Rock Climbing at the Pull Out, Mt Alexander, Australia

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The Pull Out, Mt Alexander
[ Climbs | Images | Map ]

						Quick Stats
Climbs	*******	**	*	Hardest	Longest	Rock	Access
3	0	0	0	28	12m	Granite	1 Min

This tiny area exists just off the sealed road down from the summit of Mt Alexander, about one or two kms before you hit Dog Rocks. It's on your right as you drive down. You'll notice a small spot suitable to park a car or two, with an old 4-wheel drive track leading off up hill on the opposite side of the road. Follow this track for about 100 metres or until you come across an old quarry. The routes in question lie left of the main quarry faces, starting in a small hole strewn with loose blocks of granite that have been machined out of the countryside.

Right: The Pull Out's only lines exist, artificially carved out of this block. Left: Same block, showing the 8m grade 21 on the arête.

All three routes run up the 12 metre block at the far end of this ditch, and all three have been carved out of the granite by virtue of a power drill and chisel. I don't think there is a single natural hold on any of the lines. Edges have been chipped, and two finger pockets, drilled into the rock and neatly filed off for comfort. Whether this is a work of art or a travesty of modern climbing, is perhaps meaningless, since all the rock there about has been dug out of the ground by one machine or another.

Bolts, and chains exist all over the block making leads possible. The arête "Cheese Cake on Surf Safari" (pictured above left), goes at grade 21, and looks like about 4 moves. The centre of the block, (pictured above right) heading off left to the arête, is the 12m grade 28 called "Dynamite", while the right side line "The Quarryman" goes at grade 26.

Below: A two finger pocket drilled out of the rock.

Climbs At The Pull Out

Name	Height	Grade	Stars
Cheese Cake on Surf Safari	8	21
Dynamite	12	28
The Quarryman	12	26

Further Reading:
Northwest Victoria, A Rockclimbers Guide - A climbing guide book, edited by Chris Watson, Bill Andrews and Michael Hampton and available from local climbing shops, or the VCC.