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Routes as trad in The Pharos and Surrounds

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Showing 1 - 100 out of 418 routes.

Grade Route Gear style Popularity
The Pharos Death Row Pinnacle
14 Lichenthrope

About 3m right of the far left edge of DR Pinnacle. Move up and right to bulging small overhang. Up and over this then slightly back left across cloud princess like lovely lumps. Straight up to top.

FA: Kai Seth Robertson, 15 May 2018

Trad 20m
16 Retsina

Appealing leftward leaning clean crack, then up to finish just left of 'Rush Hour'. A longer version has been done (and re-named "I'm Lichen It") by finishing left into corner, through bulge and on to summit block. Start: Start 2-3m L of RH.

FA: Andy Reynolds, Kieran Loughran (extended version added by John Lattanzio & Greg Pritchard)., 2006

Trad 12m
15 Rush Hour

Start beneath the low "col" on the L side of the Pinnacle. Climb straight up the burgundy water streak.

FA: Kieran Loughran & Meg Sleeman, 1989

Trad 15m
26 Redacted 1

Supercedes the old route Action Kid. Varied climbing with four different cruxes.

Up 3m L of 'Social Comment' to ledge then continue straight up through a slopey bulge (crux 1) past a bolt. Crimp and slab R (passing underneath another bolt) into 'Birdman Of Alcatraz' (crux 2) then span right onto headwall (crux 3), to stance in crack. Right to 4th bolt and powerfully up (crux 4!).

If you don't go right at the top but go straight up to the chains, it's called 'Redacted 2', also 26.

FA: Kieran Lawton & Gordon Poultney, 2010

Mixed trad 30m, 4
26 Redacted 2

As for "Redacted 1", but avoids stepping out right at the finish and goes straight up via a fixed hanger. It features some fantastic (and weird) climbing, such that most people seem to choose this finish rather than the original.

Mixed trad 25m, 4
24 Action Kid

This line must climb quite poorly for it not to get any stars - because the wall looks fantastic! Start 3m L of 'Social Comment', 20m R of 'Rush Hour'. Thin crack thru bulge to ledge. Up past BR, go L then back R and join Birdman on ledge. R up groove past BR.

FA: Craig Peacock & Lincoln Shepherd (Mike Law added the DS in), 1982

Mixed trad 40m, 2
13 Social Comment

Not many routes this easy get you up a wall like this.

Start: Start below a L arching V-crack, 6m L of Birdman.

  1. 15m (13) V crack then reachy step L to ledge. Belay on the L.

  2. 22m (13) Up R to flake (hollow but avoidable), up L to ledge, R to balancey finish.

FA: Roger Murphy & Neil Philips, 1977

Trad 37m, 2
24 Bent

Thin seam, cross Birdman to join Bad. Undercling L under roof to hanging corner, then L below bulge to finish up crack (BR).

Start: Start 2.5m L of Birdman.

FA: Mike Law & Brian Fish, 1982

Mixed trad 25m, 1
23 Bent DF

Avoids the last hard bit of Bent. It's thought that this finish might be where Bad P2 went (before the bolt!).

Climb the majority of Bent, until the point where that route steps left across the void; instead, go up the round arete on good edges past a bolt.

Mixed trad 40m, 1
23 Birdman of Alcatraz

Considered by many to be the best 23 at 'Arapiles'.

Start where the dominant flake/line reaches the ground. Follow the line, except at halfway where you need to traverse L for a few metres below the flake before going up to rejoin it. Staying with the flake is reachy 25.

FFA: Kevin Lindorff

FA: Keith Lockwood & Norm Booth (aid), 1969

Trad 30m
23 Bad

Great first pitch. Pitch 2 seems a bit contrived and is usually not done.

Start: Start 1m R of Birdman.

  1. 25m (23) Thin crack, then undercling L around low roof. Up corner then step R to belay.

  2. 20m (22) Step L, over roof and up arete. Move L then over corner/bulge.

FA: Kim Carrigan, Tony Marian & Greg Child, 1978

Trad 45m, 2
18 Death Row

Layback corner then L into the "condemned cell", which takes some escaping! Great moves continue above, trending slightly L. Top anchor is several bits of rope/tat with a mallion. Walk over the top of the pinnacle, with a short down-climb to a rap anchor behind boulder.

Start: Start at the L-facing corner at the R end of the main face.

FA: Chris Dewhirst & Phillip Stranger, 1967

Trad 45m
18 Commuted

Start as for 'Death Row' Climb the initial corner on 'Death Row' and continue straight on up the line instead of stepping left into the condemned cell. Delicate, airy moves over a bulge lead to a corner system capped by a small roof. Bridge spectacularly through the left side, or more easily on the right. Continue up wall right of the arête to the top of the pinnacle.

FA: Keith Lockwood & Kieran Loughran, 2003

Trad 45m
10 Tequila Mockingbird

A ramble up the northern aspect of 'Death Row Pinnacle'. The first pitch was the scramble down from 'Garden Gnome' before the rap anchor went in. Start from a ledge right of Death Row ’s condemned cell and a bit down left from 'Garden Gnome' .

  1. 20m Up to a short right-facing corner, which leads to easy climbing up to the saddle between the main 'Death Row Pinnacle' and the summit of Garden Gnome. Belay at the Garden Gnome chains.

  2. 20m Wall to the summit of Death Row Pinnacle.

FA: Keith Lockwood & Ray Lassman, 12 Jun 2015

Trad 40m, 2
17 Garden Gnome

Cute little thing starting 20m up right from 'Death Row'. Crack to ledge, then seam up grey face.

FA: Kevin Lindorff & Kim Carrigan, 1979

Trad 20m
21 Cloud Piercer

Start 2m R of 'Sky Scraper' , just R of native pine. Groove, step L, straight over bulge.

FA: Lindorff & Carrigan, 1979

Trad 16m
22 Sky Scraper

Contrived. Start 3m R of 'Garden Gnome'. Steep seam 2m L of 'Cloud Piercer', R at bulge but stay out of 'Cloud Piercer'.

FA: Carrigan & Lindorff, 1979

Trad 18m
14 Buttons

Directly behind Garden Gnome some 10 metres around the corner. Short steep line to a series of scoops that look like buttons. Rap off Garden Gnome chains.

FA: Hywel Rowlands amd Michael Dowling, 8 Jun 2014

Trad 10m
14 Black Box

4 metres right of Buttons. Tricky climbing up black stained wall into small sentry box. Out to right side of box and head up arête of pinnacle.

FA: Hywel Rowlands & Michael Dowling, 8 Jun 2014

Trad 25m
14 Black Box Direct Start

Nicer than the sentry-box start and no harder! Fingery wall midway between Black Box and Howling moving slightly left to join the original climb at about 6m.

FA: Kieran Loughran & Norm Booth, 6 Feb 2016

Trad
18 Howling

5 metres right of Black Box. Climb middle of orange wall using little pockets and directly up middle of slabby pinnacle although this is run out (easy escape left of right).

FA: Hywel Rowlands & Michael Dowling, 8 Jun 2014

Trad 25m
8 Water Wings

5 metres right of Howling. Start as for 'Laurel and Hardy' directly under the rap chains. Thereafter take left leaning crease in rock and the easiest left line to the pinnacle summit.

FA: Hywel Rowlands & Josh Bassett, 7 Jun 2014

Trad 25m
15 Laurel and Hardy

Slapstick. Straight up the rap route on the back of the Death Row Pinnacle.

FA: Bert Levy & Andrew Martin, 1998

Trad 20m
The Pharos Uncle Charlie
32 Pretty In Punk

An amazing effort by a relatively unsung local.

This completely natural (read, "not chipped or glued" like its famous sibling) has some genuinely difficult (as if the grade weren't required to confirm it already) slabby traversing early on before pulling into Punks, climbing it for a few metres before escaping out R to the arete.

Start beneath the R-leading arch, a few metres up L of PitG.

FA: Stuart Wyithe, 1994

Mixed trad 20m, 4
30 Punky Brewster

The master of combinations and permutations digs up another classic. This one links the "easy" bits of the two original routes.

Start as for Punks in the Gym, finish as for Pretty in Punk.

FA: Nathan Hoette

Trad 25m
32 Punks in the Gym

The easiest line up a great, albeit only mildly overhanging wall. Probably the world's first 8b+ / 5.14a and ahead of its time in Australian terms - it took nearly ten years before an Aussie (Stuart Wyithe) repeated it!

Despite masses of beta available on the internet, it still sees very few quick ascents, hasn't been onsighted and is still regarded as somewhat of a testpiece with a redpoint crux far above the technical crux and accounting for many an accomplished climber.

Many argue the route is easier than when Wolfgang and Stefan Glowacz did it in the mid 80's due to the increased size of the crux glue hold (the notorious birdbath). For a while considered "only" 31, it seems to have re-consolidated at 32.

Start as for Punks in the Gunks. At its traverse, instead go up, L and up, up, up to chains at the top.

Mayan

Mixed trad 30m, 7
25 Punks in the Gunks

Please do not climb during nesting season (August to December). Start as for Punks up the leaning diagonal, but traverse off R at the second bolt to chains on the arête. The first bolt is very high and a committing clip for those at this grade.

FA: Chris & Lincoln Shepherd, 1982

Mixed trad 15m, 2
25 Punks at the Piles

Please do not climb during nesting season (August to December). Start at the bottom R side of the Punks wall. It's the line just L of the arete with the carrot bolt.

FA: Kim Carrigan & Tony Dignan, 1984

Mixed trad 20m, 2
28 Ciela

Really fun arete slapping. Please do not climb this route during nesting season (August to December). Start beneath the hanging nose.

FA: Uwe Eder & Axl Krapf, 1995

Mixed trad 15m, 3
22 Purler

Please do not climb during nesting season (August to December). Start as for Pearls Before Swine. This should be a trad route but unfortunately has been retrobolted by the first and last bolts of Ciela.

FA: Kim Carrigan & Louise Shepherd, 1979

Mixed trad 20m, 2
20 Pearls Before Swine

Please do not climb during nesting season (August to December). Start beneath the hanging nose of Ciela.

  1. 18m (21) Slither up the surprisingly tricky slab to the R side of the nose. Undercling out around the roof and keep gunning up the crack above into the chimney. Belay here or 4m L at the DRB.

  2. 33m (17) From the DRB, go straight up the front of the nose, eventually escaping L around the top bulge.

FA: Kevin Lindorff (Chris Baxter & Andrew Bowman had previously done the 2nd pitch), 1974

Trad 48m, 2
25 Growing Pains

The easiest way to sample the awesome front face of Uncle Charlie - if you like grade 25 traversing, that is. If you wish to climb this during nesting season (August to December), please approach via Uncle Charlie's Right Nostril, not the Left.

Start as for PBS.

  1. 15m (21) As for PBS, but belay as soon as you hit the chimney (just beside the peregrine's nest...)

  2. 30m (25) R, and up short sickle/corner to gain the R nostril. R to piton, then hard undercling R to rest. Continue traversing R into India, past a bonus bolt in Ethiopia.

FA: Kim Carrigan, Evelyn Lees & Louise Shepherd, 1981

Mixed trad 45m, 2, 1
23 Uncle Charlie's Left Nostril

Uncle Charlie no doubt wonders why everyone calls his right nostril the left! Please do not climb during nesting season (August to December).

Start a few metres down R of PBS, underneath the L nostril.

FA: John Bennett & Russel Judge (aid). Greg Child (freed roof) 1976. Kim Carrigan, 1964

Trad 45m
24 Bridge

The guides say it's only 15m, but the easier top section makes it almost double that. Please do not climb during nesting season (August to December).

Start up one of the previous routes to gain the base of the L chimney.

FA: Kim Carrigan & Tony Dignan, 1984

Mixed trad 15m, 1
27 Picking Winners

Start 2m L of UCRN.

  1. 30m (27) The glassy slab becomes a R-leaning flake, which turns into a stomach-churning overhung offwidth, and then steep discontinuous pods, and finally into the R chimney.

  2. 20m (23) Step R under the bulge and up the bulging hand crack.

FA: Kim Carrigan & Kevin Lindorff (alt), 1979

Trad 50m, 2
22 Redolence

Starts from the base of the chimney at the top the first pitch of Uncle Charlie's Right Nostril and Picking Winners (the original belay). Step around left to the seam that runs up the buttress just right of centre. A few exciting moves to get going, then follow the line to the top.

FA: Kevin Lindorff, Aug 2016

Trad 20m
25 Uncle Charlie's Right Nostril

Old fashioned battle. According to Simey's guide the aid was eliminated before it had even been aided...visionary!

Start beneath the R crack underneath the R chimney.

FA: Kim Carrigan (direct)

FA: Chris Dewhirst & John Moore (aid), 1965

FA: Chris Peisker(deviating into the Picking Winners trench for a few metres), 1978

Trad 45m
26 Uncle Charlie’s Right Nostril Variant/Extension

After the crux of UCRN, easy climbing leads up left for a few metres to the current chains. However, the original belay was another two body-lengths higher at the base of the chimney (this was also the original belay on Picking Winners; the 2nd pitch of PW then stepped right and climbed the obvious bulging crack above).

This variant provides a slightly harder and more sustained pitch than the original. It continues directly up from the crux of UCRN (instead of moving left to the chains) to take the short tricky bulge (the new crux) to a double ring anchor immediately below the start of the second pitch of PW.

FA: Kevin Lindorff, Jul 2016

Trad 15m
30 Ethiopia

The prime line hereabouts. All the hard bit of India then step L and up the middle of the steep wall through the top roof to lower offs.

FA: Kim Carrigan, 1984

Mixed trad 30m, 3
28 India

An amazing line through some steep bulges. It will work your shoulders and test your footwork as you try to unlock its hidden secrets.

Start on the R side of the awe inspiring blank bulging orange face. Up crack before stepping left into the difficulties. Finishes out right up easier ground to DRB.

Notable for an early send by Christine Gambert (FR) in 1986, when it was 29, likely the first female ascent at either grade in AU. Was also the first route in AU given grade 29, originally done by stepping L higher than is now the norm, but has slipped to 28.

FA: Kim Carrigan & Kevin Lindorff, 1982

Trad 25m
30 Wisdom of Body

Not his finest addition. Brutally hard undercling moves and very, very rarely repeated. Start as for Nose Job then bust left.

Trad 15m
24 Nose Job

In typical Lindorff style this is a plum line, but undergraded and underprotected (possibly more so since a block broke off it). Gee it looks good though. Start 2m R of India, up the tough corner, across CoC and up a steep little crack finish to lower offs.

FA: Kevin Lindorff & Kim Carrigan, 1978

Trad 30m
24 Nose Job Direct Start

Start on Coming on Chris and then at the crossroad with Nose Job follow it right for a much harder finish.

Probably about the same grade as Nose Job because on both variants you get a good rest before the hardest section, but the first section on this variant is easier.

Trad 25m
16 Coming on Chris

A route on this pinnacle for the mere mortal. A fun climb!

FA: Mike Law, 1976

Trad 25m
21 Coming on Chris Direct Finish

Straight up past a bolt instead of traversing L.

Mixed trad 20m, 1
22/23 Winter is Coming

Was a bolted sport route ....looks to be only one bolt now.

Trad
18 Virginia

Steep deep wide crack. Overhangs more than most 18s! Can be bridged without much thrutching, but some large gear can be handy. Stays dry in light rain too.

Start about 20m up the gully R from CoC.

FA: Phillip Stranger & Chris Dewhirst, 1967

Trad 25m
14 Midgets Club

Start on ledge opposite Virginia on the Pharos. Up the cracks, veering left through blocky roof. Then traverse left past the giant chock stone bridge, and up to the anchor on Spasm in a Chasm. Rap off Spasm’s Anchor back to the belay ledge.

FA: Jae Zhong & muki woods, 30 Oct 2019

Trad 27m
25 Yes Please

The pencil thin crack (originally with a manky fixed wire, now with a bolt). After the crack sneak out left and finish up Virginia. One bolt plus trad. Start 5m L of Spasm.

FA: Chris Shepherd & Michael Collie, 1982

Trad 10m
25 All My Exes Live in Texas

Climb nearly all of Yes Please past it's bolt but instead of escaping left under the roof, do a move right and continue up the wall past two more bolts. There's a stance left of the last bolt, from here traverse right along the horizontal break that leads to the last headwall of Spasm. Finish up this (sideways #7 rock in pocket) to glory. Offers superb sustained climbing if head right from last bolt to undercling on spasm and past both it's dynos. 3 bolts plus a handful of wires (or small-med cams).

FA: Gareth Llewellin, 12 Dec 2014

Mixed trad 20m, 3
25 Spasm in a Chasm

Unless they've joined into one continuous white streak by now, the white patches and ticks will show you the way. Almost certainly easier for the taller types, it's also harder now than when established because a key foothold during the traverse broke off (it's still 25 though).

Take a medium-to-large sized wire (e.g. #6 sideways or #7 WC rock) for the top (above the big jug) which inconveniently reduces the size of a key hold in a non-grade-altering way. A couple of large RP's in a seam at the start should prevent your belayer following you off the ledge in the event of falling getting to the first bolt. Otherwise, stick clip the first bolt or just don't fall.

Start off the wedged boulder near the highpoint of the chasm.

FA: Lincoln Shepherd, 1983

Mixed trad 25m, 3
26 Escape

Stem up chimney with feet on one side and hands on the other, to a jug. Then climb the steep line with two bolts (new as of 2015). Start just inside the SE end of the Spasm Chasm.

FA: Mark Moorhead & Jon Muir, 1981

Mixed trad 25m, 2
28 The Great Escape

Climb directly into Escape without bridging.

FA: Mike Weeks, 1998

Mixed trad 20m, 4
27 Escape & Enter

The obvious link of Escape start into the last half of Break and Enter. Start as for Escape (original bridging start), then break right and power up through the final boulder problem of B&E. Short, but consistently powerful climbing to the very last move. The route grade is open for debate given it’s basically a V7/8.

Mixed trad 16m, 1
29 Break & Enter

Up The Great Escape to half height, then R and up to lower offs.

FA: Nathan Hoette, 2002

Trad 20m
10 Spasm Squeeze

Climb the chasm right of Spasm by following a finger crack on the left wall which leads up and right through a squeeze. Top out on the road side of Uncle Charlie's via some juggy wide chimneying. Walk off over the chockstone to the Pharos. Protectable, but a pretty tight fit with a harness.

FA: Unknown

Trad 25m
The Pharos Front Wall and West Face
16 R Ship of Fools

Awful. It has been repeated and others should spare themselves the experience. Start 15 metres left of Oceanoid. It's supposed to be 1 metre right of all of the mank but it's hard to tell the difference between that and the climb. There's a low roof above a slab.

  1. 15m (16) Go up to roof, over large, hopefully, jammed block and on to a stance below the steepening.

  2. 25m (15) Up slightly right on steep, fragile rock then straight up.

FA: Dave Gairns & Chris Baxter (alt), 1987

Trad 40m, 2
19 Shipboard Romance

The start shared with Ship Of Fools is not good but things appear to improve after that. They would want to. Start as for Ship Of Fools.

  1. 10m (19) Up to roof and move right over it to climb lichenous left-leading grrove just left of Damned Whores.

  2. 15m (18) Go up into orange concave and take obvious cracks diagonally up left to stance.

  3. 15m (17) Climb the overhangs directly above at their widest point.

FA: Chris Baxter & Dave Gairns (alt), 1987

Trad 40m, 3
19 Damned Whores and God's Police

Start 2 metres left of Transatlantic Crossing, 10 metres left of Oceanoid.

  1. 25m (19) Up slab, not well-protected, through overlap to roof. Undercling this left then up through the orange concave and finish right to belay.

  2. 15m (18) Left-hand crack through roof.

FA: Maureen Gallagher & Karen Strojek, 1984

Trad 40m, 2
18 Transatlantic Crossing
1 18 25m
2 18 15m

Start 8 metres left of Oceanoid, 1 metre right of the lowest part of the buttress, below corner leading to overhang.

  1. 25m (18) Up vague corner to bulge, right around it and up to overhang. Traverse left then up easily.

  2. 15m (18) Take right-hand crack through overhang.

FA: Hugh Foxcroft & Dave Gairns (alt), 1980

Trad 40m, 2
21 Rainbow Warrior

Start as for Transatlantic Crossing, 8 metres left of Oceanoid.

  1. 25m (21) Up corner-line as for Transatlantic Crossing to bulge. Continue straight through bulge (pro is difficult), then up groove to belay.

  2. 15m (20) The overhanging rib just right of the right-hand crack (Transatlantic Crossing).

FA: Chris Baxter & Charlie Creese (alt), 1985

Trad 40m, 2
20 Voyage of the Damned

Quite good. Originally done in two pitches but belay stances are poor so better done as one. Start 6 metres left of Oceanoid, 2 metres right of Transatlantic Crossing, at short right-slanting orange corner.

FA: Chris Baxter & Charlie Creese (alt), 2000

Trad 46m
20 R Rearranging Deckchairs

You have to squeeze them in. Pretty contrived and has some loose blocks. Start at small rib just right of Voyage Of The Damned.

  1. 30m (20) Climb the rib to the diagonal bulge of Voyage Of The Damned. Go straight through bulge and step right to tiny stance. Climb thin flake up slab and move left to belay as for Rainbow Warrior.

  2. 15m (20) The overhanging rib on the right as for Rainbow Warrior.

FA: Kieran Loughran & James Falla (alt), 1986

Trad 45m, 2
19 Halfway Damned

This is a good pitch. It may differ a little from the original route of Halfway Handsome but it is difficult to say by how much. Start at the slabby corner 3 metres left of Oceanoid. Can rap back down with a 70m rope.

Trad 35m
21 Halfway Handsome

Great route. The original write-up has caused some confusion and given rise to the Halfway Damned variant. Start at the slabby corner 3 metres left of Oceanoid.

FA: Keith Egerton, Jane Wilkinson & Peter Woodfield, 1983

Trad 45m
21 Raise the Titanic

Best done as a single mega-pitch although a semi-hanging belay can be had in Oceanoid. Start 1 metre left of Oceanoid.

FA: Eric Jones & Chris Baxter (alt), 1986

Trad 52m
17 Oceanoid
1 17 45m
2 17 30m

Fantastic climb. The original route climbed the first pitch of Courage until above the grotty overhang and then traversed left. The route as described is vastly better. Start below the inset corner in recessed bay behind large Callitris pine.

  1. 37m (17) Follow the corner for 17 metres, protection is spaced for first few metres. Move left at chalked-up weakness into a diagonal scooped line. Follow this to below roof and move left to terrace. DRB (35m rap to ground if required).

  2. 30m (17) Pull through the first easy weakness on left side of overhangs. Traverse 3 metres right (stay low) and make an airy step across a gap. Take line leading straight up into awkward bottomless chimney. Easy chimney leads to large ledge, continue further 5m up to another large terrace. Scramble off left or climb short wall to base of French Crack.

FA: Glenn Tempest & Mark Shelton, 1976

FA: Glenn Tempest & Keith Egerton, 1976

Trad 75m, 2
19 Courage

The left hand corner to the ledge below Aftermath, past some rotten rock and a lot of bird poo. Originally reversed the traverse of Jezebel to get off, but there are rap chains nearby if you prefer.

FA: Roland Pauligk & Dick Laurence (1 aid), 1969

Trad 42m
17 Carlton

An easier version of Courage. The right-hand inset corner.

FA: Peter Canning, 1969

Trad 42m
17 Carlton Variant Start

Looks quite daunting for the grade.

FA: John Chapman & Peter Watson, 1976

Trad 42m
18 Sport Climb This You Bastards

Graunchy roof-crack at left end of terrace that Oceanoid Pitch 1 finishes at.

FA: James Falla & Jon Bassindale, 1991

Trad 35m
22 Trenchsetter

Looking from the ground, there are three overhanging noses high on the left, pitch 2 takes the middle one. Finishing up Cold Storage makes a good finish, but the gear on it is as bad as the guide suggests. Start at the left end of the half way ledge on Oceanoid, right of the first nose with Sport Climb This You Bastards.

  1. 15m (21) Up the undercut arête left of Oceanoid pitch 2 then meander up mank to belay under roof.

  2. 15m (22) Take the crack through the roof above you. At the lip, swing left on jugs to exit.

FA: Wendy Eden & Mike Raine, 2004

Trad 30m, 2
18 Left Side of the Ocean

This is an OK alternative to second pitch of Oceanoid if you've been here before. Start as for pitch 2 of Oceanoid through initial bulge then head up right to a chalked-up horizontal. Mantle onto the orange wall and continue up slab keeping left of Oceanoid. Finish just left of the bottomless corner.

FA: Glenn Tempest & Phillip Armstrong, 1979

Trad 35m
20 Close to the Edge

Traversing similar territory as the excellent Trinity Wall, this route is not as sustained as its neighbour below, but provides similar bowel churning exposure. Start as for Left Side Of The Ocean, and follow this to join Oceanoid P2. A few metres before the chimney of Oceanoid, find the line that traverses right on poor feet. The pitch passes the Aftermath double bolt belay, soon reaching easier territory.

FA: Glenn Tempest & Keith Egerton, 1976

Trad 38m
21 Trinity Wall

Outrageous traverse. Take lots of slings, double ropes if you have them and a solid second. Start as for second pitch of Oceanoid. Once traversing right, keep going directly right, towards white hanging corner. There is a line of chalked holds higher up leading you to try and reverse the crux of Atlantis. Resist the temptation to go there.

FA: Chris Shepherd & Jim Thomas, 1982

Trad 30m
25 The Bradford Lads

Greasy, flaring crack leading to steep wall. Start at the crack leading to the white-marbled corner.

FA: Glenn Tempest & Marty Beare, 1983

Trad 55m
23 Atlantis

A dramatic outing with a desperate bouldery start that is strenuous to protect. It was originally climbed with a massive diversion out left into Oceanoid. Start right of The Bradford Lads at the left of 2 weaknesses through the huge roof.

  1. 25m (23) Straight up crack over bulge, then up to big pockets in Aftermath (medium cams). Traverse left, below the line of Aftermath on more good pockets then up and veer right to anchor as for Aftermath. Either rap 50 metres to ground, back-clean or do pitch 2.

  2. 30m (18) Up past old carrot bolts to move left into exposed hanging off-width and up to a ledge. Up the middle of the wall above.

FA: Glenn Tempest & Kevin Lindorff, 1977

Trad 75m, 2
25 R Dead Americans

Wild roofing country with a dangerous start that can be avoided by starting up either Atlantis or Aftermath. Belay as for the start of Atlantis.

FA: Chris Shepherd, 1982

Trad 25m
25 R Aftermath

An overdose of overhang, originally done as a post-exam celebration. The right-hand weakness through the overhang, right of Atlantis. Start off the left end of the niche past some rusty fixed micro wires. Try and place something better for the goey start with potential fall onto ledge. After initial bulge, head left and into TW before left again to bolt and exciting finish. Rap anchor.

FA: Peter McKeand & Gordon Talbett (all aid), 1969

Mixed trad 30m, 1
26 Aerial Boundaries

The bulge right of Aftermath, over roof past bolt to Trinity Wall anchor.

FA: Scott Camps & Alistair Mark, 1989

Mixed trad 15m, 1
22 A Night of Heavy Drinking

Start on ledge right of Aftermath, on the line of Five Fingered Mary.

  1. 30m (22) The obvious flake on right wall of chimney. Strenuously up to step across right, and rest. Easily to ledge.

  2. 30m (19) Straight up the face to next ledge, the Tennis Court. Scramble off left to French Crack descent.

FA: Tony Dignan & Greg Child, 1987

Trad 60m, 2
13 Jezebel
1 13 35m
2 8 15m
3 13 36m

A wandering route that takes in some impressive country even if the climbing itself is not brilliant. Start as for Hurricane Lamp Cracks.

  1. 35m (13) Up Hurricane Lamp Cracks, stepping into the left line at 25 metres. up the crack to a small stance. Take care with a large loose block on the right here as you prepare to start the next pitch.

  2. 15m (8) Traverse left and around the arete and continue traversing and up to a terrace below enormous overhangs.

  3. 36m (13) Traverse left below the roofs to another huge terrace, ending at double bolt belay. It is possible to abseil or walk off from here (and most people do).

Seeing as you've come this far, if you are in the mood for adventure, there are another two optional pitches to entertain you ...

  1. 30m (-) Climb two bulges and veer right to an easy line.

  2. 18m (-) Climb right around two little aretes then go up exposed latter one until a slab leads into bottomless chimney. Continue to the foot of French Crack.

FA: Chris Baxter & Darryl Carr, 1967

Trad 86m, 3
20 Five Fingered Mary
1 16 42m
2 18 24m
3 18 24m
4 20 15m

A cliff-splitting weakness that is big on atmosphere but not necessarily enjoyment. The R rating is from the rock, not the gear. It has been known to calve huge blocks with the climber attached so be cautious. A 5 camalot will be appreciated. Start below the huge cleft.

  1. 42m (16) Up vegetated line and belay on the big terrace.

  2. 24m (18) Up the overhanging chimney with some doubtful rock.

  3. 24m (18) On up the line to below large cracked roof.

  4. 15m (20) No, don't walk off left, climb the roof crack. The original finish traversed out the left wall below the roof to the arete.

Don't listen to the haters. The last pitch has great gear and is 20. Bring a 6.

FA: Pitch 1 : Phillip Stranger & Chris Dewhirst., 1967

FA: Mike Stone, Chris Baxter, Keith Lockwood some aids & variant finish 13., 1974

FA: roof finish : Greg Child & Andrew Thomson, 1976

FA: Baxter & Stone removed the aids in., 1978

Trad 110m, 4
23 Prevarication Left Hand

Start as for Prevarication. Go up and left then traverse right to finish up the prow above the crux of Prevarication.

FA: Jon Muir, Maureen Gallagher & Geoff Little, 1985

Trad 15m
18 R Prevarication

Good start and bold finish but the middle bit is nothing to write home about. Start on the buttress between Five Fingered Mary and Hurricane Lamp Cracks below a crack through an overhang at 8 metres.

  1. 43m (18) Climb overhang at 8 metres and continue up chimney-corner to large ledge.

  2. 24m (8) The corner-crack and walls to ledge.

  3. 30m (15) Sparsely protected wall above to the Tennis Court.

FA: Neil Barr & Peter Watling, 1979

Trad 97m, 3
20 Horus
1 20 45m
2 18 30m
3 14 30m
  1. (20) Starts under the roof between Prevarication and Hurricane Lamp Cracks and powers straight through it. Move on upward (be aware of loose blocks) to a bolt anchor (45m rappel).

  2. (18) Onward through some steep moves and then at the slopey ledge, move slightly right then up the horizontals to a bolt. After moving past the crux trend left towards a bolt anchor (30m rappel to next anchor) under the roof, opposite the tennis court.

  3. (14) Move far right under the roof to the big offwidth crack, struggle your way through and then climb the headwall on the left side, moving left after a ledge, then back right to another bolt anchor (25m rappel to anchor under the roof).

Set: muki woods & Jae Zhong

FFA: muki woods & Jae Zhong

FA: muki woods & Jae Zhong, May 2017

Mixed trad 110m, 3, 1
21 Cream Between

The wall between Ra and Horus. Led onsight before the bolt was added to the start of Ra. Nice moves and good protection. Worth doing if you are in the neighborhood.

FA: Duncan McGregor & Glenn Tempest, 15 Aug 2017

Mixed trad 15m, 1
24 Ra
1 23
2 24

Pumpy, balancy, and technical.

  1. (23) From the 1st belay of Horus, start as for the second pitch of that route, but instead of moving right to the trad line, follow the bolts left up the gorgeous orange wall through crimps and a scoop, until the roof anchor of Horus.

  2. (24) Powerful committing roof climbing leading to an easy finish straight up to a rap station. Follow the bolts out the right side of the roof.

FA: muki woods, Robert Mudie, Ben Sheppard, Blair Johnston & Patrick McGovern, 8 Oct 2017

Mixed trad 30m, 2, 11
12 Hurricane Lamp Cracks
1 12 25m
2 11 20m
3 11 20m
4 11 10m
5 8 43m

A fine old classic whose grade seems to be gradually creeping up. Used to be grade 8 back in the day. Many variations are possible. Start at the chimney 7 metres right of Five Fingered Mary.

  1. 25m (12) Follow the chimney until the line divides at 25 metres. Step right to a ledge.

  2. 20m (11) Step back left then up the steep right-hand crack. Exit right onto ledge below steep bushy chimney.

  3. 20m (11) Traverse 6 metres left and around nose of rock. Up onto wall, then continue up until able to traverse right to base of short slot.

  4. 10m (11) The slot is desperately slick. Alternatively, climb the steep juggy wall on the right. The pitch finishes at the big ledge of the Tennis Court.

  5. 43m (8) From the top of pedestal climb tricky weakness left of red overhang. Up to subsidiary summit, step across gap, then up to summit. This is as for the last 2 pitches of Spiral Staircase and may be split as for that climb.

FA: Chris Baxter & Reg Williams, 1965

Trad 120m, 5
17 The Shipping News

Takes the hanging buttress between Hurricane Lamp Cracks and The Shroud. The overhang on pitch 3 is exciting. Pitch 2 is best avoided while the block is in place. Start as for The Shroud.

  1. 28m (10) As for The Shroud.

  2. 15m (14) Seam between Hurricane Lamp Cracks and Fat Dude until horizontal crack leads right past a detached block to front of buttress. Up to good ledge.

  3. 25m (17) Bridge deep line on right side of buttress (just left of The Shroud's third pitch). Traverse onto front of buttress, through overhang and up line. Avoid the top overhang (a big jammed block) on the right and continue to the Tennis Court.

FA: Norm Booth, Keith & Tim Lockwood, 2000

Trad 68m, 3
23 Fat Dude

Climb orange nose on right. Start at the first belay of Hurricane Lamp Cracks.

FA: Glenn Tempest & Paul Daniels, 1981

Trad 30m
10 The Shroud
1 6 28m
2 10 22m
3 10 25m
4 8 43m

Another great outing up the front of the Pharos. Start 9 metres right of Hurricane Lamp Cracks at the foot of a deep crack.

  1. 28m (6) Climb the buttress on the left to a good belay ledge.

  2. 22m (10) Traverse 5 metres right, stepping across a wide crack, then follow the steep, clean line on the right to another good ledge.

  3. 25m (10) Step left and climb the front of the buttress to gain the deep V-line on the left. Pass the spectacular roof on the left and up to the Tennis Court.

  4. 43m (8) From the top of pedestal climb tricky weakness left of red overhang. Up to subsidiary summit, step across gap, then up to summit. This is as for the last 2 pitches of Spiral Staircase and may be split as for that climb.

FA: Unknown, 1965

Trad 120m, 4
10 Samos

The line right of The Shroud and left of Spiral Staircase. The original line of Spiral Staircase went somewhere about the first pitch of this. The second pitch traversed off below the roofs to the line that is climbed now. Apparently originally climbed in the 1960s by Rob Taylor, who placed the pin. Start on the North east shoulder of the Pharos right of TS.

  1. 40m (10) Wander up to pick up a little R facing corner 3m right of The Shroud. Follow this corner to belay 5m below roofs.

  2. 30m (10) Right of the roof pitch on The Shroud is two bits of orange rock capped by roofs. Samos takes the thin patch of grey rock between them past an old, unnecessary pin through a break in the roofs. Then up wall on jugs to join Spiral Staircase.

  3. 5m (-) Scramble up short wall as for Spiral Staircase.

  4. 35m (-) Do the top pitch of SS.

FA: Pritchard & Con Frances, 1996

Trad 110m, 4
8 Spiral Staircase

Instead of going up to the front, follow the track around and up onto the north shoulder of the Pharos. Start at a low-angled, blunt spur just left of a vegetated gully.

  1. 43m (8) Up the buttress to a small ledge. Continue on steeper rock to another small ledge. Step off right side of ledge (straight up is grade 14) then up to a ledge below a short gully.

  2. 15m (4) Up the gully to a large ledge. Continue up to the next ledge, the Tennis Court.

  3. 20m (8) From the top of the pedestal, climb the tricky weakness left of the red overhang. Belay on the first good ledge.

  4. 23m (7) Up to subsidiary summit, step across gap then up to summit.

FA: Greg Lovejoy & Steve Craddock, 1963

Trad 100m, 4
17 Throwim way leg

If you only scare yourself on one route this year, make this the one. A fantastically scary (but safe) through a large roof a long way up the Pharos. The best grade 16 roof at Arapiles. Start from the right hand end of the large ledge at the end of Spiral Staircase's 2nd pitch beneath a crack through a roof. There used to be a 'map of Italy' hanging down, but that's gone.

  1. 6m (17) Up to roof and out to stance and belay.

  2. 24m (12) Step back left over the void and up. The top pitch of Spiral can be done to finish.

  3. -m (-) A third pitch has been done by stepping across and climbing the wall left of the top pitch of Spiral. Eric Jones, Richard Smith, Paul Hoskins, sometime in 2001.

FA: Kieran Loughran & Greg Pritchard, 1999

Trad 30m, 3
19 R Kirsty and Jo's Climb

Scramble up slab of rock right of Spiral Staircase to steeper rock.

  1. 30m (19) Wend way up to short, tricky right-facing corner in middle of face and up to large ledge below prominent orange roof.

  2. 25m (19) Up wall just right of roof (shared with NE Ridge Of The Pharos) then step left and straight up poorly protected wall. The pitch can also be finished by trending left.

FA: Kirsty Hamilton, Jo Hofmann. Pitch 1 as described : Louise Shepherd & Deniis Kemp., 1990

Trad 45m, 2
The Pharos Back Wall
23 Riot or Wrong

Left line on little wall 15 metres down and left of the start of 'Lamplighter'. Has been done on trad, now has two bolts and maybe you clip the first bolt of Raptures of the Steep

FA: Matthew Brooks & Josh Holko, 1992

Mixed trad 9m, 2
4 Walk Like An Egyptian

Start on the Back Wall of Pharos, 4m down and left of “The North East Ridge of the Pharos”. Offers the easiest access to the “Tennis Court”.

  1. 10m (3) Start at the foot of a chimney. Up and then traverse left to gain the northern face of the Pharos.

  2. 25m (4) Take the line of least resistance up easy series of steps until you gain a ledge that is at same height as Spiral Staircase’s first belay.

  3. 8m (2) Walk to Spiral Staircase’s first belay.

FA: Pete Holmes, Gabriel Holmes, Tex Proctor & Myles O'Dolan, 2 Apr 2016

Trad 43m, 3
18 The North-East Ridge of the Pharos

Start: Start just left of 'Lamplighter' at slick, wide, left-leaning crack.

  1. 25m (17) Grovel along the crack. From ledge above go left and scramble up to higher ledge.

  2. 22m (17) Up right-facing flake. Continue up to big ledge.

  3. 35m (18) Starting just right of big roof go up on suspect rock and move right to arete. Follow nose up arete on right and then left, whichever is easier to dramatic mossy exit. This pitch used to finish up a deep line some way right of the arete.

FA: Jeremy Boreham & Glenn Tempest (alt), 1980

Trad 82m, 3
21 Braindrops

Excellent steep jamming.

New anchor installed towards the end of pitch 1 (off left of Lamplighter belay ledge, tries but fails to be out of sight of Lamplighter, and may need a leaver 'biner), 24m to ground.

Start from ledge 12m up "Lamplighter", below steep flake on left wall. If you belay the crux from the ground, rope stretch brings a ledgefall more into play, which is manageable if you plug more gear.

  1. 23m (21) Up the steep left-leading flake-crack, take right line below the bush and up to the rap anchor. If continuing up pitch 2, continue 5m past the rap anchor via the corner on the R or the blunt arête on the L, to the next bigger ledge.

  2. 40m (20) Good wall climbing, up seams in gently overhanging wall. Then easily to top.

FA: Glenn Tempest, Jeremy Boreham & Rod Young., 1977

FA: Final pitch : Paul Deacon & Clive Curson, 2000

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