Will's Rock Climbing Page > Crags > The Grampians > Pastoral Buttress & Rural Rocks

Last updated: Feb '04

Pastoral Buttress & Rural Rocks

The Word: Convenient.
Sun/shade: Afternoon sun.
Wet weather options: No.
Style & Length of Climbs: 15-20m faces and cracks. Some bolts but you need a rack.
Grades: 14-24

The Details:

Access:

Described L to R.

Pastoral Buttress

Udder Shudder 20m 19 (OS)
Good sustained crack moves but I'd only give it a star if Baxter came back and cleaned it properly. The moss dodging and dirt-caked start really detracts. It's quite hard through the small roof at half height too.
A view of the thin crack of Udder Shudder (19) on the L, and the nicer looking handcrack (18) on the R.
Notice the copious amounts of moss left behind by the first ascentionist, who shall remain nameless.

Notice the copious amounts of moss left behind by the first ascentionist, who shall remain nameless.

Rural Rocks

A view from the walk in - beware the creek crossing, which requires a wet log balancing act if the creek is up!

Bit of a let-down when you'd been planning on Rosea!

A view of climbers atop the grade 14 arete.
Not a bad alternative considering Rosea was under snow...

* Hobby Bolter 17m 19 (OS)
Something of a one move wonder. Nice crack start, then hoick onto the face past 2 bolts.

Me low on the pleasant initial crack.
Nice enough crack start

About as good a buttshot as I've seen! Here's me post-crux on the facelimbing bit.
Almost artistic

* Sue's Climb 17m 19 (OS)

Shares the same crack start as Hobby Bolter, but traverse R after the crack to the thin crack. Nice moves up this with the crux getting onto the top slab.
Take a #9 cam to protect the traverse

Climbers at back left are on Sue's Climb. Climbers on the right are on Happy Aid, a nice 17. Another Roadside Attraction (21) is behind the tree on the right.
The entire crag!

* Another Roadside Attraction 15m 21 (OS)
Rather soft for 21 but I'm unlikely to downgrade a 21 onsight am I? A nice crux start though the pro is borderline above the first bolt (small cam and wire). Once you've clipped the 2nd bolt it's pleasant steep wall climbing at about 19-20 past a 3rd bolt.

Here's me clipping the bolt which protects the cruxy sequence off the deck.
thin feet

Once I stand up here the crux is over.
A tad balancy

More Internet Sites on Pastoral Buttress & Rural Rocks Climbing

Victorian Climbing Club (VCC) go here to check for new routes, and/or upcoming trips to this area.

Bureau of Meteorology Navigate to "Wimmera" - Horsham's weather is the closest.

Australian Maps Enter "Camerons Rd" as the street and "Laharum" as the suburb (and Victoria as the state).

Chockstone The best site on Victorian climbing, but bugger all on these crags.

Parks Victoria Park information, downloadable maps, etc.

Parks Victoria Education Resource Kit A fascinating explanation of Grampians climate, geology, wildlife, vegetation, soils, history, park management, and visitor impacts.

TheCrag.com As always. Record your Rural Rocks and Pastoral Buttress ticks here, and see what everyone else is climbing.