September 2026 - Blue Mountains Sport Climbing Meet

Join us for a relaxed and friendly weekend of sport climbing on Darug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains, NSW. This meet is aimed at competent and independent CCA sport climbers, with priority for members who have recently completed Sport Climbing 101 and are keen to keep building confidence at the crag. It is a great opportunity to climb with others, consolidate skills, share experience and enjoy time on Blue Mountains sandstone while respecting the special places we visit. 

The Blue Mountains are a World Heritage listed area, with crags located across National Park, Crown Land and council reserve, so we ask all participants to help care for Country by respecting access requirements, native habitat and relevant access advice, treading softly, leaving no trace and minimising our impact while we are there.

What to expect

• Single-pitch sport climbing in the Blue Mountains

• Independent climbers only

• Flexible crag selection based on conditions, access and group needs

• Camping or self-arranged accommodation

• A friendly, low-key weekend focused on climbing, learning and connection

Participation

This trip is for independent, self-sufficient and competent sport climbers. You must be a current paid CCA member before the activity, be recognised as an independent sport climber under CCA requirements, and be approved by the convenor before attending. To help us plan properly and keep the group manageable, please make sure you register first and wait for confirmation before coming along.

The Convenor and Trip Leader is Inger Ellingsen, with Inger Ellingsen and Flynn Howley as activity leaders. Registration will be managed through the CCA website or the approved CCA registration process and closes on Wednesday 16 September 2026.

This activity is for current paid CCA members only. If you are not a member yet, please join online first through the CCA website: https://canberraclimbing.org.au/. Once your online sign-up and payment are complete, your membership is active, and you can register for the meet.

Accommodation

Participants are welcome to camp at Mount York Campground if it is suitable and available. The campground has basic facilities, including toilets and fire pits, but please bring your own water and follow any fire restrictions. You are also welcome to arrange your own accommodation if that works better for you. Morning meeting arrangements will be confirmed once registrations have been reviewed.

What to bring

Please bring your own climbing gear and make sure it is in serviceable condition. Ropes, harnesses, helmets and slings must be no more than 10 years old. All climbing equipment must be purpose-designed and certified for climbing use, and may be checked before climbing starts.

You will also need food, water, a personal first aid kit, sun protection, warm layers and clothing suitable for cold, windy or changeable Blue Mountains conditions. Ambulance cover is strongly recommended.

Climbing routes

We have a number of suitable single-pitch sport climbing crags available for this meet. Final crag selection will be confirmed closer to the weekend to make the most of conditions and choose locations that best suit the group. Some potential options are Medlow Bath, Shipley Upper, Mount York, Soft Parade, Bardens Lookout, Dam Cliffs, or Disneyland. Selection will be based on weather, fire danger, access status, group capability, route suitability, crowding and any land manager alerts or closures. Any crags mentioned before then should be treated as indicative only. As always, participants remain responsible for choosing climbs that are suitable for them.

Transportation

Please coordinate carpooling with other participants where you can, including through the MemberJungle app if useful. If you travel in another member's car, please contribute to fuel costs.

Etiquette 

This is a CCA climbing meet, so please follow Leave No Trace principles, respect access tracks, avoid cutting or damaging flora, minimise track impacts, look after the sandstone, avoid crowding routes and be considerate of other climbers. If you are not familiar with Leave No Trace, you can read more here.

No smoking or vaping at the crag. Everyone must sign on and sign out each day so we know the group is accounted for.

Inquiries

You will be able to ask questions as part of the registration process. Final participant information will be sent once registrations have been reviewed, including meeting arrangements, confirmed climbing areas, transport coordination, camping or accommodation details, equipment requirements and leader contact details.

We hope you can join us for a fun weekend of climbing, learning and connection in the Blue Mountains. Whether you are looking to consolidate recently learned skills or simply enjoy climbing with other members, this meet is a great opportunity to spend time at the crag and continue building the CCA climbing community.