flockhilladvertΩ Flock Hill is (more or less) closed until next year.  But you can re-live the glory, the magesty, the mana of New Zealand’s finest bouldering area with a copy of Derek Thatcher’s book! Email him to arrange your copy today Ω

Ω A man after Peter Allison’s heart:

Ouch! Ω

Flock Hill is closed due to ‘lambing’ from the 1st of November through until Christmas. This means no access for climbing to this area. This means don’t go there. Don’t even think about going there.

Ω There is some brief information on bouldering around Motueka here. Ω

Ω Turns out mountaineering is dead after all.  Apparently, everyone has gone soft, and the world is full of crybabies.  Listen here for more details Ω

Ω Bouldering at the Auckland Quarry is like super-tapered jeans: uncomfortable, unflattering and (strangely, in light of those first two points) increasingly fashionable. I even went bouldering there this weekend, and if you know me you’ll know that I’m very fussy when it comes to climbing venues. There was chalk everywhere. I blame the new Quarry bouldering guide.

I guess there are some ‘pros’ in play here. First, it’s one minute from the car. Second, there are lots of historical climbs here, some of which are really just boulder problems with easy sport climbs tacked on the end. Third, it’s quite tough, especially on your skin and your pulleys. Fourth, the local climbers are surprisingly friendly.  I think those are all ‘pros’. 

So, if you’re stuck in A-land and are wondering how the renovations at Mt Eden prison are coming along, why not combine that site inspection with a spot of what my friend Franny describes as ‘pebble wrestling’. Ω

jardines guide.qxpΩ Courtesy of Sam Anderson-Mangai, Powerband brings a selected or ‘mini-guide’ to the Jardines boulder field, Queenstown.  Download now from the Guides page, just in time for some Spring training. Ω