Ascensões em Bells Line of Road & Chifley Rd

3 weeks ago, a proposition was laid down to climb the biggest route the mountains could offer us. Yesterday, that proposition inevitably led to a certain will-never-forget outing. Due to our lack of two cars allowing for the traditional Mt Banks approach from Perry’s lookdown, we opted to camp at the Pierces Pass Carpark. It was here that we left the car at 4.35am and walked down through the pass into the Grose Valley. We made good time, arriving at the presumed river crossing for the uphill bush slog by about 6am. Despite not being able to find any form of a track, the faint morning glow allowed us to admire Mt Banks and determine a direction to head for. This uphill battle for the ridge was anything but enjoyable, although morale was boosted when we surprisingly stumbled perfectly onto the base of the climb, albeit feeling critically juiced.

A quick break saw us setting off on the climb by 7.40am, with smooth sailing up into the eighth pitch. As I made the traverse to the start of the ninth pitch, it was looking like we’d breeze into the 11’o’clock pitch by the time target. But disaster struck when Ross dropped his only belay device. Although ‘skillfully’ he’d directed it straight onto a ledge somewhere on pitch 7. After lowering him down to retrieve it, we were back on track, departing the eighth belay at 11am on the dot. Less than an hour later, I’d say I experienced the finest moment of the day. This was watching Ross step off the edge of the world from the ninth belay and power up the choss scoop, with class, to our designated lunch spot.

The climbing proceeded and the sun joined us momentarily for some sandy slab and grovel. Pitch 14 saw me softly deck onto the ledge from ‘the move’. Upon pulling past this, it became apparent that I hadn’t brought any more carrot plates or even the set of wires up on this pitch. So, I wrapped a sling around a carrot and gingerly continued. Every pitch so far had seen both of us breaking ironstone footers left, right and centre… a fact that I reflected on as I saw the sling subsequently fall off the carrot below me. Willing myself to avoid yet another intimate encounter with the ledge below (only this time from more than twice as high up), I gained the final fixed hanger and gave a belay.

At this stage, we were well and truly marvelling at our height in the valley, soaring way above the rather small Pierces Pass in comparison. However, the wonder soon turned to gassing-out after choosing to link the offwidth pitch 16 and the seeping jungle bash of pitch 17. After, Ross set off on pitch 18, for which the face section had turned a little waterfallish. Pitching it out, he brought me up to the most horrid frozen, windy belay I think I have ever been on. Trying to get us off as fast as possible, I found I couldn’t climb the slab directly above. Confused and slightly concerned, I opted to step out over the void for the hanging crack of which is most definitely the route. It just looked too outrageous to comprehend at first. Freeing the initial moves up the crack on a blindly placed cam was an interesting experience. We topped out just before total darkness at 5:30pm… frozen, bloodied and sore.

At the top we discovered no track whatsoever and set off into extremely thick bush. This. Was. Horrendous. Eveeentually, we came upon the Mt Banks summit walking track and took a breather. From here, we pumped the Valley Uprising soundtrack and Led Zepplin, hitting somewhat of a walking flow state. Made it back to the car at 7:45pm. What a hell of a day!

Reminiscent of the totem pole, if the tote was a towering pile of choss. Way thinner than I imagined and a great day out on a crazy feature, fell off the first move on the 3rd pitch

Pretty fun

Draws on and figuring out the moves on the first lap.

Sent on second go / first red point attempt, wasn’t expecting it but the moves weren’t too hard?

First go today, I tried it 7 years ago; did say I’ll eventually head back to send it!

Easy start, tricky middle, must’ve read it a bit wrong because I was mega stretched out!

Alzheimers onsight, a good warm up!

Warm up, still found the top pretty on for a 20 but G and Matt were fine in the same spot.

Where to begin!? Had tried once 2 years ago, kept refining beta down to the last burn, somehow was feeling fresher and fresher with every consecutive burn? Kept falling at the same point annoyingly until I realised I was holding it wrong on the 4th burn

Worked out all the beta, apart from the 2 wet pockets at the top. Jump start skips the intro crux for the most part. Cool climbing, very sustained!

Some cool moves on this, nor a great wet weather option though...

Missed the flash

Missed the flash

Need to spend more time with less cold and numb fingers. Maybe left hand thumb down on the slot. Then after the jug I managed to get through the 2 crimps. Top is a cruise fest

Made it through the start, just need to figure out the crux a bit. Maybe ignore the right sidepull and just crank on the left pocket to deadpoint

Layback after layback. Good linkup

Some tricky sequences

Classic. It keeps going all the way to the end, worked the 2 cruxes and climbed with 2 rests. Have to come back a bit fresher to have a good go.

Really nice route with good quality rock and plenty of gear. Definitely take an extra #2(yellow) cam or 2 as you often need at least one in the belays.

Another lap.