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Canberra Climbing Update 9-Feb-2004 At 10:03:55 PM Garrath

Message

Another email doing the rounds. THese guys are doing great work.

Dear Canberra Climber,

Following extensive consultation and engagement with ACT Parks, all climbing areas within the ACT (except for Gibraltar) are now open without restrictions. This is great news for all rockclimbers in the ACT. I would particularly like to thank the CCA Committee, Cliff Inspection team and of course your support and patience in dealing with this issue.

Gibraltar will remain closed until the end of March. ACT Parks need to clear deadfall and potentially dangerous trees lining the access routes to the tors. Some minor track hardening leading up to Wave Rock from the saddle will also be undertaken by ACT parks. Your cooperation in staying away from Gibraltar is requested until these works are completed. The access road from the Corin Rd side also needs some maintenance as it has been badly washed out by heavy rains.

All climbers need to need mindful that whilst much of the rock, particularly at Booroomba is relatively unscathed by the fires, there are significant and obvious changes. It is assessed that there is a slight increase in the risk of rocks being dislodged by climbers whilst on ledges or when exiting at the top of a climb. The loss of vegetation that bound much of the loose rock has disappeared so it is recommended that all climbers wear helmets at Booroomba whilst climbing and walking at the base of the cliff.

Many of the tree anchors have also been burnt and climbers should exercise caution when setting up belays, particularly where reliance was being placed on tree anchors in the past. Another impact with the loss of vegetation and ground cover is the potential for erosion to occur on some of the more popular access tracks. The lower section of c--ker’s Gully should be avoided as well as the descent (goat) track between the Northern end of the Northern Slabs and Darwin Buttress. In due course, it is intended to re-route the track to go BEHIND Darwin Buttress and then swing back to the bottom of the Northern Slabs. This should create a safer descent that minimises erosion. It also won’t add much time to the descent.

The stretcher located at the top of Booroomba Rocks has been fire damaged. David Cameron of the CCA has kindly volunteered to remove the stretcher to repair it. Thanks to Jeff Chittock, President of the ANU Mountaineering Club for giving permission to the CCA to temporarily remove the stretcher. Once repaired, it will be returned and located in the same area where the dead tree used to be (now just ash!). David will also place inside the stretcher a waterproof container with a small first aid kit.

Chris Warner of the CCA is working on a web-site which should be up and running within the next month or two. If you find any changes as a result of fire damage to any of the climbs it would be appreciated if you could send a quick email to Chris Warner

On the Club side, a newsletter will be distributed shortly and a Membership card will be given to all CCA members. An exciting social and activity program is also being put together for 2004.

Now that the ACT crags are open it is vitally important that we continue to grow as an organisation to effectively represent Canberra climbers’ interests. One of the reasons for our successful engagement with ACT Parks is the strength and enthusiasm of the current membership as well as our ability to represent all climbers views. There are now other issues we need to continue working for such as fighting the proposed ban on rock climbing at Blue Lake and contributing to the Draft Plan of Management for Namadgi National Park which is to be released shortly.

My aim is to double our membership to 120 by the end of this year and you are all encouraged to pester your friends and climbing partners to join (although we don’t want branch stacking to occur!)

Our next meeting will be on 17 March at a venue to be advised.

I will be in Norway skiing from 12 Feb-10 Mar (hopefully this has made you envious) and if you have any concerns or comments, please contact the Vice-President Rick Carey (rick.carey@cit.act.edu.au) or Justin Ryan, the Public Officer (justinryan@mail.com)

Safe climbing (and sign up another member now!)

Zac Zaharias
President
CCA