Mont Guide Hoodie Primaloft
I vividly recall my first synthetic jacket (a Montane sample and one of the first synthetic jackets to become available in Australia) a piece that was as much a fashion statement as it was practical gear. Its unique cut and garish navy / orange design set it apart in the climbing, walking, and canyoning circles of Sydney and the Blue Mountains at the time. Despite resulting in more than a few jokes, that jacket was a game-changer in terms of warmth and

La Sportiva TX Canyon
I've not exactly been an early adopter when it's come to canyon shoes. It took me years to move away from the old Dunlop Volleys, and like most former users I'll have to own up to waxing far too lyrical, far too loudly, and on far too many occasions about their capacity to stick to slimy rock. When I finally did move it was to a generic trail running/walking/canyoning shoe (La Sportiva Raptor) which worked pretty well for most of my outdoor pursuits and had pretty

Summit Gear Solitary 35 Ultralight
There’s a bit of a knack in building a good pack, and it's probably as much an art as a science. A good pack can be simple - little more than a sack with straps - but still be comfortable and durable. A bad pack can have all the bells and whistles - a pocket, strap, or clip for every conceivable eventuality - but still be unwieldly and unusable.
I mention all of this because it's difficult to articulate why the Solitary 35 is a nice pack. Trust

Entering the climbing community can seem a bit daunting at times! Not only is there a new language to learn, concepts to try, a million different ways to do things but there’s also the concern that if you get something wrong, either you or the people you are with could get seriously hurt….

It doesn’t need to be this way however. Climbing skills are just that – skills that can be learnt. And there is a natural progression within those skills. Blue

Two of our Instructor's, both coincidently named Hugh, have been out to the back of the Wolgan recently on great adventure.
The line between recreational and work climbing is often difficult for us to tread, and so generally we leave a big separation between the two. In this instance though, we think the trip is educational, inspiring, and a hell of a good yarn! So we have decided to share Hugh's trip report, unedited from it's original FB format.
Enjoy.
So I went climbing

There's more to belaying than locking off, feeding out slack and knowing how to give a soft catch. As a belayer, part of your job is to act as a second pair of eyes for your climber. Once they leave the ground you may have a better view of some parts of the climb than they do - especially when they are pumped and strung out mid-crux.
But what exactly are you looking out for? Here are a few things to keep front of mind when you’re belaying:
Leg behind the rope
This is of

Climbing School instructor Hugh Ward writes about managing your jammed cams
Have you ever started leading with a trad rack, only to find part way up a climb that your cams are so poorly maintained that you get pumped out just operating the trigger?
Perhaps you've had a similar experience removing gear when seconding?
Well if this is the case, you're not alone. I too have felt this pain, and walked to the very brink of despair trying to resolve it! Hopefully this post can

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