CCA Climbing Gym Night
2023-03-01 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-03-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-03-29 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-04-12 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-04-26 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-05-10 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-05-24 19:30 - 21:30, 2023-06-14 19:30 - 21:30 (Australia/Sydney) and 9 more dates | 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!

Boulder @ Blochaus
2023-04-04 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-02 18:00 - 20:00 | 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 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:

Introductory Climbing Day - White Rocks (Wickerslack Crag)
2023-04-23 | 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 member, Phil Thomas. If you are interested in attending, please register with Phil at eveningstarsystems1@hotmail.com

Armando Corvini - my life as a mountaineer
2023-05-11 20:00 - 21:30 | Italian Cultural Centre of Canberra, 80-82 Franklin Street, Forrest, ACT, 2603, Australia

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Peter Cocker
2023-05-17 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 meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Peter Cocker
Peter Cocker, mountaineer and storyteller, and founder of K7 Adventures, grew up in England and discovered his passion for rock climbing as a teenager. Every day he’d go climbing on his own in the Lakes District rain or shine, often coming home soaked but happy as only those who have found their purpose in life can be.
Peter is 80-something years old now, and is still the inspiration behind K7 although nowadays he employs others to do the hard work of guiding outdoor adventurists. His contribution to the world of mountaineering is detailed in Chapter 6: Upwardly mobile young men of Will Steffen’s book “Himalayan Dreaming: Australian Mountaineering in the Great Ranges of Asia, 1922-1990” (ANU Press, 2017).
Peter will talk about the early days and evolution of climbing at Booroomba Rocks, where there was a simultaneous, spontaneous influx of granite and crack climbers from the UK who found themselves all in Canberra. He will also talk about the local land jurisdiction.

Introductory Climbing Day – Booroomba Rocks
2023-05-27 | Booroomba Rocks, Booroomba Rocks, Namadgi National Park, ACT, Australia
Determinant – Booroomba Rocks
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 have a good time and 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!!
This event is only for CCA members. You cannot join the CCA on the day of the event, and you can only join via the CCA website. Please note that it takes about three weeks to receive your member’s card after you submit the membership application form on-line and pay the membership fee.
The day will be hosted by the CCA President, Zac Zaharias, and coordinated by CCA member, Phil Thomas. Please register your interest with Phil (see details below).
Please do not turn up on the day and hope to go climbing as we need to organise climbing leaders in advance for this event.
Integral Crack – Booroomba Rocks
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

Winter Solstice at Honeysuckle Creek
2023-06-24 - 2023-06-25 | Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground, 244 Apollo Rd, Rendezvous Creek, ACT, 2620, Australia
Spend the weekend climbing at Booroomba Rocks, Honeysuckle Crag or on the Orroral Ridge (if the road is open), and join other climbers at Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground on Saturday night.
This is a great chance to meet other climbers, have a few drinks and tell a few unbelievable yarns around a roaring campfire.
Climbing
You will need to have a climbing partner to go climbing on this weekend.
The weekend is not an introductory activity for novice climbers, and there will be NO GUIDED CLIMBING for this event. If you cannot arrange a leader, you are welcome to still come along for the camp out.
Camping
The CCA will pay camping fees at Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground, and we will provide wood for the campfire. We need to know participant numbers to register with ACT Parks and pay the camping fee, so please let the organisers know if you are coming to camp overnight (see RSVP details below).
Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground has water, toilets, fireplaces, picnic tables and chairs. There is no electricity. You will need to provide everything else, including:

Warm clothes, beanie, gloves etc. in many layers. It will be cold overnight!
Dinner and breakfast, including food, cooking utensils, stove, plates and bowls, cup etc.
Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, torches (it is the longest night of the year, after all), a folding chair and any other creature comforts you feel are necessary.

We will be camping about 30-70m from the car park.
For more information about the campsite, visit Honeysuckle Campground – Parks ACT.
Registration and further information
For more information, to register for Saturday night camping, or to volunteer to help out, please contact the organiser detailed below.
Honeysuckle campground in winter

CCA General Meeting / guest speakers Lakpa Sherpa and Chris Burke – climbing and trekking in the Himalaya
2023-07-19 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 meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speakers: Lakpa Sherpa and Chris Burke – climbing and trekking in the Himalaya
Lakpa Sherpa and Chris Burke
Lakpa Sherpa and Chris (Jensen) Burke have climbed many mountains in the Himalaya, including Mount Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga and Annapurna.
Between them, they have more than 25 x 8,000m summits, with Lakpa having multiple successful 8,000m ascents, with summits by both of them on 10 of the world’s highest peaks over 8,000m.
Lakpa is also well known for his successful 18-pitch ice climb of the 800m+ ice-fall known as ‘Losar in Kwangde near Namche Bazaar in Nepal (2006).
Lakpa has led mountaineering expeditions, treks and performed rescues throughout the Himalaya over many years, having commenced his technical training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling (India). For many years, Lakpa had the most summits of Ama Dablam, the jewel of Nepal’s Khumbu region.
Chris has trekked and climbed throughout the Himalaya and around the world more broadly, having also completed the feat known as the ‘7 Summits’, to climb to the summit of the highest peak on each of the 7 continents. Over the years, she has also supported and raised funds for the education and refuge of women and girls in Nepal.
Chris and Lakpa are married and in the last year or so moved from their Sydney base to Canberra.

Introductory Climbing Day - White Rocks (Wickerslack Crag)
2023-08-06 | 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 some fun and easy top-roped climbs on limestone.

All CCA members of any experience are welcome. The focus for the day is to provide an informative atmosphere. For new CCA members, the day is an opportunity to learn basic climbing, rope and cliff skills at the best introductory crag in the region.
This event is for current CCA members only. You cannot join CCA on the day of the event (* see note about CCA membership below).
If you have your own gear (climbing rope, a few slings, carabiners and a belay device), just turn up on the day. If you are a new CCA member and have only a harness and helmet, please contact Phil Thomas at eveningstarsystems1@hotmail.com to register your intention to attend, as we may have to limit numbers because of gear limitations.
The day will be hosted by the CCA Vice President, Brian Mattick, and coordinated by CCA member, Phil Thomas. If you are interested in attending, please register with Phil at eveningstarsystems1@hotmail.com.
Meet at the car park in Wickerslack Lane, about 450m from the Old Cooma Rd intersection, at 10am.
Wickerslack Grag climbing guide
(* Note about CCA membership: you can only join CCA via our website, and it takes about a month to receive your member’s card after you submit the membership application form on-line and pay the membership fee)

CCA General Meeting / guest speaker Prof. Ken Baldwin
2023-09-20 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 meeting starts at 7.30pm. A table in the name of CCA is booked for 6pm.
Guest speaker: Prof. Ken Baldwin – The 2023 Gorak Himal (Nepal) exploratory expedition and its roots in the ANUMC
In May this year, with Tim Macartney-Snape and a group of friends from previous expeditions, we explored the remote valleys and high passes of far NW Nepal in the Gorak Himal. With an eye for the many unclimbed 6-7,000m peaks in that part of the Himalaya, we traversed regions that had not been travelled by other expeditions, passing only small hamlets with summer yak and goat herders over the three weeks.
The presentation will put this expedition in the context of other expeditions that arose out of the ground-breaking 1978 ANU Mountaineering Club Himalayan Expedition to Dunagiri, and discuss rekindling the links between the CCA and the ANUMC.
Ken Baldwin is an Emeritus Professor at ANU whose main focus is on advancing the energy transition, particularly for Australia’s export future in the region. A brief summary of his ANUMC connections are as follows:

1974-1977 ANUMC undergraduate member
1978 Secretary and member, ANUMC Himalayan Expedition to Dunagiri (7,066m), India
1980’s ANUMC committee member and President – upgraded old ANU Sport brick climbing wall to include rock holds and cracks
1988 Member, Australian Baruntse Expedition (7,128m), Nepal
1990 ANUMC host and international judge for the Oceania Cup – the first climbing competition between Australia and New Zealand
1991 Built new ANUMC climbing wall with interchangeable holds and overhanging routes
2010 Member, Yangma Expedition, Nepal
2023 Member, exploratory expedition to Gorak Himal, Nepal

Ken Baldwin in the Gorak Himal, far NW Nepal

Spring Equinox weekend camping at Honeysuckle Creek
2023-09-23 - 2023-09-24 | Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground, 244 Apollo Rd, Rendezvous Creek, ACT, 2620, Australia
Spend this Spring Equinox weekend climbing at Booroomba Rocks, Honeysuckle Crag or on the Orroral Ridge (requires a steep 4km walk or bike ride each way, unless the road is open to vehicles) and join other climbers at Honeysuckle Creek campground on Saturday night.
What better way to enjoy our 12 hours of sunlight and night time?
Climbing
You will need to have a climbing partner to go climbing on this weekend.
The weekend is not an introductory activity for novice climbers, and there will be NO GUIDED CLIMBING for this event. If you cannot arrange a leader, you are welcome to still come along for the camp out.
If finding your way around Booroomba Rocks and identifying individual climbing routes is a challenge, please join Brian Mattick for a guided tour of Booroomba Rocks on the Saturday.
Camping
The CCA will pay camping fees at Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground, and we will provide wood for the campfire.
Honeysuckle Creek Camp Ground has water, toilets, fireplaces, picnic tables and chairs. There is no electricity. You will need to provide everything else, including:

Warm clothes, beanie, gloves etc. in many layers. It will be cold overnight!
Dinner and breakfast, including food, cooking utensils, stove, plates and bowls, cup etc.
Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, torches, a folding chair and any other creature comforts you feel are necessary.

We will be camping about 30-70m from the car park.
Enquiries
Enquiries about this event can be emailed to Phil Thomas at eveningstarsystems1@hotmail.com.
For more information about the campsite, visit Honeysuckle Campground – Parks ACT.

Booroomba Rocks orientation
2023-09-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Booroomba Rocks, Booroomba Rocks, Namadgi National Park, ACT, Australia
If finding your way around Booroomba Rocks and identifying individual climbing routes is a challenge, please join Brian Mattick for a guided tour.
The tour will involve a four to five hour walk around the base of the crag, to show participants access routes and classic climbs. Sturdy shoes, sun hat and a water bottle are advised.
Meet at 10:00am at the Booroomba Rocks carpark.
If you have any questions, please contact Phil Thomas at eveningstarsystems1@hotmail.com. No RSVP is required.
