Baz - The Landy climbing Sweet Dreams
Dope on a Rope, sweet-dreams, you might just be left wondering what has Baz, The Landy, been getting up to.
Don’t worry, I haven’t taken to peddling anything down a back-alley, but one of my other passions apart from travelling the Australian Outback, is climbing and mountaineering. And close to
Sydney we have one of the world’s greatest outdoor playgrounds, the Blue Mountains.
And there is plenty of four-wheel driving opportunities and destinations throughout the greater
Blue Mountain region…
And why Dope on a Rope I hear you ask…
Strewth, that is how it feels sometimes!
Baz - The Landy (Almost to the top)
Baz - The Landy (Stretch Baz)
But my skill base continues to improve and at some stage it will be put to the
test amongst the world’s highest mountains in the Himalayan Ranges. One of my goals is to climb Cho Oyu, one of the world’s fourteen 8,000 metre peaks. Unfortunately this has been delayed following an Achilles Heel operation in 2013.
Leading the climb on “Sweet Dreams” was Rachael from the Australian School of Mountaineering, which is based in
Katoomba, and it was at her suggestion we climb Sweet-Dreams, situated at Sublime Point near the village of
Leura.
I have to say we had a lot of fun and laughs as we scaled the 110-metre wall in 5 phases; a pitch is the technical term. We walked into the start of the climb, which is 100 metres above the valley floor, so by the time we reach the top of the climb you are over 200 metres above the ground!
Throughout out the climb we were rewarded with a spectacular view of the Blue Mountains most spectacular
rock formation,
The Three Sisters, and I have to say, I never get tired of that view.
The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains
Geez, you just wouldn’t want to be dead-for-quid’s!
The temperature was quite warm and whilst we try to keep gear to a minimum on these climbs we had plenty of water with us, but let me tell you, by the time I got to the top my throat was as dry as a pommie’s bath towel…
Dope on a Rope?
Sweet-Dreams?
You betcha!
And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops…
Baz - The Landy at the start of the climb
Toyota 79 Series
As a footnote… “The Landy” came about as a consequence of owning three Land Rover Defenders, but as you can see this has now changed and yes, thank you, I've recovered fully!
And whilst I'm reluctant to refer to the new vehicle as “The Landy” that’s for sure; the owners’ of either brand would never forgive me!
But “The Landy” reference has stuck, so “The Landy” it is…
Cheers, Baz – The Landy