Ascents in Gardens of Stone National Park

This one is monster ! Such an adventure. Fought hard and had a few rests but great to get on it.

Could prob get 2nd clean but needed two hands to free several of the cams

Pretty sick. I'll be back for it. Trying it straight after the other two perhaps wasn't smart. Pump city, population me

Nice climbing despite some gluey holds

Very traddy

Just the 23 bit to the stance with one fall working it out. Outstanding line and climbing but the rock is a bit crunchy. Psyched to come back for the business at some point.

Wow, monstrously huge and steep! Bailed 2/3rds of the way up when we realised we were running out of daylight, and were approaching "rope shenanigans" due the route length. Despite it being quite a mission to ground-up (especially as its so runout -there are 4 bolts in the first 20m!- and very traverse-y), I had a lot of fun on this, and am intrigued to return. I suspect its actually gr27.

Tried to climb this as a 70m pitch from the ground. Despite hideous rope drag, I finally fell off on the last hard move of the route. A rather ambitious effort considering its "untrafficked" nature. Dragged Monty up to the belay, and we both sent the top pitch in a more rational style. Quite good rock and climbing (especially on the second pitch), and brilliant exposure at the grade. Take a 0.4 cam for the top!

Increases in difficulty, following some cool features until they run out, then gets very thin (and also runout). Rock is a mixed bag, but it climbs well.

Clean repeat. A great warmup, and a bloody great route. Never gets old

2 shots

2 shots. Harder moves than the 23...

2nd shot after being stumped at the crux first go. Awesome, unusual climbing!

6th day on. Started trying to pink point lower crux up to end of Spinning Blades. Sequence at lower crux is getting there, need to tape first knuckle of left index finger and both pinkies. Worked a bit on the climbs crux to gain Ironstone Traverse, it's real hard. I managed to stem from last good jam reaching just the bad part of Ironstone, seems like I'll need to reset in the two next bad jams to gain control on the transition. Explored the Ironstone Traverse to the alcove which is awesome fun climbing, felt totally unmotivated to go further after pulling on bad rock in the alcove and thought the climb should stop here.

Good progress today, found a new crimp towards the end of First Tier, linked from the last move of the lower crux to the middle of the Spinning Blades, did lots of subtle cleaning and blunting the blades to keep the rope reasonably safe. Checked out the transition move to the Iron Stone Traverse and found few spots where my fingers fit but this will be ridiculously hard, there's hope at least.

Fourth day on. Sorted out the last moves of the first tier just before the Spinning Blades Traverse, using a pocket jug on the right then easy move left on the first blade. Much easier than the Vidlers crimp fest. There's still a move in the first tier I cannot repeat Did most of the moves of the tier 2 which is chugging along the blades then go back to the ceiling crack in the coolest sequence of the climb so far. Now I stopped at the last blade available for footwork where I believe the crux of the climb is to turn around with last available bad finger jam in the crack and face the truth, I can't see any holds for about a body length before the Ironstone Traverse starts. To be continued...

Wow, great climb. Few delightful long moves on (what I perceived as) good hand jams on quite steep territory. It really doesn't look that steep from the ground. Rock is pretty clean and gear is solid as, not advisable for sensitive skin... but I think the prickles inside the crack will eventually clean up nicely with traffic. Ben thought the grade was stiff, I thought it was honest but mmm if I compare to The Kracken, ok it might be a bit harder.

First ascent ... An awesome line that seems to dare/demand that you to give it a try despite your 'better judgement' ....

Regardless of the chance of failure and obvious ensuing difficulties we gave it a shot, though the unknowns of getting a decent belay and getting through the roof held the keys to success... fortunately we were pleasantly surprised....

An awesome, engaging, full value climb ...

FFA. Exceptional climb, hard to put a grade on this but it really doesn't matter, def felt harder than 25. The FFA was pink point. Zac Vertees subsequently sent it placing gear

Was meant to be warm up for one of the other routes here ... but wasn't really warmed up for this anyway ... was more interested in time than the onsight so unfortunately no gold star ...oh welll maybe a silver next time ...

Seconding Zac on FA. 1 cleaning issue at crux and lovely wetness for the easy top out... great fun ...

Absolutely wild. Climbed about a third of it in an epic dog session and did most of those moves. From where we got to, the rest of the crack needs a pretty good clean to de-crozzle and remove a chunk of choss but after that it will be good to go. Possibly the hardest route I've ever tried. Go get on it people!!

Onsight First ascent(?) by Zac and cleanly seconded by Jamie and myself. Almost came off in offwidthy thrutch section just before cave but kept it together. Strange how sometimes one can seemingly completely forget , or at least not remember, or perhaps ignore, sequences you've just watched others do...

Good fun old fashioned climbing, done in fine style by all...

Just the short version today... cleaning after Zac's onsight ... enjoyable climbing up to where it steps up a little ... pealed out off an off-hands section trying to milk a poor jam to get my other failing jam a bit better ... then continued ... will be back for further attempts and beyond ... Great climbing and quite novel looking route ...

Soooo spoogy and humid. I had no chance

I really enjoyed this route however I did not enjoy slipping out of the underclings

Getting the draws on and working out the moves.

Rapped down line from tree at top on a 60m lead line. Rope-soloed out in dodgy approach shoes with a rest (to dry retch, due to heat and cordial), didn't seem to bad, just a bit physical but you get that on chimneys...

Single rack to #2 at most prob, plus wires should be fine, maybe double small cams if worried ... probably best as single pitch, with some long runners... 'Cleaned' a few loose bits accidentally, will be back for the tick... and a few others that I bouldered the starts of ....

a difficult sequence to gain the top half of the route with birdshit covering a few of the final jugs

punchy with a pump refreshing no hands knee bar just before the anchor