While foraging through some old climbing books the following photo and notes came to light with no real clue of their origin, or even a date. The descriptions of the climbs seem to be rather outdated, possibly 1950's or 1960's, and only the name of the author survives. He appears to have been A. (Adam?, Andy?) Phoenix. There is also some indication that he was a surveyor of some kind, maybe for oil or even water.
The crag featured in the photograph appears to be in a arid but slightly grassy landscape and the redness of the rocks suggests it may be sandstone. There is no indication as to which country the crag is in but the routes were given UK grades.
The notes with the topo give the following information about the routes:
1. The Milky Way - Moderately Difficult (a way down)
2. Viking Wall - Extremely Severe (Mild)
3. The Pathfinder - Very Severe (Hard)
4. Victoria Groove - Severe (not high in this category)
5. Beagle Front - Hard Very Severe
6. Odyssey - Girdle Traverse - Exceptionally severe
Can anyone shed any light on where this crag may be and if the routes still exist under these names?
It doesn't really look like any sandstone in the UK, even Northumberland, does it? I feel if it were in Northumberland it would be identified very quickly. It also looks very wild, with no trace of paths or fences at the top or bottom. I suspect it's somewhere like Australia.
In reply to Alan James - UKC: I'm suprised they got UK grades, the majority were put up by an american, John Carter, in the early 20th century. Impressive for nailed boots. D Thoris was his partner for most of them
In reply to Alan James - UKC:
Brilliant Alan! Thanks for cheering up a morning in the office when I'd much rather be outside. Although I might well struggle to get back from this crag before tea.
I think these routes may need down grading. At that location and altitude the the affect of gravity is quite a bit less and airs pretty thin so its going to be a lot easier to haul yourself up compared to somewhere like Stanage.
Though i suppose you have to counter that with the extra weight and hinderance of an appropriate 'expedition suit' to combat the thin air and cold etc.
In reply to Alan James - UKC: It looks like a crag fairly opposite Gruinard Island, n.West Scotland and considering the anthrax tests perhaps people stopped using it for a while and as it looks good I can confirm people do use it today.
