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The Hill was Alive with the Sounds of Bees! 22-Sep-2006 At 12:25:32 PM The Keeper

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Sept. 24th - over at Tip Toe ridge I hear a big buzz - didn't sound like flies albeit it was a good winter day at Araps - low 20s. Looked around but couldn't pinpoint the source of the commotion. A mob of narly Amazonian matildas near Frog Buttress usually are more raucous and carnivorous whence homing in on some good Canadian innocent meat so that didn't account for it. Later on - up the route - we confirmed a mob of the critters going a little rangy - a bit of a swarm but fortunately and unlike those climbing vixens in Amazonia (Queen'sland) they were not aggro. I did wonder though about my chances should they decide to have their way with me poor old carcass somewhere along the route. Don't anyone get any bright ideas of doing a repeat of the Cane Toad fiasco and import a few African Killer Bees from Arizona or New Mexico to solve some Aussie bio problem. Insurgent Canucks can be managed by infusion of goodly amounts of VB, good climbing beta and group chorus of "the Maple Leaf Forever". Still some work to do on the latter - visited the touri info place in Glenelg and a staffer did me up a rendition of " O Canada" - that was a in the right spirit - will have to get her the sheet music for some other good Canadian pieces - to advance her blossuming career.

Weather was bomber at Araps - and just confirms in my mind that winter climbing at Araps is top of the list down under, albeit Tibro and Tinbeerwah are pretty deluxe at this time also. Who needs to become a sausage on the griddle in November or December?!!!!

When I was in Melb - I noted the intrusion of Al Gore into Aussie with his multi-media safari on climate change. Yes, Aussie might loose a few beachside properties but think of the value added possibilities at Araps - some good water ice at the Organ Pipes and it could become the centre of Antipodean ice climbing world - it would keep all the embedded Kiwis out of the pubs and at the crags!!!

Back in a couple of years time to tick a few more delights - maybe time to sortie out to the Grampians as well.