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Blind Mans Bluff

  • Grade context: AU
  • Ascents: 12

Climbing in this area is not permitted.

11

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Description

This entry covers all of the long broken cliff line ending about 400m before 'Barbican Wall'. There are some some good individual buttresses and routes but much broken rubbish in between. The most impressive section is at the RH end around 'The Prow' which is where the easiest approach lands you. An upper cliff above the LH end has some good quality steep rock but discontinuous lines.

© (willmonks)

Access issues

ACAV Note: Parks Victoria has advised that rock climbing restrictions may apply at this location. Formal advice has changed several times during 2019. Please refer to the following link for current and detailed advice: https://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/grampians-national-park/plans-and-projects/rock-climbing-faq

© (willmonks)

Approach

2.9km along the Redmans Road from the Halls Gap Dunkeld Rd. Park when directly beneath the most impressive section of cliff. Descent is best by abseil.

© (willmonks)

Ethic inherited from Grampians

Grampians / Gariwerd access issues have emerged (2019) due to potential risk to the environment and cultural sites. Climbers need to be aware that there are significant Aboriginal sites in the Grampians, especially in cave areas. Please take time to understand the access situation. Leave no trace and climb responsibly.

Please note that due to the fact that the Grampians is a National Park, dogs and other pets are not allowed in the park except in vehicles on sealed roads and in sealed car parks.

===Cliffcare Climber’s Code===

  • Find out about and observe access restrictions and agreements.

  • Use existing access tracks to minimise erosion - keep to hard ground & rock surfaces.

  • Do not disturb nesting birds or other wildlife.

  • Protect all native vegetation, especially at the base of cliffs. Wire brushing to remove mosses and 'gardening' in cracks and gullies is not permitted. Use slings to protect trees while belaying or abseiling if belay anchors are not provided.

  • Respect sites of geological, cultural, or other scientific interest. Do NOT develop new climbs in or near Cultural Heritage sites.

  • Chalk has high visual impact - minimise your use of it. Parks Victoria have requested the use of coloured chalk in Gariwerd.

  • Minimise the placement of fixed equipment, especially where Trad gear is available. Respect any "no bolting" areas.

  • Do not leave any rubbish - take it home with you.

  • Dispose of human waste in a sanitary manner (bury, or even better pack it out). Do not pollute water supplies.

  • Off-road driving is illegal in Gariwerd.

  • Keep campsites clean, and do not light campfires outside of official metal fire pits.

For more detailed information visit https://www.cliffcare.org.au/education

Tags

Some content has been provided under license from: © Australian Climbing Association Queensland (Creative Commons, Attribution, Share-Alike 2.5 AU)

Routes

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Grade Route

Crack taking care with rock in lower half. Abseil down gully to L

Start: An obvious crack up a face at the L end of the main buttress. It is possible to traverse in to the foot of it from below 'The Prow'. Otherwise a scramble up from the R lands you at the foot of the crack. You might want to rope up for this.

FA: Wayne Maher & Glen Donohue, 1992

Looks amazing but the bolts don't inspire confidence.

Start: Left arete of big buttress 10m R of ISTUP

FA: Mike Law & Chris Baxter, 1992

Lovely sustained corner. Originally done in 1 pitch but given the rooves it traverses around rope drag can be a problem. FH added later with FA approval.

Start: 10m R of 'The Prow'

  1. 20m (18) Thin moves up past FH into corner. Steeply up this to roof, L under roof then back R and up to large tree.

  2. 20m (18) Start up R line then up corner to overhang. Move L under this then up to final overhang. Step out L and up.

FA: Mike Law & Chris Baxter, 1992

The LH crack passing some alarming blocks at half height. Helmet essential.

Start: At the R hand end of the cliff is a steep orange wall with 3 R ward leaning diagonal cracks. Scramble in from the R to the ledge beneath the wall.

FA: Rob Burton & Philip Armstrong, 2007

The poor mans Man o' War.

Start: Just R of SD

FA: Philip Armstrong & Rob Burton, 2007

Immediately L of Im Sick of Thinking Up Names the cliff is very broken and vegetated. However, further along there are some more compact and cleaner buttresses. The cliff line ends about 250m L of ISTUN at a square cut buttress of pale rock. Probably best approached from the road directly below.

Good sustained climbing up the thin cracks and seams towards the LH edge of this buttress. 'Small' cams and wires. Cairned. Abseil down gully to L.

FA: Philip Armstrong, Peter Cody & Jerry Maddox, 2010

Up the L side of the LH side wall of the block 10m R of TBM

FA: Peter Cody, Jerry Maddox & Philip Armstrong, 2010

The front face of the StheS block has a central seam starting above a horizontal break at half height. Cairned.

Easily up onto the large boulder on the R then up the diagonal crack at the RH edge of the face to the horizontal break. Step out L to the seam and up with some steep and energetic moves. The seam could be approached more directly from the L but the rock is a bit suspect.

FA: Jerry Maddox, Peter Cody & Philip Armstrong, 2010

About 80m R of 'Spinach' is a black slab with an overlap. 5m R of this is a pillar. Cairned.

'Steep' start then shallow groove leading to steep headwall. Scramble back to trees to abseil. Will need 2 ropes.

FA: Jerry Maddox & Philip Armstrong, 2010

4m R of GBBGB. Cairned. 'Steep' start then up into steep crack on suspect rock. Move slightly R above this and up short shallow groove and wall to finish up classic jamming crack thru' capstone [crux].

FA: Philip Armstrong & Jerry Maddox, 2010

From behind 'Three Blind Mice' follow the upper tier to its LH end [about 100m]. Look for a buttress with a neat looking crack splitting its short clean summit block. Up groove down and R of this crack, stepping L to finish up crack.

Walk off to L.

FA: Peter Cody, Jerry Maddox & Philip Armstrong, 2010

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Selected Guidebooks more Hide

Author(s): Steve Toal

Date: 2019

The Central Grampians Comprehensive Guide books are the most extensive climbing guide to the Grampians. With two volumes they cover the popular areas but also many of which have never been in print before.

Volume 1 of the Central Grampians guide covers the North and East regions and features over 1400 routes spread over 124 crags. Painstakingly put together by Steve Toal, his guides have now become the go-to for climbers for the area.

Author(s): Steve Toal

Date: 2019

The Central Grampians Comprehensive Guide books are the most extensive climbing guide to the Grampians. With two volumes they cover the popular areas but also many of which have never been in print before.

Volume 2 of the Central Grampians guide covers the West and South regions and features over 970 routes spread over 55 crags. Painstakingly put together by Steve Toal, his guides have now become the go-to for climbers for the area.

Author(s): Simon Madden, Ross Taylor, David Peason and Taylor Parsons

Date: 2016

ISBN: 9780646955544

"Australia's premier bouldering destination! The new 2016 Edition Grampians Boulder guide authored by Simon Madden, Ross Taylor, David Peason and Taylor Parsons. It contains more than 1300 problems which is double the original guide. Heaps of new information on established areas as well as the inclusion of plenty of boulders and crags not published before. It also features update idiot proof layout and expanded history and culture notes. Get one and start cranking!"

Accommodations nearby more Hide

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Thu 27 Apr
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