metres left of Sledgehammer, up to top jugs.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V8" name="Little by Little" new="false"
number=""
stars="**">Start as for Chain Gang and traverse right and up Sledge Hammer.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V6" name="Block Buster" new="false"
number=""
stars="*">Start left hand in crack. bad feet and bust up to big sledge hammer jug. </problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V5/6" name="Sledgehammer" new="false"
number="2."
stars="**">On R side of face - big pull from horizontal to horizontal then up over top.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Just to the R of Sledgehammer, up to hollow holds.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V1" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">On far right side of face, just left of block. Climb up R on big holds.</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">White Noise Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">Between Inchman and Not My Problem boulders is a bloc with a large detached flake on the W side</text><text
class="text"
new="false">The western face with the tree at the right hand end</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="1."
stars="">The left hand arete</problem><problem extra="(Stand)"
grade="V3" name="White Noise" new="false" number="2."
stars="*">Stand start from the obvious edge in the middle of the face, head right to the top and a fun mantle. A harder sit start may be possible.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="3."
stars="">From the good pinch just left of the tree up and over the dead branch.</problem><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><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="notMyProblem.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V2"
name="I'll Cry If I Want to" new="false" number="1."
stars="*">Up on crimps and seams to groove and glory jugs!</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="(SDS)" grade="V4" name="Ticked Off" new="false"
number="3." stars="">From scoopy holds with left hand, up arete via pinches to top.</problem>
</guide>
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