The Grove

For the past year I have been developing an area with my friends Miles Smythe and Andrew Secomb in Annangrove ( hence the badass abbreviation ). Its awesome, the bouldering there is really diverse. Sandstone boulders, clifflines and caves litter a valley of creek junctions, Although my eyes may be a little biased considering its ten minutes from my house, I really think this place has some amazing potential. So over the weekend on seperate occasions I made the trudge in with Miles and another mate of ours Pete, then again with Andy. On the first day with Miles and Pete we decided to explore an area we hadnt been to before, walking through the thick scrub isnt a whole lot of fun copping sticks in the nether regions and eating yards of spiderweb, but the possibility of new rock sets delirium upon me and so on we walk. We found a great set of blocs and cliffs with great rock, well textured and gnarly slopey features, of the best I found an overhanging arete covered in slopey dimples and pinches. So after a quick brush and fondle we started throwing ourselves at it. At first I thought it was super hard, the footholds at the bottom are weak and sandy but very very good, and the holds up top were great and didnt require much brushing after a sequence re-vamp and body re-postiton it went first go, very subtle great fun and the top out was wicked too, So I named it We Are All Gods Trophys Of Grace and stamped it at V8, sneaky little thing. The next day I headed out with Andy Sea-combit and made the longer walk to the Gecko Cave, this cave is by far the best part of the entire area the holds require almost no brushing ( on the inside of the cave :) ) and is well featured with funky holds spraying the roof. The plan was to link towo existing problems reversing Take The Long Road And Walk It V9 and straight into Beat Me, Whip Me And Make Me Write Bad Cheques V10 ( its customary to name problems as long as possible at this area ). At first I though the line would bypass the punchy start of Beat Me but as I figured out the moves into it the easiest way was to go through the entirety of both lines making for one steely line. By the end of the session my skin was trashed, but I had managed to make great progress and with a little more power-endurance training that sucker will go down! Not sure how hard but will be the hardest thing I have ever climbed for sure, will get some photos up soon. Lots to do training climbing, planning for an overseas trip!!! Before that though Ill need to grow some skin. Pat