It was a group of nine that started from Theresa Avenue at 8h00am. The weather forecast had been quite challenging on the days before, with constant changes around predicted wind levels. We were very lucky to be able to start in a fresh and warm breeze from the South that did not really get hold of us anymore once we got closer to the mountain. The wind levels from then on generally decreased while the grey sky continuously lifted.
We reached the access of the Spring route after roughly 30 minutes and had a first short break in the overhang cave. From there we made our way further up and enjoyed the views from the traverse line during another short rest. Everyone easily managed the steps around the exposed bolder on the traverse as well as the B-pitch up the hanging bolder on the next upper level.
From there the bigger part of the group enjoyed scrambling up the rocks on the right side of the chimney instead of walking up the trail, happily exploring the broad range of scrambling options. We set our feet onto the Apostles Path at 10h45pm.
As for the decline, we were all keen to scramble down Woody Buttress for the first third of the way in order to then find the old traverse line from the Woody Buttress route into Woody Ravine. Scrambling down Woody Buttress was true fun and we enjoyed the views on floating clouds in blue skies during our lunch break on the buttress route. A few scrambles further down from there, we managed to find the cairns indicating the faint traverse route, which led us into Woody Ravine at the lower end of the upper rock-band section of the ravine.
From there we quickly made our way down, reaching the cars at around 12h30pm.
Thank you everyone for a magnificent day on the mountain. Thank you for your adventurous spirit and for your enthusiasm along trying out alternative scrambles all over the route, on the scrambles down Woody Buttress and even more on the explorative section along the traverse line into Woody Ravine.
Thanks to Dennis Cope and Alex Le Roux for sparking the idea and a first exploration of the Woody B-R traverse.
Pictures: Dyan Belonje, Jonathan Ray, and Ruth Knoblich
