Boys Climbing at the Grampians

This late Spring trip entailed another visit to Victoria’s beautiful Grampians-Gariwerd National Park. After a long day of driving from various destinations, we arrived at Boreang campground. The boys were keen to get moving and the footy was flying around. Camp was set up efficiently in blustery conditions with three tarps. We then headed off to explore the immediate area on foot.

We were surrounded by 420 million-year-old sandstone formations, with a sandy forest of stringy-bark trees at its feet. By the time we got into camp, we had seen several native faunas including an echidna burrowing its way into an ants nest, a pair of stumpy-tailed (shingle-back) lizards basking in the sun, Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo overhead, and friendly Eastern Grey Kangaroo’s hanging around the campsite.

For dinner we gave the boys the ultimate choice of pizza toppings on wraps and folded them into calzones to cook on the hot coals, they were a hit.

The boys played murder in the dark (or their version of it) until around 9.30 when we decided that a good night’s rest would be necessary for the big day of climbing ahead.

Up at a sparrow’s fart, we filled up on cereal and fruit then hopped into the cars and made our way to the Bundaleer area. We were a little early so some standing around was necessary, a good time to slap on some sunscreen and have a stretch.

Earl, our guide from Hangin’ Out, came bounding down, and immediately the boys gave him their full attention. We got geared up and headed for the crag, one wrong turn later and we arrived at the Bundaleer Wall. Awe set in as the boys could see the task they had in front of them.

After a quick demonstration, the boys were off and ready to climb, the blustery conditions would not hold them back. Some belayed first others took to the challenge and clambered up the cracks. Everyone was busy moving about and figuring out where their limits were and how to push past them.

Some of the boys followed another guide Matt up to the abseil and set about the downward journey. This proved to be popular for the rush of lowering yourself down a cliff face is one of a kind.

As the day grew old the boys tired and it was the leader’s turn to tackle some more difficult climbs cheered on, belayed, and encouraged up by the boys. We hit 5 pm and that was a wrap. The guides from Hangin’ Out Matt and Mika were impressed with the boy’s growth and perseverance to push past barriers. We thank them along with Earl for the day they put on for us.

We took off from the carpark and headed for camp to get dinner started, on the menu was a hot pot stew which turned out to be one of the best meals on CA to date, maybe a little spicy for some of the boys though.

We woke up and as a team (mostly) packed up camp and jumped in the cars, the three-hour journey was broken up with a pit-stop in Beaufort. But we arrived back at Camp Kiah to a glorious sunny day and a dip in the pool and BBQ lunch followed.

This camp was a huge success with both staff and participants coming away energized by the getaway into one of the natural wonders of Victoria.

I would like to thank Sophie, Olly, Matt, and our volunteer Emma for all their hard work in the lead-up, during, and following the journey.

signing off,

Fergus Russell,

Program Coordinator.