Mt Arapiles, VIC

Currently I am back in Australian and in Mt Arapiles which is about 4h west of Melbourne. Arapiles is a beautiful area where people all around the world gather up together and have an amazing time climbing and sometimes even creating new climbing routs and records. Mt. Arapiles has become a climbing Mecca for many. With over 2,000 climbing routs and many many bouldering problems, it is hard to rest. The Pines is a small campground for climbers at the bottom of Mt Arapiles, where everyday you socialize with other climbers and spend the evening around the fires telling and listening to stories.

Myself, I am not the greatest climber. In the month we have already spend at Arapiles I have gotten to climb quite a lot and am very satisfied with myself and the 17 grades I am climbing. (For expert climbers; Please keep in mind I only just started climbing). Alice Chains is my favorite rout so far, its only of grade 3 which of course I solo. We like doing this route short before the sun sets, we climb up Alice, hike all the way to the highest point of Mt. Arapiles and start walking back towards the campground trough Central Gully.

When climbing every day it is really easy to grind of your fingertips. The skin on your hands start peeling of, you get blisters and have no other choice but to have rest days to recover. Rest Days we try and use when we need to go into town to do some shopping or the laundry. Horsham is a pretty decent size city that provides some activities and entertainment. So far the best spot I have found where to spend a rest day, is in Natimuk, which is the tiny town nearest to Mt Arapiles (10 min away by car). Friday to Sunday the Natimuk Cafe is open where you can enjoy an amazing coffee and meals. Or the Milk bar where every now and then on hot days you can treat yourself with an ice-cream. Natimuk also has a very large green area for Picnics where you can access a power box and free Wifi. As a backpacker living in a van, a power box and free Wifi is sometimes all it takes to be the happiest person around. Arapiles MountaiN shop is a little climbing shop, where you can buy new gear, rent it or even get them to resole your favorite climbing shoes.

The Arapiles community is amazing, everyone is very easy going and willing to help you out. I am enjoying every single day I get to spend there. It has really been an experience for me. Next week we will be heading to the Grampians, sport climbing and bouldering is the "thing to do" there. Until then, I will stay busy trad climbing.