the birm*

Great and varied time in the “mountains” (the BLUE mountains) last week end. I picked up Adski in Blacktown at 3 and headed into the hills. My car didn’t like the heat and the hills, so we decided to stop at the edge of the mountains and go for a dip, an ice cream and a ride (we had bikes and climbing gear in the car for a multi-sport week-end). We pulled into Glenbrook for a Weiss bar and rode down into the national park. We rode a FANTASTIC section of the Oaks trail (about 9kms of undulating and fairly flat single track) up and back down, followed by a dip in the river at the bottom of the hill. Oohhhhhhh, so refreshing! Back in the car direction Blackheath (after filling up the boar with some radiator coolant). We camped at “the big top” after a cold-pasta-salad-capsicum-rocket-and-tomato-wrap, which was delicious.

Up at dawn and into Katoombah for a CLASSIC multi-pitch climb in the view of Echo point Look out. Very enjoyable, easy and exposed climbing! The guide book labels the route as a 3 star “must do” 200m grade 12, which sums up the climb nicely (except there were a few 16-18 graded moves!). I guess grading has got softer in the last 20 years?...

Back to the car at 11am and off for some scenic brunch overlooking Narrowneck (the “men’s convention” lookout, I think it’s called Hilda’s). As it was a hot day (too hot to ride) and we were a little tired from 4 hours climbing, we decided to head for Emperess Canyon/Valley of the Waters, in Wentworth Falls (I think). We headed into the cool, dark gorge with shorts, shoes, singlets, harnesses and a rope. The temperature was very enjoyable but the water was absolutely FREEZING!! Thankfully we moved very quick and were in and out (finishing by abseiling down a waterfall) within an hour.

We drove to “the Glen”, a hot weather (shady) crag where some buff boys and girls were pumpin’ steep routes. We caught up with Jacques and chewed the fat for about an hour or so. When the temperature dropped we bolted back to the car and drove to Mt Vic where we rode a section of Cox’s trail. This was AMAZING! The sun was setting and we enjoyed some sweeeeeeeet single track ridge riding and amazing single track “freeriding” (at which point we rode/pushed the bikes up the other side of the gully to the look out). This track (Adski’s favourite) would have to be one of the most fun tracks I’ve ever ridden. Good variety, great lines, great terrain and fairly long. If you’re in that part of the world, do it!

Back to blacheath for some potato and sweet potato wedges and a few cold ones and off to bed fairly early (twas a pretty big day!).

After a well earned coffee in the Blackheath the next day we headed to Beronia point for some sport climbing. I hopped on a 14, 17, 17, 19 and adski spent ages on doing the moves of a 27! Very amazing!! We left at 2 ish and after a great 3-4 hours of chatting were back in newie. What a week-end! Thanks Adski!