Nowra Rocks Moves

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Cheesemonster Grated and Grilled!

Carlie enjoys victory champagne and pizza!

Cheesemonster, that most beloved of Nowra classics. The route that causes Nowraphiles to grin with pleasure and Victorians to recoil in fear. The first route bolted at the mighty Cheesedale crag and still the most popular hard route in the country. Many bards have waxed lyrical about the pleasures offered by this 20 metre section of rock, but none so eloquently as those in the new Nowra guidebook, "start 4m right of Robochubby."

Today Cheesemonster 30 received two ticks! First cab off the rank was Carlie LeBreton who smashed the route after coming tantalizingly close in her previous two days of effort. Carlie is the third female to have climbed this grade at Nowra and the second to have claimed Cheesemonster's scalp. It's Carlie's first 8a+.

Half an hour later, Sean Powell stepped up and nabbed his first 30. Cruising the Monster on his second day.

Well done Carlie and Sean! Both ticking 30. (Note the 3 and the 0 they're holding up)

Let The Season Begin!

Cooler weather has arrived and Nowra is is prime form. Unfortunately, the mozzies haven't been told yet and it'll take a week or so for the little buggers to die off after they've enjoyed a very damp, warm Summer breeding season. Bring the bug spray!

Yesterday, Jarmilla Tyrril sent Dungeon Master 31 at South Central, setting a new standard for female climbers at Nowra. This route has cost Jarmilla dearly as she had a rope, quickdraws and chalk bag stolen from the base of the route last week after she went around to Cheesedale to belay Zac. The rope is a light green and dark green, flecked Sterling 9.4mm, quickdraws are Petzl Spirits and the chalk bag is a Beal one. Keep an eye out for them. I think the culprits are more likely to be local kids, it would very sad if a climber is responsible for this.

On Sunday, Ryan Holmes ticked his first 30, snaring the coveted scalp of Aloha Paradise at Rosies. Ryan had to work out some very specific hold beta to control the big swing at the end of the crux sequence. And on the previous day, serial sender, Matt Norgrove completed the link-up that includes the hardest sections of two 30s. Non-Dairy Monster starts up Cheesemonster then joins Non-Dairy Cheese-Like Substitute weighing in at 31.


Some plastic crushers have finding their feet on the lovely Nowra stone. Loesje Fletcher, Lindsay Fletcher, Joshua Boyce and Niranda Wright ticked off Uncertainty Pleasure 22 in the little cave at Cheesedale while visiting Victorian, Louis Godsell, smashed Wham Bam Thank You Maam 24.

A Wedding made in Nowra

Two of Nowra's favourites, Cerin and Marcus tie the knot tomorrow.

Marcus, the original winner of the Volume category at the very first 24 Hours of Power, may look like the wild man of Patagonia in this pic, but we know him as a chalkless crushing machine.

Cerin, famous for the first ascent of Cerin's Debut at Thompson's Point, set many young climbers' heart a-flutter in the nineties climbing scene before finding the man of her dreams and stealing him away to the wilds of South America.

Nowra Rocks wishes them well and we look forward to many strong armed offspring in the near future. Just give the poor little buggers chalk bag, please Marcus!

Mid-Week Ticks

With the skies finally clearing for a few days, Tuesday became the new weekend as thousands flocked to the sacred stone of the Shoalhaven.

Matt Norgrove brought his redpointing machine and his new levels of fitness and power with him and sent Cheesemonster 30 second go of the season after working it for a bit last year. Not to be outdone, Bryson Klein (14 years old) sent his first route of 2011, Gas Krankinstation 24 in the cave on the right side of Cheesedale.

Meanwhile, back at South Central, Dave Hoyle did Brown Badge 27 and was last seen setting his sights on Maintain The Rage 27.

Bryson on Gas Krankinstation

Welcome to Hogwarts!

Hogwarts received its first 4 routes last weekend courtesy of a team of crack young guns and a few very enthusiastic, bolting parents.

Tahlia, belayed by Minah, warming up at Cheesedale for the new route onslaught!

The team, comprising of Tahlia LeBreton, Bryson Klein and Minah LeBreton crushed the 3 star classics.

No that's not French Limestone, it's Minah cruising her first ever first ascent, and the first route at the crag; Wingardium Leviosa 13.

High fives with Carlie, the photographer as she clips the anchors.

Tahlia tackles the 3 metre roof at the start of Wingardium Leviosa!

They also added Expelliarmus 14, which starts up Wingardium Leviosa's roof and heads rightwards on the head wall.

Minah on the first ascent of Sirius Black 15. 6 rings to an anchor. A gem.

Bryson on the first ascent of The Golden Snitch 20, the current test piece at the crag.

All of the routes received repeats and were confirmed as classics.

Hogwarts is only 5 minutes drive and about 3 minutes walk from North Nowra shops. It's in the shade all afternoon and has the potential for more easy routes. Watch this space for more info...

Pre-Season Training

Planning a Pre-Nowra Season training trip. Check this video of Nowra's distant relative in South Australia for inspiration.

Start them young...

Just how young is too young to learn to belay?


Visualisation is an important skill for young climbers to develop, so Sigrid Hannu-Adams is wasting no time in starting to stare down Beefmeister 32 at Rosies.

2011 - The Year of Nowra

Minah LeBreton on Vandaholics (18) Thompson's Point

Shortly after Midnight on the first on January, Nowraphile and crusher of fine sandstone, Carlie LeBreton declared 2011 to be the Year of Nowra. The idea has caught on and gained momentum, meaning that 2011 is going to be huge!

Rod Young is nearing the completion of the most anticipated book since Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, A New Edition of the Nowra Guide!! The deadline for info, new routes and photos is the end of February, so get out there and complete those projects or bolt new ones for you chance at immortality.

Thomo's is prime before midday at the moment, especially if there's a breeze, and PC, The Grotto or the Bomaderry Creek Crags can all be good depending on the prevailing wind. But the rock's dry and a bit of spooge makes you stronger.

Then there's always the river, the nearby beaches and Jameroo!

Rod, Bronte and Minah rock jumping in the river below Thomo's.