Gerny Hill
1 minute for the closest boulders
Sunny
Conglomerate Boulders
Introduction
Gerny Hill is a hillside covered in free standing conglomerate boulders about 5km further up Clear Hill Rd than the Adamsfield climbing area.
It's similar to Mt Lyell in that it's a hillside covered in maybe a hundred conglomerate boulders and it has south-west rainy weather. But unlike Mt Lyell the boulders start right next to the road so the walk is easier, and it's a bit closer to Hobart, taking about 2 hours 20 minutes to get there.
The hillside burnt in the 2019 fire. The low level heath and button grass has come back, but its still mostly denuded of trees and scrub, but there are lots of dead trees and sticks. Long trousers or even gaiters might be a good idea for the low vegetation which is a bit of a pain to traverse.
The boulders are mostly clean, and just mostly just require the removal of some loose pebbles/cobbles.
It rains a lot in the south west. The nearest weather station is Strathgordon, where the mean annual rainfall is 2520mm, and it rains 204 days a year. The good news is that that leaves 161 days when its not raining! The hillside is pretty sunny and it can be a bit warm in the sun in summer. It's best in summer and autumn, and anytime there is easterly weather - it can be sunny when Hobart is socked in with mist from an east coast low.
At the moment this is probably the biggest undeveloped bouldering area near-ish to Hobart. If you are keen to do new problems it's a great area to explore.
Access
Start as for accessing Adamsfield - from Hobart drive to Maydena, then keep going taking Gordon Rd (B61) and then turn right onto Clear Hill Rd, 34.5km past Maydena, and 4.0km past the Scotts Peak Rd turnoff. There are marker signs on the side of Clear Hill Rd every km. After about 16km you pass the Adamsfield climbing area - keep going (although there is plenty more bouldering to be done there). At about 20km you start to see boulders by either side of the road. Keep going to 21.3km to where the vegetation thins out above the road and you can see a whole hillside of boulders. On the left you might see a roof right next to the road (unclimbed), with a big boulder opposite it just above the road (also presently unclimbed). Park at a number of pullouts on the left. It takes 2 to 2.5 hours from Hobart.
Sometimes Clear Hill Road has a locked gate if there are forestry operations. You can check if its open before you go by phoning the Mt Field PWS office.
Gerny Hill is in the Adamsfield Conservation Area, which is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and so the rules for that area apply. It's a fuel stove only area, and dogs are not permitted. Take all rubbish with you.
Camping
There are various places by the side of the road you could car camp, you need to bring water. Camp fires are not allowed in the TWWHA.
GPS
First Boulder
Where to start at a place like this? A minute up the hill to the first boulder in sight to do some warm ups.
Start under overhang
Left side of bottom face
Middle of bottom face
Right side of bottom face
Basement Boulder
Basement Boulder is the quite large boulder up and to the right of First Boulder. So named because it has a huge roof underneath it, which is accessible from 3 sides. This is unclimbed at the moment but could make some spectacular problems if it goes.
Basement Front
Start at pockets at the front left of the boulder, go up and left to nowhere in particular.
At the back/top of the boulder is a shady spot where the cave exits.
Basement Back Door
Sit start at some pockets, do a big huck up to more massive pockets and then up to a rail. This needs a topout which looks a bit scary, and could possibly have a lower start. Included even though it's not really finished because it's a cool bit of rock.
Opposite The Back Door is another steep boulder.
Opposite the Back Door
Sitstart just right of a groove feature
Up the middle of the boulder on cobbles. Needs the obvious sitstart done.