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Australian Climbs with great Mythology 2-Dec-2011 At 4:55:15 PM Doug

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On 2/12/2011 IdratherbeclimbingM9 wrote:
>~> Just bumping a good thread, even if it is a blast from the past...
>
Okay, I'll bite and here's another one from Tassie. Incipience (22) at Freycinet. First ascent by Peter Jackson and Michael McHugh in 1970. Despite being clearly visible from the (now burnt-down) shop and Post Office in downtown Coles Bay to climbers enjoying an ice cream whilst gazing across at the Hazards, virtually saying, "Here I am, come climb me", it took another five years and no less a climber than Hot Henry Barber to nab the FFA.
If I'm not getting my mythologies mixed up, I believe that Jackson wore full motorcycling leathers on the first ascent in a nod to the flesh-shredding nature of the rock on that side of the Hazards (I think I read that in an article by Bobbo, so there may be a bit of amplification of the truth there).
Doug Fife took a massive (flesh-shredding) plummet from near the top in the early '80s, only adding to the mystique - especially amongst local climbers. Gerry Narkowicz wrote a terrific article in Rock a few years ago that further highlighted the impressive reputation of the route. I don't think it gets many ascents, and those who do have a go are pretty comfortable at the grade.