30-06-2018

Chardie, Madie and meeeee

Windows is a nice winters canyonish abseil trip and I was keen to link it up with a slightly different way up the hill using the pass we mistakenly discovered on our scrub bash to nowhere, using the approach I later took with Yuri, as I thought it would add to the trip with out adding much time while also avoiding the need to go right to the top of the ridge before fighting our way done through the scrub.

Turns out it works well.

Anyhoo

We meet up at the usual spot and head on down the valley. Up top a bitter wind made things nippy at best. Once in the valley we we’re out of the wind. Still jumpers and beanies were on as we crossed river via the log and made our way up the old rail line.

Soon though, beanies and jumpers were stowed in bags as we left the easy grade behind and headed steeply up beside Penrose gully.

Instead of continuing up the slot through the final cliff line like normal we skirt around below the upper cliff. This section cliff between here and my pass is riddled with slots, erosion caves and other interesting features.

Following the cliffs we pass many slots, most finishing too high to explore from the bottom but eventually we come to the micro canyon I call Kenobi.

Like a natural chimeny the wind whistles up here and jumpers were dug out of packs while we explored it’s confines.

 

After a short stop here we continue around the corner to my pass. A steep gully leads up and soon becomes blocked by chock stones but a hidden pass up an alcove in the walls lets us continue up. I slip up and drop a rope down for the others to use as a hand line. We are now on a ledge which will let us get on top of the chock stones.

What follows is a narrow squeeze

I slip back down to collect Pete’s bag and opt to climb around the squeeze

Once up we have a quick look at the Top of Kenobi but the harsh contrasting light made it hard to photograph so we slip up the other side to take in the views from a spot Yuri has dubbed Jedi Point

And then we are only a couple of hundred metres west of where we normally drop into the gully that leads to Windows canyon right next to the side slot.

And then it’s down the gully until it canyons up

It was here admist banter and laughter I pull the ropes and then realise there is a second part to the abseil….. We hitch a make shift anchor and go again.

 

We bask in the sun and have a bite to eat before we continue down to the windows

 

And then it’s down the hill and back to the car

Group size 3: all experienced

Time: 5hr 45 car to car.

If life gives you lemons you might be a lemon tree

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