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"If everything's under control, you're going too slow."
The equitable Pootang Crag hidden deep within the Northern Beaches forests has given us a good flogging on our first visit: Pootang 2017. So it was time for another visit to show who is the boss. Every line here has something special and out of the ordinary. Even you lower grades generally have a sting in the tail and you need to bring an extra helping of power bars for your shots at glory.
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| Andrew on Fist Full of Frankfurters (20***) |
Roman Honey Badger 23** |
Cave Boys |
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| Chris Honey Badger 23** |
Ledge Boys |
Cameron Lovin Oven 19** |
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| Super gum tree |
Andrew Pocket Rocket 16 ** |
Chris Catlin Sam 25*** |
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Roman on Lovin Oven 19** |
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The warm ups at Pootang are excellent but not to be taken lightly:
- Pocket Rocket (16**) very pleasant and stops at the roof were the crux of of Split Rocket (25**) begins.
- Fist Full of Frankfurters (20***) classic roof probelm with nice undercling mantle move at the end.
- Fish Taco Direct (19**) great warm-up but starts with a mantle to get your limbered up.
- Vertical Smiles (22***) mega classic - nice moves up a vertical wall onto a rest and then its game on. Grab a positive edge and launch for the two nasty slopers high above your head smear on "nothing" and press out the mantle high above your last bolt - not for the faint-hearted.
- Baby Cannon (24**) same amazing wall as Vertical Smile until the stance but then head out righ over the void with a powerful gaston move. Good jugs to get esablished in the roof, one hard move to reach two good holds. Then mantle your heart out and try not to hold your breath.....
This time we had a look at the two gems on the upper tier:
- Lovin Oven (19**) fantastic three dimensional climbing with a suprising variety of moves and some pretty rounded slopers which will make you squeal with delight in the afternoon sun.
- Honey Badger (23**) great bouldery start to a nice rest ledge then a couple of moves to the honeycomb and the sloping ramp crux. The dyno to the top jug is impossible until you find the little hidden edge up high on the ramp, just place your foot in opposition below and go for it. Pure magic.
The winter afternoon sun was getting low in the horizon but we had a little more gas in the tank and got to work on the old school classic
- Catlin Sam (25**) steep and cruxy long reaches to good holds lead to a crux throw and a rest. Then you have to head out into the roof but we were too tired to clean the route so left this one for our next visit. Awesome climb.
More Photos are here: Pootang Crag 1 July 2018
 See you all soon ...
Roman
6 July 2018
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