- This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 19 years, 8 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I’m thinking of heading over east for a week or so at Arapiles, but am wondering about the likelihood of rain around the beginning of October. I know Victoria is generally pretty unpredictable, but does anyone have any suggestion as to the best time to go around this time?
Off Season Araps….
Arapiles is great during Winter/ Spring, the crowds are few (you can have the prime campsites and the whole mount is your playground), the weathers crisp and lively, the landscape is cloaked in green and the wildlife is bountifull. You can even watch the lambs frolicking in the paddocks below as you bask on a belay ledge.
Arapiles has a climate quite similiar to that of our eastern wheatbelt with relatively low annual rainfall. From my experience and understanding of weather systems affecting this area, rainfall systems are quite minor events with showers passing quickly and the rock drying almost immediately due to the open northerly aspect of the mount. Being Araps you can also find somewhere sheltered from most precipitation.
In two weeks there at this time last year, there was never more than half a dozen climbers about and although light shower passed through daily, weather was perfect in between. My golden rule was never leave the ground with-out (a) shell (b) headtorch and (c) food. That way when a shower approached you could just pull up a nice comfy belay (preferably under an overhang) and ride out the rain in style.
One thing I did notice about Araps during this time of year was the chill. I’d just returned from Winter in Tasmania and actually found Araps colder due to it’s continental weather patterns. Climbing in five layers was not uncommon, especially on the long exposed routes. This Winter has been particularly good over east with very cold temps, plenty of rain and frequent snow dumps and given the cold ocean temps of the south looks set to continue, take plenty of warn stuff.
With a few extra preparations I’d throroughly recommend Arapiles at this time of year, rain is certainly likely but just adds to the fun.
Greetings Kylie:
Beware of Brett; he is the consumate optimist.
From my perspective the only thing worse than climbing in cold rainy conditions is being forced to sit in a cafe in the new zealand alps during a perfect 3 day clearing in the weather while everyone else climbs.
I would save your money and time until the weather is better.
Cheers
Glenn
In my experience you’d never get anything done if you waited for the ‘perfect weather’!!
Being outdoors (for me) is 110% about being in the natural environment in all it’s guises, a big part of this is the dynamic nature of the weather and the unspeakable ‘joy’ of getting a solid bullocking at the hands of ‘bad weather. After all the best epics and memories are often result from such thrashings.
Unruly weather is akin to offwidths in climbing, an essential component that you’ve got be able to handle!!
