February 1983 and Chris Baxter, Miles Martin (UK), Dave Moss, Russ Clune (USA) and I spent a couple of weeks climbing at Mt Geryon and the Acropolis in Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. It was one of those rare trips where everything came together like clockwork. Even the weather – notoriously… Continue reading Southern Gothic Vol2: Acropolis & Geryon
Tag: rockclimbing
Southern Gothic Vol1: Acropolis & Geryon
In February 1983, Chris Baxter, Miles Martin, Dave Moss, Russ Clune and I spent a couple of weeks climbing at Mt Geryon and the Acropolis in Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. I was 24 years-old at the time and the campaign to save the Franklin blockade was at its height. Upon… Continue reading Southern Gothic Vol1: Acropolis & Geryon
Falcons Lookout Trail Improvements
Last December Glenn Tempest wrote a blog (Problems with Falcons Lookout and Ironbark Gorge Carpark) commenting on the awful state of the walkers/climbers trail into Falcons Lookout at Werribee Gorge State Park. This trail is one of the most heavily used in Victoria and can see anything up to 60 people use it a day.… Continue reading Falcons Lookout Trail Improvements
Pincushion, Tremadog 1982
In 1982 Chris Baxter and I had been guests of the BMC (British Mountaineering Council) at the Buxton Conference. After all the excitement of the conference and long hours (spent mainly in the pub) it was something of a relief to load up our hire car and head off for a couple of weeks climbing… Continue reading Pincushion, Tremadog 1982
Yesterday Gully and Memories Lost
Arapiles, 1980. It was early summer and the days were growing hotter. A group of us headed into Yesterday Gully to search out some fingers of shade. We climbed Snow Blind (23, 5.11b), In Lemon Butter (22, 5.11a) and No Quarter (23, 5.11b). I still have a few blurry pics, but these are best left… Continue reading Yesterday Gully and Memories Lost
Rockclimbs Around Melbourne iPhone App
Open Spaces and iCrag are excited to announce that the popular climbing guidebook, Rockclimbs Around Melbourne by Glenn Tempest, is now available as the iCrag – Melbourne app through the Apple App Store here. This app covers a selection of the best climbs on eight of the most popular crags within one and a half… Continue reading Rockclimbs Around Melbourne iPhone App
To Clip or Not to Clip. That is the Question.
Over the weekend I was out climbing with a bunch of friends. It was one of those half social, half serious climbing trips where sitting around the campfire was as enjoyable as crimping edges on perfect Grampians orange stone. But one particular incident got me to thinking. I’d led a bunch of stuff on the… Continue reading To Clip or Not to Clip. That is the Question.
Vertical Life (#1 Autumn 2012). The Review.
Every now and then something happens and the world slightly shifts. Afterwards, nothing is ever quite the same. Over the last few years the publishing industry has been going through a monumental upheaval, one not seen since 1440 when Johannes Gutenberg perfected the printing press. The internet has taken us to places most of us… Continue reading Vertical Life (#1 Autumn 2012). The Review.
Camels Hump: Digging in the Dirt
Each of the three routes described below have been worked on in consultation with other local climbers and with the first ascentionists. These three climbs were all suffering from major issues and were either unclimbable, badly bolted and/or dangerous. Sluts Honour has had a slightly different start added (one bolt) by coming in from the… Continue reading Camels Hump: Digging in the Dirt
Mt Arapiles – Taking care of the magic
As many of our readers will have noted, the staff at Open Spaces are involved in various aspects of the outdoor industry. Whilst OSP is a big part of our lives, the reason why we are here in the first place is because of our interest and experiences in that area. Besides climbing, one of… Continue reading Mt Arapiles – Taking care of the magic