<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<guide guidestars="**" pagesize="400"><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, and there has been a rapid amount of development here since it was kicked off by Dave Humphries, Jon Nermut and Campbell Godfrey in May 2008. 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. But please remember that other people use this road - use your common sense and don't hoon it, and make sure you park well off the road. No one wants the gate back on the road! The drive takes about 45 min or 40km from Hobart.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="handsomeMap.png"
width=""/><image new="false" noPrint="false"
src="handsome area.jpg" width=""/><gps new="true"><point
code="HAN100" description="The Stronghold - Car Park"
easting="507674" height="462" northing="5268131"
zone="55G"/><point code="HAN110"
description="The Stronghold - Dont Fight It"
easting="507745" height="523" northing="5268080"
zone="55G"/><point code="HAN200"
description="The Blockhouse" easting="507464" height="515"
northing="5267905" 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'd expect, but there are a couple of good looking boulders down the left hand end that are yet to be developed. Follow the road under the cliff, and park at the lowest point where there is a decent sized pull out. Head up left to where you can see a steep prow and wall (that unfortunately has a lack of holds). Behind this are quite a few more steep boulders, but they will need some landing engineering.</text><text
class="heading2" new="false">The Blockhouse</text><text
class="text"
new="false">The Blockhouse is a fairly small area above the left hand end of Handsome Crag (straight above Hard and Fast), with potential for maybe 15 problems. Park 50m past the crag where there is a pull out on the right. Walk back towards the crag and up the ridge through a gap in the cliffs, to find an area of about 4 free standing boulders back by some cliffy bits.</text><text
class="heading3" new="false">The Choss Block</text><text
class="text"
new="false">This is the chossy block closest to the road. There are a couple of easy slabby climbs on one side, and some chossy stuff on the bottom.</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Left side of featured slab</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="VE" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Right side of featured slab</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V1" name="" new="false" number=""
stars="">Chossy jugs at the bottom of the boulder</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Merci Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">The is the large boulder with the obvious steep face facing the road, and a high vertical face.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="merci.jpg" width=""/><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V5" name="The Original Fire" new="false"
number="1."
stars="***">Very nice flakes up left side of steep face. Head right to finish.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Project - up shallow crack without using arete.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V3" name="Merci Fuckyou" new="false"
number="3."
stars="*">The right arete of the steep face.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="Hot Engrish Tea?" new="false"
number="4."
stars="*">Thin crack 1.5m left of Show Day Special.</problem><problem
extra="(Highball, Stand)" grade="V3" name="Show Day Special"
new="false" number="5."
stars="*">The right arete of the vertical face</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Stubbie Boulder</text><text
class="text"
new="false">This is the small boulder to the right of Merci Boulder.</text><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="Slab of Stubbies" new="false"
number="6."
stars="">Slab on far left of boulder.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="7."
stars="">Project - sit start and up onto slab.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="" new="false" number="8."
stars="">Start off opposing sidepulls, up right to jugs. Needs the hard sit start.</problem><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="handsomeMap2.png"
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="300"/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V4/5"
name="Smear Test" new="false" number="1."
stars="**">Up the clean face starting with the opposing side pulls, give yourself a V7 tick if you doit with a sit start.</problem><problem
extra="(Hang)" grade="V5/6" name="Slope Test" 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="400"/><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="400"/><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="400"/><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="300"/><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="Limpet" 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="500"/><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="400"/><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="500"/><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="(Stand)" grade="V4" name="Not So Contrived Now!"
new="false" number=""
stars="*">Start at a good sidepull right of "Bug, Powder, Dust", then up to rail and veer right past sidepulls and slaps to finish near "Don't Fight It". Refuse the temptation to use the left crack system.</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><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V5" name="See Ros Run" new="false"
number="6."
stars="*">Traverse the whole boulder from the start of Setting Sun to the end of The Panics.</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="7."
stars="">Sit start using thin crack and edge. Start hold has been broken since first ascent making it very stiff 9</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="" new="false" number="8."
stars="">Pull up on jug left of arete.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V1" name="" new="false" number="9."
stars="">Right of arete</problem><problem extra="(Stand)"
grade="V1" name="Fuckin Jeezus" new="false" number="10."
stars="">Right hand side of slab</problem><problem extra="(SDS)"
grade="V?" name="" new="false" number="11."
stars="">Project - awesome steep arete with no holds</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="Pocket Full of Pulleys"
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, staying on the face.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V2" name="Vitriol" new="false"
number="3."
stars="***">The beautiful curved arete. Sit start is about V4 but awkward.</problem><text
class="heading3" new="false">Two Face Boulder</text><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="400"/><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">The Balcony</text><text class="text"
new="false">This is the short exciting looking 45 degree wall on top of the cliff which can be seen on the walk up. Careful not to knock your spotter off, if you can get one.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="Balcony2.jpg"
width="500"/><problem extra="(SDS)" grade="V6/7" name=""
new="false" number="1." stars=""/><problem extra="(SDS)"
grade="V6" name="" new="false" number="2."
stars="*">Start on pockets then up and left to the big sloper - still awaiting a topout.</problem>
<text
class="heading3"
new="false">Inchman Boulder - North Face</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="inchman.jpg"
width="300"/><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><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V2"
name="Autobahn" new="false" number=""
stars="**">A marathon cleaning effort by Pete and an excellent warm up. Start up the right hand arete on the North Face of the Inchman Boulder and traverse the lip left to the arete, around the arete then follow the horizontal till you reach Fark knows..., if you're not warmed up then head back again.</problem><text
class="heading3"
new="false">Inchman Boulder - East Face</text><text class="text"
new="false">These slabby walls provide some entertaining for those sampling their first bouldering experience.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="Artists Wall 2.jpg"
width="500"/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0-"
name="Fark knows...not feeling creative today!" new="false"
number="1." stars=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0-"
name="Moaning Lisa" new="false" number="2."
stars="">Also the descent route.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="A-muse-ing" new="false"
number="3."
stars="*">A pleasant climb up the slab.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V0" name="Van Gone" new="false"
number="4." stars=""/><problem extra="(Stand)" grade="V0"
name="Cliff Palette" new="false" number="5."
stars="*">Follow the edges up the slab.</problem><text
class="heading3"
new="false">Inchman Boulder - South Face</text><text
class="text"
new="false">The back side of Inchman has an impressive steep face which after many hours of brushing and a bit of landscaping is producing some classic problems.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="Chain Wall2.jpg"
width=""/><problem extra="(SDS)" grade="V10"
name="Greed is Good" new="false" number=""
stars="*">Start around the arete left of no. 1, up to small pocket and then mantle left.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V10/11" name="Iyora" new="false"
number="1."
stars="***">Sit start on the opposing side pulls, a big pull brings you up to the nose then up and right to top of the boulder.</problem><problem
extra="(Hang)" grade="V6" name="Ball and Chain" new="false"
number="2."
stars="*">Start right hand on the pinch and left on the gaston, up to slope then big pull to the top.</problem><problem
extra="(Hang)" grade="V10" name="The Never Ending Story"
new="false" number="3."
stars="**">Start as for Ball and Chain and make your way right, topping out on Sledgehammer, pumpy climbing.</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V5" name="Hang Me Out To Dry" new="false"
number="4."
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="V8" name="Chain Gang Bang" new="false"
number="5."
stars="***">Start as for Hang Me Up, traverse right and finish up Chain Gang. Originally grade V7 but after some of Tassies' hottest talent failed to send it V8 seems like a more appropriate grade ;-)</problem><problem
extra="(Stand)" grade="V7" name="Chain Gang" new="false"
number="6."
stars="**">Start matched on incut diagonal hold a couple of metres left of Sledgehammer, up to top jugs.</problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V6" name="Block Buster" new="false"
number="7."
stars="*">Start left hand in crack. bad feet and bust up to big sledge hammer jug. </problem><problem
extra="(SDS)" grade="V5" name="Sledgehammer" new="false"
number="8."
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, and a tree at the right hand end.</text><image
new="false" noPrint="false" src="White noise.jpg"
width="500"/><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="300"/><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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