Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.

Deep Creek on the Northern side of Narrabeen Lakes is a site shrouded in mystery from the ghostly appearances at Wakehurst parkway to the crossbow butcher and even some of Sydney’s German Spy legacy it has a lot of excitement. Recently the brand new mountain bike single tracks crisscrossing the plateau have also unearthed a few hidden boulders that have produced some of the Northern Beaches best boulder problems.
Deep Creek besides its somewhat dark history is undergoing a sport renaissance with a range of new activities including a select few mini boulder craglets. The first of which was established in 2015 with the Apocalypse Boulder and now features several classic hard problems. Unfortunately there was nothing in terms of easier warm-up routes but this has now changed with the Bike Track boulders which now feature a few warm-up problems and some harder lines. Further up the mountain bike track there are a couple of hidden gems scattered throughout the forest most of which still need further development. The well-hidden Lizard Rock is a prime example and there are many more gems hidden throughout the forest.

Jimmy’s 5 (V5***) this is a classic high-ball problem with the crux crimp sequence right at the beginning. Once you are done with the crux the high top crux awaits on easy but long moves. Make sure you bring several crash pads and an equal number of spotters. Andrew, Chamron and Roman Senior all managed an ascent of this classic.

Night Crawler (V8***) this is the low extension into Jimmy’s 5. A hard sequence of boulder moves around a corner close to the ground moves straight into the crimp crux of Jimmy’s 5.  This makes for an excellent power endurance highball. Roman Junior sent it first try on his second day. We also established several new problems at Deep Creek:

Scrambled Eggs (V4/5**)  this problem starts with a low crux of the ground to get established on the wall, then a few easy moves lead to a roof with a good hold to gain the lip. The crux is the mantle across the lip. Despite several attempts only Roman J. has sent this problem. I am not convinced of the grade yet? It looks easy but the mantle is excruciating. Still waiting for a second ascent.

Fishface (V1**) a couple of easy moves along the jugs of an arête. Suddenly the jugs stop and a sloping shelve without holds makes you contemplate the drop below. Make sure you have willing spotters.

Lunging Lounge Lizards (V5***)  This is the classic of the area at the moment and it took us a ton of tries to work out the sequence. Once again Roman Junior was the only one to successfully link all the moves. A huge throw from a jug to a good rail sets you up for the crux mantle across a sloping roof. There is a hidden crimp which you have to try to find blindly. At first it seems desperate but once you know the location the move becomes easier. Also Still awaiting a second ascent.

Roman 28 April 2016