Canberra Climbers' Association

Boulder @ Blochaus
2023-04-04 18:00 - 20:00 (Australia/Sydney) | BlocHaus Bouldering Gym, 1 Dairy Road (Unit 2, Building 2), Fyshwick, ACT, Australia
Come and hang out with us!!
The CCA hosts a monthly Bouldering Night on (roughly) the first Tuesday of each month, at BlocHaus Bouldering Gym.
You can work up a thirst for an hour or so in the gym and then go crush some beers and at the Capital Brewing Co. on the same site as BlocHaus (tap room is open Wed to Sun until 11pm).
There is a 10% entry fee discount to the bouldering gym for CCA members who present their membership card.
You’ll be able to identify the CCA person(s) coordinating the night by their club tee-shirt:

CCA Climbing Gym Night
2023-03-29 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-03-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-03-01 19:30 - 21:30 | CIRC, 38-40 Essington Street, Mitchell, ACT, 2911, Australia
Come and hang out with us!!
The CCA hosts a twice-monthly gym night at the Canberra Indoor Rock Climbing (CIRC) North Rocks facility in Mitchell, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. No RSVP needed, just show up.
This is an opportunity for CCA members to climb with fellow members on a regular basis, learn or practise moves that you might use on outdoor climbs, and buddy up with potential outdoor climbing partners.
You can hire climbing shoes, a harness and chalk from the gym, or you can BYO. You will need to take a free-of-charge short belay course at the CIRC gym if you haven’t already done so.
As a CCA member, you can get a 10% discount on entry if you show your current membership card.
Coordinators for the gym nights are CCA Treasurer, Jack Pezzey, and CCA Secretary, John Wilson. You’ll be able to identify them on the night by the CCA graphics on the back of their club tee-shirt:
CCA tee-shirt – men’s back

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker – Matt Clark
2023-03-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7.00pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
We also have a guest for dinner – Wyatt Rayna – who is a history Honours student at The Australian National University and is interested in the relationship between the ANUMC and the Australian Army Alpine Club. This relationship includes, of course, the collaboration between the 1988 Baruntse Expedition (comprising members of the ANUMC) and the 1988 Australian Bicentennial Everest Expedition (comprising members of the AAAC). So if any club member would like to share stories about club history with Wyatt, that would be greatly appreciated.
Guest speaker: Matt Clark – trekking and climbing in Nepal’s Khumbu region
Matt spent 8 weeks during last year’s Spring, trekking and then climbing in the famous Khumbu region of Nepal.
Come along and hear Matt’s thoughts on Nepal, and how to trek and climb mostly solo and unsupported, whilst on a small budget.
Highlights include trekking the 3 passes, climbing on the beautiful and deserted 6,400m peak of Cholatse, and sumitting Ama Dablam before the crowds arrived. We even have a surprise unexplored crag that might just be one of the highest rock climbing crags in the world, at over 5,000m!

CCA Christmas drinks 2022
2022-12-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Capital Brewing Co., Building 3/1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609, Australia
Our last event for the year is the ever-popular Christmas drinks, which will again be held at Capital Brewing Co. in Fyshwick. A table for 20 has been booked in the name of CCA, in the outside beer garden.
Snack type food is available there. Food is also available at brodburger, who have a permanent van in the taproom. Please note that the brodburger kitchen closes at 8pm.
For those interested, a climb at BlocHaus Bouldering beforehand is an option.
Come along, bring a friend or significant other, and enjoy a night out anticipating your Christmas holiday plans, or getting some great ideas for holiday destinations from fellow climbers!

CCA Bouldering & Beer Night - BlocHaus
2022-12-06 18:00 - 21:00, 2022-11-01 18:00 - 21:00, 2022-10-04 18:00 - 21:00, 2022-09-06 18:00 - 21:00, 2022-08-02 18:00 - 21:00, 2022-07-05 18:00 - 21:00 | BlocHaus Bouldering Gym, 1 Dairy Road (Unit 2, Building 2), Fyshwick, ACT, Australia
Come and hang out with us!!
The CCA hosts a monthly Bouldering & Beer Night on (roughly) the first Tuesday of each month, where we meet at one of Canberra’s bouldering gyms to work up a thirst for an hour or so and then go crush some beers and at the Capital Brewing Co. on the same site as BlocHaus (tap room is open Wed to Sun until 11pm).
There is a 10% entry fee discount to the bouldering gym for CCA members who present their membership card.
You’ll be able to identify the CCA person(s) coordinating the night by their club tee-shirt:

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Zac Zaharias
2022-11-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7.00pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: CCA President, Zac Zaharias – climbing in Nepal
Zac will be presenting on his recent reconnaissance of Sita Chuchura (6611m) – a rarely climbed peak in the Dhaulagiri range of western Nepal. The reconnaissance is for a forthcoming summit attempt in 2023.
This was Zac’s first visit to this region since his successful ascent of Dhaulagiri I (8167 m) in 1997, and he will provide some commentary on changes since that climb.

CCA Social Night
2022-10-19 08:00 - 17:00, 2022-08-17 08:00 - 17:00, 2022-06-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come along for a meal from The Limestone Kitchen and an opportunity to meet other climbers. Bring along photos, a friend or significant other, and be armed with tall stories.
The CCA has a table booked, and our table will have a climbing helmet situated in the middle so you can identify the CCA from the rest of the diners.
We will also provide a few free jugs of beer.

CCA General Meeting (AGM) / guest speaker - Matthew Clark
2022-09-21 19:00 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
This meeting will also be our AGM, so we will include election of CCA office bearers for 2022/2023.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7.00pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Matthew Clark, Trekking and Alpine climbing in the Andes

Matt has recently returned from a 2 month trip, spent hiking and climbing in the Peruvian Andes. During the trip, he spent a number of weeks hiking in both the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash mountain ranges to acclimatise, before setting out to climb a number of intermediate to advanced mountains in the Cordillera Blanca.

Trip highlights include climbing 8 major routes up to D+ in difficulty, summiting four 6,000m peaks and a solo ascent of the North face of Ranrapalca, 6,162m, D+.
Come along and hear Matt talk about the trip, and why he thinks the Andes are the best mountaineering playground in the world!

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Peter Blunt
2022-07-20 19:00 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7.00pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Peter Blunt – an introduction to mountaineering in New Zealand
Peter is a long-time CCA member with a trad climbing ethic. He has been rock climbing for 40+ years and has climbed extensively all over the world. Peter undertook initial exploration and development of the Point Perpendicular crag and has set other new routes on mostly obscure remote cliffs. He instructed and taught climbing in the ACT for 35 years in Outdoor Education and is now retired from the workforce.
Peter will talk about his experiences of climbing and mountaineering in New Zealand, drawing on both old and recent visits, and including:

guidance to new climbers on how to get started, where to go, mountaineering courses etc.
access to the NZ mountains and the NZ hut system
the New Zealand Alpine Club Inc. (NZAC), and also the Australian section of the NZAC, and what it offers

Peter has been a regular and popular presenter to our General Meetings:

A 40 year journey through some of the classic middle-grade rock climbs in the Sierras – May 15, 2019
An ascent of The Nose, El Capitan – October 28, 2020

Introductory Climbing Day - White Rocks (Wickerslack Crag)
2022-07-10 | White Rocks, White Rocks, Karabar, NSW, 2620, Australia
This introductory climbing day, to be held at White Rocks (Wickerslack Crag) in Queanbeyan, is an opportunity for indoor climbers and new CCA members to experience the joys of outdoor, top-roped climbing.
Participants of any experience are welcome, and the focus for the day is to provide an informative atmosphere.
You will need to join CCA on the day if you are not a member ($20 for one year or $50 for three years), and all participants will need to sign the CCA Activity Waiver (PDF 538KB) before attending.
The day will be hosted by the CCA Vice President, Brian Mattick, and coordinated by CCA Phil Thomas. If you are interested in attending, please register with Phil Thomas at eveningstarsystems1@hotmail.com

CCA General Meeting / guest speakers Matt Clark & Hugh Newall – ice climbing in Ouray, Colorado
2022-05-18 19:00 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the meeting starts at 7.00pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speakers: Hugh Newall & Matt Clark – ice climbing in Ouray, Colorado

Hugh and Matt have just returned after a 4 week ice climbing trip to Ouray in southern Colorado, USA.

They spent their time climbing in the famous Ouray Ice Park, as well as the many back-country climbs in the area such as Bridal Veil Falls WI5/6. They also enjoyed some back-country touring. Altogether they clocked up around 100 pitches and 3,000m of ice climbing!

Come along and learn some insights into the mysterious world of climbing frozen waterfalls.

CCA Climbing Week - Mt Arapiles
2022-05-07 - 2022-05-15 | Mt Arapiles, Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park, Centenary Park Road, Victoria, 3409, Australia
Come and join CCA members Jack Pezzey and Robert Douglas for a week’s climbing at this wonderful, world-famous quartzite crag.
Mt Arapiles has everything from short test pieces to multi-pitch classics at all grades. There are 3,000+ climbing routes, predominantly trad, and comprehensive descriptions of each are available on thecrag.com website.
To participate, you will need to be able to at least second a trad climb. You will need to bring all your personal climbing gear (climbing shoes, chalk bag, harness and helmet at a minimum), plus whatever you need for multi-day camping in a basic campground. Please refer to the comprehensive briefing notes (available from the trip coordinators, Jack Pezzey and Robert Douglas) for further details.
The coordinators will try their best to partner participants before the trip, if you don’t already have a climbing partner. No guarantees, however!
Please contact Jack or Robert (details below) if you would like to join in.

Watchtower Crack (16), Mt Arapiles. Photo by Steve Morris

Introductory Climbing Day – Booroomba Rocks
2022-04-09 | Booroomba Rocks, Booroomba Rocks, Namadgi National Park, ACT, Australia
Our popular introductory climbing day at Booroomba Rocks, Namadgi National Park, is a great way for newer CCA members who are first-time climbers at Booroomba to enjoy the delights of the classic trad climbs at the Booroomba crag. It is also a great opportunity for indoor climbers to experience the joys of outdoor and trad climbing.
You will be led up a selection of classic routes at Booroomba Rocks, by experienced CCA members; grades will depend on climbers and leaders.
Participation
Participants of any experience are welcome; the focus for the day is to provide an informative atmosphere.
The numbers who can participate will depend on how many CCA leaders we have, and we aim for a ratio of one leader/guide for a maximum of two participants, so it’s first in – best dressed!!
You will need to join CCA on the day if you are not a member ($20 for one year or $50 for three years), and all participants will need to sign the CCA Activity Waiver (PDF 75KB) before attending.
Please register your interest with the coordinator, Zac Zaharias (see details below).
What to bring
You will need to bring your personal climbing gear (climbing shoes, chalk bag, harness and helmet) plus food and water for the day. A water bottle that you can attach to your harness comes in very handy, as most climbs at Booroomba Rocks are multi-pitch. Many of the climbs are in full sun for most of the day so some form of sun protection is a good idea.
Meeting time and location
We will meet at the Booroomba Rocks car park at 9am for introductions and to organise climbing parties. To get to the car park, drive up Apollo Road to about 1km before the Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station. Turn right onto the gravel road (it’s signposted) and follow this to the end, about 3 km.

Booroomba Rocks image gallery Booroomba Rocks climbing guide

Vomit (17) – Booroomba Rocks, South Buttress

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Andy King
2022-03-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Mont Adventure Equipment, 18 Pirie Street, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609, Australia
Our first event for the year is a special event – a combined General Meeting at Mont Adventure Equipment and an opportunity to hear from Andy King representing DMM and Edelrid.
The evening will kick off with a short session by the CCA Vice-President, Brian Mattick, who will outline issues and events that the CCA is currently engaged in such as cliff access, bolting and cliff-care at Booroomba Rocks. After the information session, there will be an opportunity for members and guests to socialise and buy any gear. Mont will be doing a one-night-only super-duper specials on selected DMM hardware and Edelrid ‘biners.
The information session will be followed by our guest speaker presentation, given tonight by Andy King.
Mont will be giving away a lucky-door-prize of a 60m Edelrid Taipan rope valued at $279.95. The Taipan is a great ecological choice because it is made of high-quality left-over yarns from other productions.
All welcome. Please bring along family and friends. You will be able to join the CCA on the night ($20 per year or $50 for three years) if you want to take advantage of your CCA special 20% discount on Mont gear.
Guest speaker: Andy King
Andy is a rock and ice climber with extensive time logged in the Warrumbungles, Wolgan Valley and Blue Mountains. He has also spent months and months on end, ice and mixed climbing in NZ. Just for fun, Andy spent a month doing some Winter speed ascents in Norway.
Andy will talk about some of his adventures as well as about DMM and Edelrid – two of the truly great global climbing brands. DMM are celebrating 40 years of making classy gear in their Welsh foundry. Edelrid have developed some new revolutionary rope technology that is truly game-changing.

CCA Christmas drinks 2021
2021-12-08 18:15 - 21:00 | Capital Brewing Co., Building 3/1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609, Australia
Our last event for the year is the ever-popular Christmas drinks, which will again be held at Capital Brewing Co. in Fyshwick. A table for 20 has been booked in the name of CCA, in the outside beer garden.
Snack type food is available there. Food is also available at brodburger, who have a permanent van in the taproom.
For those interested, a climb at BlocHaus Bouldering beforehand is an option.
Come along, bring a friend or significant other, and enjoy a night out anticipating your Christmas holiday plans, or getting some great ideas for holiday destinations from fellow climbers!

CCA General Meeting (AGM) / guest speaker Rick Agnew
2021-11-17 19:00 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest. We have been busy behind the scenes, as usual, even throughout the recent lock-down period! This meeting will also be our AGM, so we will include election of CCA office bearers for 2021/2022.
The meeting will be followed by our guest speaker presentation, as usual.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the AGM starts at 7.00pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Rick Agnew – 2019 K2 attempt
Canberran alpine mountaineer, Rick Agnew, will talk on his pre-COVID-19 attempt of the world’s second highest mountain – K2.
Rick’s high-altitude pursuits have taken him across the world for over 40 years. He has trekked, climbed, guided and/or co-guided in Australia, Africa, north, central and southern America, Nepal, Tibet, Pakistan, New Zealand, Russia and Antarctica.
Rick has climbed on four 8000ers – Everest, K2, Manaslu and Shishapangma. He is the oldest Australian to have climbed the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each continent). He was well on his way to completing the volcano seven summits, and working his way towards completing a 2nd Seven Summits, when the COVID-19 pandemic halted overseas travel (amongst other things).
As a true consultant, Rick is an eloquent presenter. Come and hear Rick recount his mountaineering experiences and answer questions.
K2 peak, Karakoram range, Pakistan.

CCA Bouldering & Beer Night - Mountain Strong - POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
2021-08-10 18:00 - 21:00, 2021-06-08 18:00 - 21:00 | Mountain Strong Bouldering Gym, 66 Townsville Street, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609, Australia
Come and hang out with us!!
The CCA hosts a monthly Bouldering & Beer Night on (roughly) the first Tuesday of each month, where we meet at one of Canberra’s bouldering gyms to work up a thirst for an hour or so and then go crush some beers at the Capital Brewing Co. over near the BlocHaus gym (tap room is open Wed to Sun until 11pm).
There is a 10% entry fee discount to the bouldering gym for CCA members who present their membership card.
You’ll be able to identify the CCA person(s) coordinating the night by their club tee-shirt:

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Zac Zaharias
2021-07-21 19:00 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the General Meeting starts at 7.30pm, in one of the meeting rooms upstairs from the dining area. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Zac Zaharias
CCA President, Zac Zaharias, will be presenting on Mountaineering in Pakistan, covering four expeditions to the Karakoram ranges – three to 8000 metre peaks Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and II, and a joint expedition with the Pakistan Army to Spantik (7027 m) in the Hispar region. Pakistan offers some of the best high altitude mountaineering and big wall climbing in the world but is largely neglected by Australians.

Approaching Camp 3 on Broad Peak
Camp 2 on Spantik
Above Camp 2 on Gasherbrum 2

Free Showing of Reel Rock 15
2021-05-25 20:00 - 22:00 | Mountain Strong Bouldering Gym, 66 Townsville Street, Fyshwick, ACT, 2609, Australia
Mountain Strong Bouldering Gym, in conjunction with the CCA, will host a free screening of the 2021 Reel Rock film.
CCA President, Zac Zaharias, will give a 10 min introductory talk about the latest updates in crag access in the ACT, the CCA’s ongoing role in facilitating local crag access, and how we can all help with maintaining crag access.
Normal gym entry fee applies, with a 10% discount on the entry fee for CCA members (you may need to show your current membership card to obtain the discount). So come in for a social boulder at the gym and then stay for the film afterwards.

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Nic Bendeli
2021-05-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Ainslie Football & Social Club, 52 Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie, ACT, 2602, Australia
Come and hear a rundown of the CCA’s recent activities plus general climbing news and points of interest, followed by our guest speaker presentation.
CCA members and non-members are welcome.
Dinner is available from The Limestone Kitchen at the Ainslie Football Club, providing a great chance to relax and socialise with other CCA members before the General Meeting starts at 7.30pm, in one of the meeting rooms upstairs from the dining area. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Nic Bendeli – Two Alaska-Yukon Giants
A presentation by Nic Bendeli on attempts to climb two giants in the south-west Alaska/Yukon border. The climbs were undertaken by a small group, over two seasons (2002/2003), using mountaineering and ski mountaineering styles to summit. A world record was set from Mount Saint Elias.
Mount Saint Elias (also designated Boundary Peak 186), is the second-highest mountain in both Canada and the United States and stands on the Yukon-Alaska border about 42km southwest of Mount Logan. It is the highest mountain in Canada and is notable for its immense vertical relief. Its summit rises 5,489m vertically in just 16km horizontal distance from the head of Taan Fjord, off Icy Bay (Wikipedia)
Mount Logan is the highest mountain in Canada, and the second-highest peak in North America after Denali. Mount Logan is located in the Saint Elias Mountains within Kluane National Park Reserve in southwestern Yukon, and is less than 40 kilometres north of the Yukon–Alaska border. Due to active tectonic uplifting, Mount Logan is still rising in height. Its height was recorded via GPS min 1992, as being 5,959m (Wikipedia)
This presentation will be lavishly illustrated with old-fashioned optical slides.
M Dabbs at camp2a, Yukon (April 2003)
