Ayuda

Epsilon Wall Guide

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Contributors

Thanks to the following people who have contributed to this crag guide:

Campbell Gome Phil Neville Andreas Aachen Almar Postma Tim Hamish Donohoe Tim Haasnoot Philip Armstrong Antonio De Grazia

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Table of contents

1. Epsilon Wall 23 routes in Cliff

Summary:
E
F
M
A
M
J
J
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S
O
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Estacionalidad

Mayormente Escalada clásica

Lat / Long: -36.893857, 142.380783

descripción

This shady wall is on the left as you reach the top of Flat Rock. It has a few good examples of both trad, sport and mixed climbing as well as some very serious climbs at a spread of grades. The shockingly wide corner crack is 'Epsilon Plus'. The wall left of 'Epsilon Plus' offers good thin face climbs and some cracks of less distinction. Right of 'Epsilon Plus' is the frightening arete of 'New Imperative' and several attractive corners.

Up right from these climbs is the 'Skippy' Terrace, which has a few more good routes and is a good place on a warm day.

© (nmonteith)

restricciones

Climbing restrictions apply to many crags in Gariwerd/Grampians. Some of these restrictions are likely to change over time as assessments are completed. Tags are being applied to most crags to reflect their current status. Additional access-notes are provided to clarify restrictions where required (and will over-ride this notice). Current and further Parks Victoria advice can be found at https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/grampians-national-park/rock-climbing-in-gariwerd

heredado de Grampians

Acceso

The cliff faces SSE and is in complete shade for much of the year. It gets early morning sun in summer and often catches breezes from the top of Flat Rock. This can be a pleasant spot on a warm day but it is a miserable place in winter.

For the first 9 routes, please do NOT walk directly up from the walking track to the base of 'Epsilon Plus'. The hillside here is steep and sandy and erodes easily. Instead please approach these climbs from well to the left, traversing in across slabby ledges from Flat Rock, as shown by the red lines in some of the topos below.

For the first 7 routes, descend via rap chain (18m) directly above Iron In The Soul. The 'Benn Gunn' area is served by a double ring bolt rap anchor above 'Crossfire' (22m). There's also a shitty descent down an awkward scramble past old graffiti at the left end (50m left of Mistaken Identity).

© (nmonteith)

Ética

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

heredado de Grampians
RouteGradeStyleSelected ascents
1 Buried Standing Up

Obvious line but doesn't appeal. Pro is a bit awkward to place but good. Start 5m L of 'Mistaken Identity'. Up to and through the break in the overhang and continue.

PA: Brendan Abernathy & Andy Reynolds, 1998

21 Clásica 12m
2 Mistaken Identity

A good wall leads to a corner with a rounded finish and fiddly pro. The second hanging corner left of 'Epsilon Plus'. Wall into corner. Corner with dodgy protection (2 each of #3 & #4 RPs for final moves, twist the RPs if you can).

PA: Kieran Loughran & Bill Andrews, 1985

20 R Clásica 15m
3 The Visiting Bloke

Dirty, with soft rock and sparse protection. The first hanging corner left of 'Epsilon Plus', 10m right of 'Mistaken Identity'. Easily up to corner then carefully up this to finish.

PA: Peter Martin, Simon Priest & Andrew Brookes, 1989

20 R Clásica 20m
4 Iron In the Soul

Beautiful thin face two metres right of 'The Visiting Bloke'. 4 FHs - the addition of a recent retrobolt has tamed the once dubiously protected start. Rap chain for descent.

PA: Kieran Loughran, Meg Sleeman & Malcolm Matheson, 1991

21 Deportiva 15m, 4
5 Decadant Bolting

Death on a stick! It's a shame this route is ruined by macho bullshit runouts; if the 2 bolts were replaced, and another was added between them, it would actually be worthwhile. If you really want to prove you're a hero, don't whip out the drill in the first place!

Start: Start two metres left of 'Identity Crisis', four metres right of Iron In The Soul.

PA: Richard Smith & Kieran Loughran, 1991

22 X Clásica mixta 15m, 2
6 Identity Crisis

Who am I? What's my purpose in life? What am I doing here? Serious climbing with poor protection and dirt. The distinctive twin seams up the centre of the face, 10m left of 'Epsilon Plus'.

PA: Peter Martin & Chris Cope, 1989

21 R Clásica 15m
7 Full Face Value

Good thin face with reachy crux at first bolt. Climb 'Identity Crisis' to first ledge. Right past FH, up and right, two BRs, and finish up right around bulge and up onto slab. Belay off trad in horizontal.

PA: Rob Nabben & Andrew Stevens, 1991

22 Clásica mixta 15m, 3
RouteGradeStyleSelected ascents
8 Epsilon Plus

A complete body workout. Enjoy! This is one of the first recorded redpoints in 'Victoria'. Guild had previously practised the climb on top-rope. Heaven knows why he returned to lead it.

Start: The obvious, extremely wide left-facing corner-crack that splits the centre of the crag.

PA: Ian Guild & Chris Dewhirst, 1966

15 R Clásica 21m
9 New Imperative

It's imperative that you don't fall (E5, 6a?)! Still, the ethic of this route is vastly superior to the partly bolted contrived boldness of Death on a Stick or 'Diazepam' (until it got retroed).

Start: Start 5m R of 'Epsilon Plus'.

PA: Jarod McCulloch, Peter Martin & Richard Bugg, 1989

23 X Clásica 20m
10 Benn Gunn

The initial corner is excellent but the second half of the climb is not so good. Beware of loose blocks at the top of the main corner. Even the obvious flake-roof should be treated with respect.

Start: The attractive corner 15m R of 'Epsilon Plus'.

PA: FA Andrew Thomson & David Mudie, 1970

PAL: Glenn Tempest & Kevin Lindorff, 1977

20 Clásica 40m
11 Ordinary Bolted Arete

Big shiny ringbolts up short arete left of 'Crossfire'. Only has about 4m of truly indepedent climbing.

PA: Christoph & Simon Wheeler, 2003

23 Clásica 18m
12 Crossfire

A lovely orange corner leads to an exciting traverse. Slightly marred by a scrappy approach and finish.

Start: Start below orange corner R of 'Benn Gunn'.

PA: Kevin Lindorff & Glen Tempest, 1977

18 Clásica 25m
13 Schooner

A nice crack line which needs a bit more traffic to stay clean. While not as technically hard as 'Crossfire' the rock and protection is not as good and it makes for a hard lead.

Start: Start up 'Crossfire' to first ledge.

PA: Keith Egerton & Dave McLean, 1977

16 Clásica 30m
RouteGradeStyleSelected ascents
14 Skip Transit Gloria

Steeper than it looks. Add some slings to a rack of small-medium wires and medium cams.

Start: Start a few metres L of Let X=X.

PA: Kieran Loughran & Norm Booth, 2007

17 Clásica mixta 13m, 2
15 Let X=X

Pretty good. Sharp corner leading to roof on L side of terrace. Undercut start to corner, bridge past bracken to roof. Traverse L to large ledge. Rap.

PA: Kieran Loughran, 1989

21 Clásica 20m
16 Speaking French

The right wall and arete of Let X=X is not too hard but has it moments, particularly the finish which is sensational. The start of Let X=X provides the crux and requires trad gear. So a large rack doesn't have to be carried here is the trad gear used in order of use: #0.75 (green) Camalot, #0.4 (grey) Camalot, #0.5 (purple) Camalot, #3 (blue) Camalot, #0.75 (green) Camalot (extend with sling).

Start: Start as for Let X=X

PA: Kieran Loughran & Norm Booth, 2008

20 Clásica mixta 15m, 4
17 Walking and Falling

Lots of interest in this climb. A long bouldering traverse just off the ground leads to a cruxy move guarding great climbing up an orange streak. It is possible to place small cams on the traversing start but they're more trouble than they're worth as you're so close to the ground - just stick clip the first bolt if you're concerned.

Start: Start about 8 metres right of the Let X=X corner and just left of the boulder on the right side of the wall.

PA: Kieran Loughran & Norm Booth, 2007

23 Deportiva 20m, 6
18 Riding and Climbing

Good thin face. The first bolt is quite high... in fact it's out of reach even with some brands of stick clip! If soloing up to the first bolt on brittle rock doesn't sound appealing, things can be kept much more sane with a small cam (eg 0.4 camalot).

PA: Steve Chapman, Kevin Lindorff & Rob Booth, 2010

24 Deportiva 20m, 6
19 Hop Skip and Thump

Trad route with a sting in the tail. Take slings, wires and cams to #3 Friend (gold Camalot). Jugs up the right side of the wall then traverses to the central weakness. Start just right of 'Walking and Falling' being careful not to disturb the bones behind you. Climb up onto the boulder sitting at the base of the wall. Climb steep but easy rock until able to traverse left along the break to below the central seam on the wall. Climb the seam past a FH just below the top to rap anchor. Gear Beta: Crucial gear for the hard move below the final bolt is gkijv tqem (two letter shift alphabetic code- don't decode if you want the full onsight experience). When rapping be careful to keep the rope out of a thin crack where it will jam badly.

PA: Norm Booth & Kieran Loughran, 2007

22 Clásica mixta 20m, 1
RouteGradeStyleSelected ascents
20 Skippy Takes a Shortcut

Interesting climbing on steep rock that appears fragile but holds up quite well. This supersedes a weak previous route "An Imaginary Life". Take wires, slings and cams to 2.5 Friend (Red Camalot). The current descent is to scramble around to the rap anchor for "Hop Skip and Thump" but it really needs its own rap anchor. Start about 15m R of Let X=X on the R side of a boulder at the foot of the chimney-gully, being careful not to step on Skippy's bones. Bridge between boulder and face and pull onto face (FH) and up shallow crack in face to overhang. Directly through overhang and up face (2FH) and on to top. Kieran Loughran, Meg Sleeman climbed the original route in March 1992. Loughran and Norm Booth did the direct version November 2007.

PA: Keiran Loughran & Meg Sleeman, 1992

15 Clásica mixta 15m, 3
21 Spare Ribs

Takes rib/arete about 4 metres right of 'Skippy' Takes A 'Short Cut'.

PA: Keith Lockwood & Peter Canning, 2009

15 Clásica 30m
22 Skippity Do Dah

Sherpa Tim leads the geriartrics to glory up this short but intense number.

PA: Tim Lockwood, Kieran Loughran, Keith Lockwood & Norm Booth, 2009

23 Clásica 10m
23 Open Project

The steep seam and face at the far right hand end of the crag. Warning one of the bolts may be loose on this. Take a spanner with you

Deportiva 15m

2. Index by grade

Grade Stars Name Style Pop
15 Skippy Takes a Shortcut Clásica mixta 15m, 3
Spare Ribs Clásica 30m
15 R Epsilon Plus Clásica 21m
16 Schooner Clásica 30m
17 Skip Transit Gloria Clásica mixta 13m, 2
18 Crossfire Clásica 25m
20 Benn Gunn Clásica 40m
Speaking French Clásica mixta 15m, 4
20 R Mistaken Identity Clásica 15m
The Visiting Bloke Clásica 20m
21 Buried Standing Up Clásica 12m
Iron In the Soul Deportiva 15m, 4
Let X=X Clásica 20m
21 R Identity Crisis Clásica 15m
22 Full Face Value Clásica mixta 15m, 3
Hop Skip and Thump Clásica mixta 20m, 1
22 X Decadant Bolting Clásica mixta 15m, 2
23 Ordinary Bolted Arete Clásica 18m
Skippity Do Dah Clásica 10m
Walking and Falling Deportiva 20m, 6
23 X New Imperative Clásica 20m
24 Riding and Climbing Deportiva 20m, 6
? Open Project Deportiva 15m
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