Personal stories, experiences and viewpoints here.
You can also check out this new website (2020) which is a way for people to quickly share their personal stories (but we’re still happy to feature some on SGC): https://www.ourgariwerdstories.com
We ALL have connection to country. That was something an Indigenous man said to me recently.
This is not trying to deny or compare the deep rooted connection to county the Wotjobaluk people might feel or experience (you can read more at https://www.dyurrite.com.au/), but rather to highlight that Arapiles has real and meaningful connection to all peoples who have invested a good chunk of their lives there. Living, camping, locals, and climbers.
We wanted to share this story (permission obtained) from Ashlee Hendy, of Natimuk, who is a long time climber, and is super passionate about climbing, Gariwerd (Grampians), and Djurite (Arapiles). This is her submission for the GGLMP, which is a bit different and tells a personal story that we can all identify with, even if sometimes it’s hard to put those feelings into words.
This is the second in a two part series where we explore the Northern Grampians and see the effects of the world’s largest climbing bans. You can read the first part about the Hollow Mountain area here. This second part deals with the Stapylton Amphitheater side, where there are currently no Special Protection Area restrictions on rock climbing (apart from Kindergarten & far left end of Northern Walls). We were particularly interested to see how the inevitable increased usage of these areas was effecting the condition of the crags. When half the sport climbing and bouldering in the Grampians was shut by Parks Victoria in February this year, it has meant some of the open areas are probably now seeing double the traffic they saw 12 months ago. This can only end badly without a conscious effort from the climbing community and PV to install erosion busting infrastructure (rock steps, belay platforms, fenced off rehab areas etc). It’s not rocket science.
This is a guest post by Andreas Kupke, who in the last 8 years, has climbed in the Grampians more than anybody I know, and would be out there most weekends of the year (that is a lot of climbing). He had a preference for mid-grade sport climbing (not like my tendency for more obscure Trad), so has a good handle on the climbing numbers, increasing or otherwise, over that time.
On Wednesday 19th, there is going to be motion / debate at the Victorian Parliament, and the ACAV requested that climbers contact members of Parliament to voice their support for the ‘Lockout Motion’ and to share their personal story about what the Grampians means to them. Since I haven’t shared my story yet, here is my letter:
This a quick personal story from Caillan Sainsbury (published with permission) that appeared on Facebook a week ago, and we thought it worth sharing with other climbers, as this IS what climbing means to most of us.
I’ve been holding my tongue a little on this one as it’s so close to the heart. So many of us feel our voices unheard and misunderstood, in general as a whole we are scared to lose access to a place that means so much to us.
Save Grampians Climbing 