The short answer is: anytime!  One of the great things about the Blue Mountains is that you really can rock climb year round.  It's all about knowing where to go.
The longer answer is that prime climbing conditions are in the shoulder seasons (March - May and September-November).  This is when you're most likely to find those stellar days of crisp, cool air, clear skies, flawless friction and fine temperatures that mean you can climb wherever you want without hiding from the rain

When most people think of mixed climbing they think of crampons, ice axes, rock and ice.  Mixed climbing in the Blue Mountains serves up something a little different . . .
On your harness is a selection of trad gear, bolt plates and quickdraws.  You’re squinting into the distance trying to spot a trad placement or a carrot bolt.  Maybe you’re run out on sandy rock, standing on a shrub and calling down to your belayer to check if you’re on the right route.  Welcome to mixed

One of the most common questions people ask us here is ‘what’s the difference between top rope, sport, traditional climbing?’
When you’re new to climbing it can feel like travelling to a new country where everyone is speaking a foreign language.
Today we’re going to translate three of the most popular styles of climbing in Australia: top tope, sport and traditional climbing.
Top rope climbing
Top rope climbing is the style of climbing you

With so many climbing harnesses on the market and so many different features and styles to get your head around, it can be hard to know where to start.  Tune in over the next few weeks as we take a look at climbing harnesses, their features, how to get the right fit and how to choose the best one for the kind of climbing you want to do.
For starters, here are the basic features of your harness and what they do:
Waist belt:  The waist belt is a padded or

Simon and Monique are back with stories from their Indoor to Outdoor Conversion course with instructor Marty Doolan. . . 
Our climbing weekend started with an early wake up and a road trip from our home in Wollongong up to the Blue Mountains. Our first stop was in Blackheath, our designated meeting point. Here, in a small Blackheath café, we put a face to the familiar voice of our instructor Marty. He had called us a couple days earlier to grab some information about our level of

"I’m not sure when we first thought of climbing, but once we entered the welcoming doors of our local climbing gym, it no longer mattered.  We took to climbing like I take to chocolates in the house; we kept coming back for more."
Meet the winners of the Australian Climbing Festival Carabiner Guessing Competition: Monique and Simon!  They've won an Indoor to Outdoor Climbing Course, and over the next 12 months they will be be sharing their journey from indoor climbing bunnies to

Ever wondered what the difference is between free climbing and free-soloing?   How about a redpoint and a deadpoint?  Re-bolting vs retro-bolting?  And what on earth is a carrot bolt?
Learn the lingo here.  If you don't find what you need or you don't agree with the definitions, let us know.  We'd love to hear from you.
A
Accessory cord
Cord with a diameter of 1-9mm used for anchors, prusiks, slings and other purposes. Climbing accessory cord