The Plan: Gamegees and the Old FBC.
Early start 05:45 get up. done.
Outa the house and on the road by 06:30. Done.
Arrive at Karangahake Gorge, before 08:00. Done.
Hike in and be at the Base of Prelude (14) 45m 2 pitch by 08:30. Oh this was too easy. Done again.
Well that was Just too good to be true............
The track into K gorge is amazing, gone is the Pipe line, and it is now a proper hikers track, the pipeline swing bridges have been replaced with walking surfaces and the hike to the bottom of the goat track up to the climbs was a 10 min stroll, the trek up to the base of the "Shield Wall" was still a mission, but a good warm up, and on a cold, crisp winter morning (about zero C), we were at the base of Prelude, and well warmed up.
Unfortunately that side of the gorge does not get sunlight in winter until well into the afternoon. Great in summer, not in winter. It had not been climbed for a while and had an excellent covering of moss and lichens, these held the damp exceedingly well.
GameGees timed the FBC ascent of the first pitch at 1.5 hrs. Two falls, one significant with a no.3 wire pulling through the placement making the total fall about 4m. My new helmet has been crissined, it was crazy, thought I had a good foot placement and was stretching up to find a hand hold, move the left foot out to flag, Right hand in a fist jam, and felt the right foot just start to slide. #$&^* &$^*& *$&* $&* %&# %% && **( ^$%.
Climb back up and placed a No.4 wire where the 3 hand been.
When I finally got to the Belay point, I was able to deploy my new radio, and talk to Gamegees below, he did well, this being his first truly exposed climb, and by the time he joined me at the belay station he was frozen and shitting himself, the view as always from the place is magniffecent, but at the same time cruel, as the walls on the far side of the gorge are bathed in Bright Sunlight, and we are now frozen.
Lookin down K Gorge
Lookin up the K gorge
Looking down Prelude (14) into the Gorge, at the base is the GameGees. AKA RedHelMutMan.
The u-nano-mouse agreement was to get down and warm ASAP. So without completeing (ha, didn't even think about it) the second pitch we abded down, Packed up and headed out.
We were back in sunny Auckland by 14:10 and I was utterly Stuffed.
It's now Monday here and I have phoned into work and advised that I am in no condition to come in.
I have not been this sore in a long time.
