This update is a more detailed one than the previous one that circulated on Facebook late last week. The update is also available to download.
People – it has been a long time coming, and the recovering areas thank you for your patience. As of the 18th September, most of the climbing areas in the North Grampians still closed, will once again open. These areas though, are still fragile and deserve to have a little extra thought given, if and when you decide to head there. The Mt Difficult Range is still in a very fragile state and because of this, some of the closures here will remain in place, except for those cliffs listed. Check out the list below and please continue to read the care info following it. Thank you all in the climbing and bouldering community who have been understanding of the closures and have been actively promoting it to others. Lots of other areas have seen renewed interest. Whilst Nature will continue to throw these events at us, it is obvious that there are always enough cliffs and boulders to go around.
To aid the long term recovery of the Northern Grampians there is a general closure in place for rock climbing throughout the Mt Difficult Range, except for the main climbing areas stated below. Please support the long term recovery of fire affected areas by remaining out of any closed sites. See closure map for further detail. While Parks Victoria regrets the need to enforce closures, substantial fines will be imposed on those found in any closed, fire affected areas.
Open and accessible rock climbing and bouldering areas in the Northern Grampians Hollow Mountain Area Barc Cliff, Gunn Buttress, Battlescarred Blocks / The Ammo Shop, Amnesty Wall Area, Andersens, Clicke Area (incl. Kindergarten routes) The Kindergarten (bouldering) Expedition Crag, Turtle Rocks, Sandinista Cliffs, Pensioners Wall Area, Red Wall Area incl Echoes Block, Loopeys, Hollow Mountain Cave, Legoland, Cut Lunch Walls, Koalasquatsy Wall Tribute Wall, The Dungeon, Bad Moon Rising Wall Van Dieman’s Land, Rambla Wall, A-Frame Boulder
Summerday Valley Flying Blind. Wall of Fools, Back Wall Bowler Boulder
*Note closures are in place to Main wall, Left wall, Bird wall and Calcutti crag and others east of Summerday Valley due to threatened plant species regeneration, cultural heritage protection and trail degradation.Mt Stapylton Amphitheatre Northern Wall, Central Buttress, Sabre Gully, Grey and Green Walls, Taipan Wall Spurt Wall, Bouldering Buttress, Lower Taipan, Afterglow Wall, Afterglow Boulders,The Plaza Strip,The Snake Pit, Trackside Boulders. Citadel. Ground Control Caves, Cave Club, Between the Sheeps, Spurt Wall (Bouldering), The Titanic (Bouldering)
Flat Rock Area West Flank / Wall of Fuels, Bellepheron Wall,Epsilon Wall,Bouldering Cloud Cuckoo Land,
Note: new access track between flat rock, the kindergarten and Andersons via Bellepheron wall.
Mt Zero Area Pangaea Walls, Toolondo Waters, 4 Cornered Crag, Mt Zero Summit Cliff, Mount Zero West Walls
Iskra Crag Flower Power Block, Shadow Buttress, Emu Crag, Sunstroke Area, Pigs in Space Buttress, Main West Face, Dolgoruki Wall First Tier, Second Tier, Third Tier, North Western Outcrop, Eastern Walls 36 Chambers, Dolgoruki Wall and Three Tiers
Asses Ears Area Sunset Crags, The Secret Crags, Cherub Wall, Maul Wall, Wallaby Rocks, Conifer Wall, Geranium (Brim) Springs, Porcelain Wall,Wallaby Rocks,Joey Blocks
Pohlner track and Smith Road Area The Rust Bucket, Martini Rock, Worship Wall, Point 447 ,Bordel Buttress, Mt Emu The Crows Nest, The Eyrie, The Unnamed Cliff, An Unnamed Cliff, Olive Grove, Cave Of Ghosts Cliffs, Ghost Block,The Olive Cave,The Ravine
Mt Stapylton Campground area Campground Boulders
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CLOSED CLIMBING AREAS
Eastern Mt Difficult Range No Mans Land, Heatherlie Heights, Cape Canavera,l Woomera The Promised Land / The Pine Plantation, Cliff Lebanon,The Heavens, Lower Heavens, Lunar Walls, The Tim Tams
North West Mt Difficult Range Sickle Wall, Mawson Slab, Mt Difficult Cliff, Epaminondas Buttress, Troopers Creek Cliff, Mt Difficult Summit ,Mt Bloody Impossible
Mt Stapylton Campground Cave, Sentinel Wall, The Guardhouse, Warden Wall , Titanic Boulder, Doddery Rock, Mt Pleasant,The Rockwall Area ,Briggs Bluff Area
NE Mt Zero Range
Golton Rocks -Cave Cliff, Wave Wall (aka The Sundeck) / The Sun Deck The Sun Gate,Golton Wall, Gog-Magog Crag, G-Land, Watchmen Wall, Coppermine Track Cliff
*NOTE – The Black Range and Mt Talbot (west of the Grampians) remain closed due to fire.You can help support sustainable climbing in the Grampians by considering the following:Keep in mind that any damage caused now will remain long term. Stay on designated tracks – any off track walking can impact soil stability and the regeneration of vegetation. Spread of weeds and other pathogens can occur by foot traffic in fragile soils and recovering moss and seed beds. Please don’t create short cuts or new tracks, particularly in steep gullies
Only climb in open and accessible areas and keep group numbers low – Avoid taking large groups into small crags or areas where there are no designated tracks
Consider other options – There are many climbing and bouldering sites within the Grampians. By giving these fire affected areas some time to recover they will be here to enjoy in the futureThink about your safety – tree risk and unstable soils are present across all fire affected areas.
Please remember your climbing etiquette when in the Grampians National Park:
Respect other climbers and park visitorsStick to established tracks and avoid damaging or removing vegetation.
Many areas have significant Aboriginal cultural sites, please respect this unique cultural landscape by only climbing in established areasAvoid excessive chalk and be mindful of cleaning.
No chipping of rock or new bolting.
Carry out all rubbish. Use toilets provided. Other accessible rock climbing areas in and around the Grampians: Victoria Range (Please respect cultural heritage and recovering fire affected areas
Mt William Range (Seven Dials area)Serra Range (Including Bundaleer and Mt Rosea)
Wonderland RangeMt Arapiles
For up to date climbing access reports visit http://www.cliffcare.com.au
For up to date fire recovery information sheets and general park information visit http://www.parks.vic.gov.au phone 13 1963 or call into Brambuk – The National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap, open 9am-5pm daily.The closest camping option in the National Park is Plantation Campground, approximately 10km north of Halls Gap, or private accommodation in the Northern Grampians area.Bush camping in closed fire affected areas is not permitted.
PLEASE NOTE: CAMPGROUND BOULDERS NOTED AS CLOSED IN THE PV UPDATE IS OPEN. THIS OFFICIAL DOCUMENT WILL BE UPDATED SHORTLY.
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