Ascents in Lowdina by Chris Speer having trad-cpr or ascent-date

My first hard trad red-point. This seemed impossible when I first tried it long ago, and it was still hard today. So awesome to finally lead it and get the tick. Martin and I both lead it back to back and both agreed it's harder than 23. So this may in fact be Australia's first grade 24 (controversial!). We did pre-place a single sling around the spike/block, as we both agreed that the wire you put in to protect a ground-fall here from 8m is likely to pull. Everything else (including the sling) was clipped/placed on lead though. This a true crack test-piece and a marvellous route worthy of anyone's time.

Incredible climbing. Gear is good but tiny. Placed an RP#1. Pooped a little.

Great route.

Great route. Nice to get the tick.

Two laps

Hard and bold.

Still hard. Had to remember my beta.

Didn't have the skin to keep trying.

Finally figured out the crux. Did a couple laps. Next shot is the lead.

Great climbing the whole way.

What a sandbag! Perplexing moves past the bolt. Figured them out after many attempts then got it all in one go.

Tough. A bit of a one move wonder and not really worth the time.

Quite like this climb. Interesting moves.

Figuring out stances for re-bolting. Tricky moves.

Fell off the crux once, then figured out the holds and did it to the top.

Quality! Excellent and exciting (but well protected) slabbing. So close to falling at the RP/micro cluster (bomber though).

Very tricky. Good gear. Harder than 20 (21/22).

Kind-of contrived but still good.

Great climbing that keeps giving the whole way, and rather unlikely at the grade. Flash as I cleaned it and re-bolted it.

Best route at the crag yet.

Nice to repeat such a fine route. Great gear if you look for it.

Fun as usual.

Pretty excellent climbing. Ripped a hold off at the start and created a new foothold! Some very exciting moves around the roof and enjoyable, thoughtful climbing the whole way to the top. Good gear the whole way. We cleaned a few of the looser flakes off on the way down so it’s ready for the next party minus lobotomy factor. One of lowdina’s standout climbs for sure.

Totally awesome route up the arete but also totally dangerous if you were leading. Basically a solo. So we top roped it off the ferio anchors. Friction makes all the improbable moves possible!

Cleaned-it (mostly Jai!), anchored it, top-roped it, then led it. Superb face-climbing. Quite sustained with a bold start and some excellent gear from then on.

Getting closer..

Had me sweating. Enough small gear between the good gear to keep things sane. A very absorbing lead.

Opted to have the carrot bolt pre-clipped to avoid a nasty fall if things went pear-shaped. Great route with a fairly interesting crux. Still not sure what I was standing on most of the time.

Very nice climbing.

So. Damn. Hard. Forget savage journey at lost world, this is the real crack masters test piece. Bold down low, technical crux requiring strength and technique, then endurance to keep going up top. Amazing considering it was done in the 70s.

Nice climbing. Should lead it soon.

Great climbing.

Exciting run-out.

Could be the best climb i've done at the crag. Amazing quality rock and climbing. Very hard at the grade in the guidebook (17!)

Great climbing.

Total classic. Loved the crux moves through the thin layback.

Backlog: Great climb, carrots are ok but will be replaced soonish.

Classy climbing.

Good climbing. Better to do the direct start though.

Old school.

Super good.

Cleaned all the moss off it and inspected the carrot. Nice and clean now and the carrot is in very good condition so doesn't warrant replacement. Safe but bold start if you don't pre-clip the carrot by climbing up the side first (which is very easy). Fingery boulder problem to the ledge, to an interesting and hard compression-move style crux. Delicate above until you reach the finger crack where it starts to ease-off. Not a bad route.