Blue Mountains - Diamond Falls

Australia>New South Wales>New South Wales>Katoomba
Simon Carter
Beauty
Sectors
Difficulty
24 - 33
Height
40m
Routes number
57
Rock type
Sandstone
Orientation
West
Rope
60m


Australia may not have high mountains by world standards but you’d never know this in the undeniable ruggedness of the Blue Mountains. They are not a range of jagged peaks but an elevated plateau cut by deep valleys, canyons and gullies ringed by sandstone escarpments. They begin barely eighty kilometres from Sydney where Australia was first settled by Europeans in 1788, yet it took many serious attempts spanning decades before the first white explorers could find a way through to the country out west. Climbers are lucky. Today a highway and railway cross the mountains making them an easy two hours from the city. For many there’s no need to commute as they live here instead. The tourist towns provide climbers’ essentials — such as bakeries, cafes, and good restaurants. The Blueys are immense. You can climb virtually in suburban backyards — or begin a day of serious adventure in World Heritage wilderness just minutes after downing the morning’s latte. Some of the 2500+ routes are over three hundred metres but most are single-pitch. There are plenty of naturally protected routes but the Blue Mountains hosts a wide range of climbing styles and there are plentiful prime sport climbing crags here, some among the best in the land. Diamond Falls Out of the two dozen or so Sport Climbing crags in the Blue Mountains, Diamond Falls is one of the most famous — not only because it is home to some of the best routes, but also because it’s here you’ll find some of the country’s hardest routes. There are two main areas: Access Ledge and Mr Wall. The routes at the Access Ledge have a number of multi-pitch climbs requiring mixed gear, as well as a fine selection of sport routes. This area is a worthwhile destination in its own right. The immaculate Mr Wall is one of the jewels in the crown of Blue Mountains sports climbing. It is home to a high concentration of some of the hardest sports routes in the country. There is a fantastic selection of steep climbs "starting" from grade 26!
Access
From Sydney drive to Katoomba via the Great Western Highway. Head down Katoomba Street towards Echo Point and turn right into Cliff Drive and follow the ‘Scenic Drive 5’ signs. Just past the Landslide Lookout, turn left onto the dirt road Glenraphael Drive which heads out along the Narrow Neck Plateau. Follow this for a couple of kilometers, up a steep concreted hill, then park when you reach the locked gate. Logistics
Nearby Katoomba and Blackheath offer all you need. Period
Climbing is possible year round except in the middle of winter - June, July and August - when it is normally too chilly except on the most unusually warm of days. In summer the sun hits the crag around 2pm. The crag also catches the wind and can get very cold so take some warm clothes even in summer. Climb
Climbing on the circa 2500 routes can be extremely varied, from single pitch and multi- pitch sports climbs to trad routes. Notes
Rock climbing Blue Mountains, Australia, with Vince Day and Monique Forestier


For further information check out www.onsight.com.au

News archive Blue Mountains

Bibliography
"Blue Mountains Climbing" by Simon Carter 2010



Sectors

Access Ledge
From the gate near where you parked, walk back along the road for 50m to a sandy track on the western (left) side. Initially there are a few tracks that crisscross one another but after about a minute you should be on an obvious track heading out and down
Routes
Name Height Beauty Difficulty
1 Sweet And Sour 20m 13
2 Vision W 15m 14
3 Worlds In Collision 30m 20
4 Zones of Love 33m 24
5 Unity 33m 23
6 The Bolt Bloke 35m 23
7 Roaring Fifties 30m 13
8 Southerly Buster 30m 13
9 Christmas Route 60m 17
10 Fountain of Youth 45m, 15m 17
11 Uncooth Youth 15m 23
12 Compressed Carbon 20m 25
13 You Crazy Diamond 26m 23
14 Crystalis 20m 24
15 8 Carat 26m 25
16 Easy Grounds A Comin' 58m 24,18
17 Hanging Offence 18m, 20m, 25m 22
18 In Harm's Way 18m, 30m, 18m 20
19 Homo Ignoramus 18m, 18m, 10m 19
20 New Year's Route 18m, 40m 18
21 Diamond Jack 30m, 30m 25,19
22 A Girls Best Friend 35m 26
23 The Jewel Thief 28m 21
24 Warlock 55m 14
25 Fool's Paradise 50m 12
26 Black Diamond 50m 16
27 Diamonds Are Forever 50m 14
Mr Wall
Approach is the same as for the Access Ledge routes; then continue walking along the ledge for a further five minutes. All routes are fully equipped sport routes. Here you’ll find some of Australia’s hardest routes.
Routes
Name Height Beauty Difficulty
1 Mr Wendle 7m 26
2 Porridge And Soot 10m 27
3 Impossible Princess 10m 27
4 Over Monkey 18m 32
5 Rhythm Method 12m 26
6 Rhythm And Stealth 15m 32
7 Open Project - Mr Pink
8 Tucker Time 23m 33
9 Mr Magoo 16m 27
10 Super Goo 20m 28
11 Super Duper Goo 20m 29
12 Tuckered Out 23m 30
13 Mr Meaner 20m 30
14 Super Weak 15m 26
15 Open Project
16 Open Project
17 Theda Bara 20m 32
18 Grey Area 18m 33
19 Sneaky Old Fox 20m 34
20 Fantastic Mr Fox 18m 33
21 Mr Carpet Burn 18m 31
22 Mr Universe 18m 30
23 The Red Project 18m ?
24 Hairline2000 18m 28
25 Mr Tickle 14m 32
26 Runt 11m 26
27 Dogbite 12m 31
28 Der Keitzlig Hund 12m 33
29 You Did It Again 20m 26
30 Some Kind of Bliss 25m 31
31 Lightyears 35m 31
32 Project





Comments

Info

You must fill all fields

Thanks for sending us your comment!
It will be visible as soon as it has been approved.

Wrong verification code


No comments yet...
Beauty
Sectors
Difficulty
24 - 33
Height
40m
Routes number
57
Rock type
Sandstone
Orientation
West
Rope
60m