I am posting this from a little restaurant in the heart of the Grampians. We are on our way out after two days of tramping and climbing. Filthy, sunkissed and happy.
And working fast because I am almost out of battery and forgot my charger bag. Though in my defense I was not thinking of electronic gear when I was packing for a camping trip.
Miss C climbed the mountains. Straight up!
Summerday Valley.
Jack chose the appropriate hardwear and taking his life into his own hands (which we do every day anyway – I have never understood that expression) free climbed the rock face –
putting in nuts and cams which are little metal wedges…
that slot into a crack or feature in the wall that you then you clip your rope onto ..
Until the first nut is inserted my daughter the belayer, holds her hands up so if he falls before he is roped to the wall she will guide his falling head to safety ( that is the theory anyway). Safety first.
Once he has got the first bit of gear in the wall she will tighten the rope so if he does fall he will not hit the ground, in theory he is caught by the wedge shaped bit of gear he has inserted into the wall. And so he continues up to the top placing more gear at intervals. Then he repels down, and then my daughter climbs, and then I climbed straight up the rock face, with her as my belayer to keep me safe and direct me.
Running out of battery! My daughter helped me put all the gear on, double checking all the knots. 
Then up I went. And it was wonderful. Pictures now. 
More words when I am at the airport tomorrow with time to talk!
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
51 responses to “Australia: The Grampians”
What an adventure – gorgeous photographs. And what a beautiful holiday you have had!!!
Nope! But glad you enjoyed it!
I am in awe of you young Celi. Once upon a time long long ago… There was a time I loved to climb rocks, but nowadays I am supposed to keep two feet on the ground, I only climb a ladder when I have a wall to hang onto, but we will not tell anyone. 😉 Thank you for allowing me to tag along on your journey, Safe & smooth travel home to the farmy and all the residents.
Once again you bring to mind a poem–this one about metaphorical mountains, as mentioned by “The Daily Cure” above. (Note about the poetry connection: from the phtographs, i don’t think you held your mountains cheap.)
“O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall
Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. Hold them cheap
May who ne’er hung there. ”
(G.M. Hopkins)
I have t been there in years! You are amazing. No way you would catch me up that .. Well done Celi 😃
Looks amazing! What a great memory for mother and daughter.
Breathtaking, but not for me! I am impressed Celi! 🙂
That is so impressive and inspiring, especially considering how much of your movement has been horizontal for so long! And now you show that you can do vertical as well. Wow!
You’re even more brave that I thought. Beautiful place and I love the outdoors, but climbing is not my thing. The reward is spectacular, though.
A successful holiday is one that offers a complete change of pace. You certainly succeeded — unless there’s a mountain range near the farmy that no one knows about. Safe travels on the way, Celi.
MInd boggling. No challenge too great for you!
What wonderful fun! Hauling buckets of water pays off in the end.
Yes, being my first time at real rock climbing i thought it would be much harder though they put me up a nice easy climb to begin. c
Nope, I wouldn’t do this.
It seems a bit scary to me to place the anchors that will keep me from killing myself in a fall! I guess that’s why people train to do this. You are so brave – and strong.
Luckily the fellow placing all the anchors is well trained and has been climbing with his Dad since he was 6. I trust him.