Last postcard 2003

The last weekend was spent climbing in great style. Saturday was spent at Diamond Falls near Katoomba and Sunday was dedicated to Sweet Dreams. Diamond Falls sounded nice by the numbers but the routes we did were pretty dirty and were made of pretty crap rock. However, it was nice to see some of the hardest routes in Australia (e.g. Gray Area grade 33).

Sweet Dreams is a really nice grade 14 (optional grade 17 ending) that is done in five or six pitches (it is marked as 180 m in some guides). The start was a bit cold and dirty in the shadows. But I lead us out into the sun at the forth pitch and that was really nice climbing.

Since I preferred to rest my poor left wrist rather than climb the 20 (upgraded from 18) that Chad and Tony did I had a few photos left that was snapped back in Sydney. (Check out the clean windows at my office, only cleaned every 12 years!).

To come: Disaster struck the classic hiker team of Jacob and Samuel! Sam, who lives in the states but owns no war planes, got the short straw from the administrative passport section and could not fly to New Zealand. Last day, literally, substitute Stefan Schelm decided to accompany me on my trials and tribulations there. We are basically sticking to the original plan.

It was really wierd to say goodbye to everyone at the department at the pub tonight... Well, back to Sweden for business as usual I suppose.

Here are some photos:

This is Josh leading the last climb of the day. A 22. We all made it pretty far even though I didn't lead one bit of it.
Have you ever noticed how nice a place the bluies are for climbing?

Crawling up for a grade 15. Whooops, that hold was also loose....
This is connected to the top picture, guess how... Notice that the abseil finishes outside the ledge below.

This is Sublime Point, close to the Three Sisters and Katoomba.

The sun sets after my final day of Australian climbing.	Pitch three of Sweet dreams was a traverse from the "cave" next to the bush down to where the camera is. All done in the cool shade.
This is Sublime Point, close to the Three Sisters and Katoomba earlier in the day.	Tony is leading the run-out traverse...
Enjoying the sun (in my pink t-shirt).	Tony enjoying the sun, notice the famous three sisters in the background.
Tony stepping over the void of pitch 4.	Its my foot and it is high up, where is the fckn rope?!?
Mysteriously connected to the pic above. Well, I was belaying, Tony was climbing and Chad was taking the pick. And me belaying is just so fun to watch...	Chad led the final grade 17 and a craweld up last.

The end...

This is Josh leading the last climb of the day. A 22. We all made it pretty far even though I didn't lead one bit of it.	Have you ever noticed how nice a place the bluies are for climbing?
Crawling up for a grade 15. Whooops, that hold was also loose....	This is connected to the top picture, guess how... Notice that the abseil finishes outside the ledge below.