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Adventure climbing - the completion of Scythe Slab

IdratherbeclimbingM9
12-Nov-2004
11:31:54 AM
On 11/11/2004 A5iswhereitsat wrote: in Response to a PM received from climbau with his 'Scythe' Trip Report in it.
>Sent your normal email a word.doc with some minor suggestions included
>in it.

Climbau
>Yeah the suggestions are great. Could you post it on the forum from your end? I still >haven't sorted my technology.

Done.
~> See Thread; Adventure Climbing - the completion of Scythe Slab.

X-link to original thread; the guts of which is copied below with updated pitch length & grades.

SCYTHE SLAB PART 1:
JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN

A plan had been hatched to go and climb a new line in Victoria’s Far North-East.
Several weeks later, the first attempt was made.
The members of this marauding unit were Rod (the mighty Addax) and Andrew (the manic Count); together they schemed to create an adventure of epic proportions.
Rod had been scoping the line from afar for near on 6 years, Andrew for the last 12 months caught glimpses as he drove past and oft wondered if it would “go” and “was it worth the drive”. At some stage in a conversation between the two, the seed was planted. On the 29th August 2004, the seed was to germinate.

The length of the line had not been discussed, only the feature, the gear, and possible difficulty. Rod had conversed with a local climber in the early days, trying to work out if the climb had been done before, he was met with the flippant response, “Bah, it’s a walk up mate”. Perhaps this climber was confused as to the specific line and location, as no sign of passage has been found by either Rod or Andrew so far.
It was decided to take some pitons just in case there were no other belay options or for emergency retreat, other than that, it was one and a half racks of cams, 3 sets of wires, a selection of hexes, quickdraws and slings, plus other paraphernalia.
This was to prove way too excessive as so far 120m has been climbed in three pitches involving 7 pieces of pro plus belays, with nothing bigger than a number 2 HB Quadcam used. This has been dubbed the “approach slab”.

The walk-in took much longer than anticipated but was less difficult than expected. It is still worthy of a warning though, as it probably warrants a ‘sport grade’ of heinous!
The thick scrub of Melaleuca was a wholesome challenge, which led to many a prickly situation. The Lyrebirds sang and the Addax grunted, music to the young Counts ears, “one bush slap in the face, two bush slaps in the face, three…..Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, har”.

(Pitch 1, 45m Gg 12) At the logical base of the slab it was negotiated that Rod would lead off. The first protection point was reached at about 25m, two equalised pieces with a third to act as a directional to counter rope-drag dislodgement, formed this reasonable point of safety. Heading up and left a further 12m found the next piece (again backed-up), before heading up the final 8m to a good belay.

(Pitch 2, 35m Gd 11) Andrew was then to lead off on the second pitch. At about 20m a marginal #1RP placement was found. Later while cleaning it with a slight flick of it’s runner Rod said; ”I don’t know why you bothered!”, when looking at the runout above it, consisting of 15m to Andrew at the belay that was three marginal equalised pieces in a biscuit of granite that is yet to leave the mother rock.

(Pitch 3, 45m Gd 10) Rod did not hang around long and set off up the third pitch. At 30m, a marginal #1 friend was backed-up with a skyhook in a nearby solution hole and this was weighted with large cams to, again minimise rope-drag dislodgement. The climbing above was treacherous due to water seepage but not technically difficult, and surely Rod was wishing for a more solid piece 8m below his heels, as well as a more substantial belay. To his credit however, Rod danced his way through to the top to belay amongst the haggard Ti-tree shrubs.

A further 80m of bush bashing brought us to the base of the major slab, mighty and impressive was the line of the “Scythe” that soared above us.

(Pitch 4, 50m) Fearing time and weather (now closing in fast), we soloed two separate lines from the logical start, in order to find a suitable belay point above. 50m later, we arrived at a suitable stance that led to an island of shrubs off to the left. It was decided that this would be belay one of the scythe climb, as a few small bushes were better than nothing at all.

It seemed a long way above to reach the bottom of the feature that curved its’ way up the slab; at least another rope length…..most likely more. Where would we belay next? Would simul-climbing a protectionless slab a hundred metres above the deck be the price of our adopted ethical stance (“to make a ground-up onsight ascent”)?
It was decided to back off and return again another day as the weather was turning on a slow drizzle and it was 2 p.m with at least five, if not six rope lengths of runout and unknown slab climbing yet to be done.
Yes, we should back off, but downclimbing did not seem a good option!
We traversed off left to the edge of the slab, and set about navigating our way back down.
We descended via a different bushbash route, which took a little longer than the walk up, but was through lush wet sclerophyll forest for the most part. A Lyrebird incubation mound was stumbled upon, with its’ guardian nearby sending out the alarm, so we respectfully skirted around and continued through the bracken filled glade. A forest of moss covered boulders and short grasses were the scene of the lower half of the descent. Eventually the open rural paddocks were reached, with a light drizzling rain wetting our shoulders. Looking back, the slabs glistened all over with moisture in the evening light.

The fearless adventurers made their way back to the trusty white stallion that would carry them home to report their glorious adventure to date, and to work on getting back to finish what they had started.

Will our adventurers triumph? Stay tuned for part 2 of the action packed adventures of Rod Addax and Andrew Count.

SCYTHE SLAB PART 2:
THE ONGOING EPISODE; A JOURNEY INTO THE MIND AND WILDS OF ADVENTURE CLIMBING RETRO-STYLE.


31st October 2004 saw a return to Scythe Slab to finish that which we had begun. Our dreams and lives had been plagued by this route since our last visit on the 29th August 2004 and we knew that there had to be closure.

Saturday 30th dawned bright and sunny and promised to be a warm day and a harsh reminder of the fast approaching summer. Rod arrived at my financial source ready for the adventure. As 3p.m arrived, we were off to my residence for a final pack and for me to shed my costume of reality. 4p.m saw our departure, and with a quick stop for fuel and ginger beer! we were on our way to freedom.

It was decided to donate a six-pack of the finest brew in an effort to placate the farmer whose property we would camp on and through which we would gain access to our holy grail. I thought it would also be a good time to “clear the pipes” so to speak, and after I ravaged the local facilities we set off for our campsite.

At the final turn-off another quick look at our prize through the binoculars confirmed what we already knew. The following day was to be long, hot, and run-out to buggery.

Upon arriving at the paddock that we used as a campsite, the sleeping quarters were arranged and a final gear sort and cull was undertaken. We shed nearly 2kg of superfluous weight and were happy with the final choice of rack.

As darkness enveloped us the bush television was ignited and dinner was prepared. For Rod, a hearty feast of cold tinned ravioli in tomato sauce; Myself, I went another dehydrated meal, this time within the use-by date (barely). Rod though happy, was less impressed with his fare (“doesn’t taste as good as it did on my solo attempt of Lord Gumtree”), and was most disappointed that I could actually
gfdonc
12-Nov-2004
2:24:45 PM
A good read, thanks. Where is this wonder?

My main concern is that the last time I heard the expression "clear the pipes" was in the film Something About Mary, which makes me wonder about exactly how you went and 'ravaged the local facilities' .. but I really don't want to know ...

mousey
12-Nov-2004
2:42:29 PM
> in Victoria’s North East.

Robb
12-Nov-2004
2:52:37 PM
yeah - how did you manage to get your helmet to fit correctly with your hair all gelled up.

HM33
12-Nov-2004
2:55:54 PM
On 12/11/2004 Mighty Mouse wrote:
>> in Victoria’s North East.

how helpful of you. i think he may have been wanting something a little more specific.

nice report by the way. good to see you dragging andrew out and getting him climbing.

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