Todd Skinner, Big Wall free-climbing afficionado, died in Yosemite, possibly as a result of belay-loop failure. It is sad news - he was a true great in world climbing. 

The equipment failure aspect is a bit worrying, and I have to say, I have never entirely trusted the things....just don't have any redundancy built in. It will also make me think twice about abbing off just a belay loop in future...

So, Arapiles lives up to the hype. The most unlikely location for a world class crag - lost in the middle of parched plains, salt pans, drought ravaged farmlands, and miles of flat earth from nowhere...but the climbing is superb. One of the best things about it is that massive intimidating steep faces actually harbour some relatively amenable routes, due mainly to the generosity of the rock in providing fantastic "arapiles jugs" so that vertical and even overhanging pitches can be climbed at grades as low as 10-14 (severe - mild VS). Protection and soundness of the rock are also wonderful, and with over 2000 routes at all grades, and a great campsite, there is enough there to keep me going back for years!!! Here are a few photos....camera was misbehaving, so don't have many...

What a relief when this little beauty showed up in the post! And today, its new stablemate arrives as well - a Scott Scale 30 Carbon hardtail MTB!

A few photos added from the last week - see right. Gill took part in the Freycinet Challenge, which was also the Australian Multisport Championships, and finished third in the solo female category, winning a grand! Get this for some serious exercise: 15km mountain-ish run, 65km roadbike, 22km mountainbike (there was meant to be a 15km kayak leg this day too - dangerous windy conditions led to its cancellation) on day one. Day two: 15km kayak went ahead this time, 35km roadbike, 22km mountainbike, and a 15km mountain-ish/beach run to finish. I ran the last leg with her to carry water and pace her a bit, and it nearly killed me! Her overall time was 12hours 55mins.

Hey all....sorry I have been sluggish to add to this since I got here! Just read Cliona's blog, which made me miss Strandhill, and think of home a little bit! OK...quick summary. Spent Friday and Saturday with Claire and Daniel in Melbs (like my abbrevo, G?) which was fun, met some interesting people and went 4WD-ing in the dark. Got to Hobart the next day - fantastic and overwhelming and exciting....next day, left in fairly grim weather to attempt the Mt Anne circuit. Got really sick on the way up (violent gastro - details unpleasant) and stayed that way for the next five days. I am now EVEN SKINNIER (lightest since I was about 20 I reckon). I am WELL now, which means I am full of beans. I have been exploring a bit with G, cooking lots, bought an MTB, roadie arrived today (relief) and went in to have a squizz at work (cross between Sligo and Charlie's I reckon!) the other day. Climbing gear is here, so the Araps (NB - abbrevo!) are ON!!!! And, for all the weather doubters - its 30 degrees today and bush fires are the major threat!