The Altar @ Church Bay

Type

Altitude

100m

Part of

A wee crag clearly visible from road on the way towards Daimond Harbour. The climbs are generally about 10m high and bolt protected.
It was intially developed by Simon Courtois and Dave Shotwell around 2008/09.

Walktime

5min

Aspect

West

Lat/lon

-43.635329,172.723639, NZ Topo Map

Topo50

BX24 777 686

Approach

Park just east of the small bridge. The track starts just west of the bridge. Follow the track up the creek then cross the creek. Go uphill and there is a bit of fixed rope to get around the right side of the crag.

Add Place Add Route

Routes

Reference	Title	Grade	Length	Pro	Quality
HF	HFHoly Fatima, 20	20	10m	3	1.02
P1 20 10m 3 Very left end of cave up blocky chimney feature
MC	MCMcChurch, 27	27	3m	4	1.02
P1 27 3m 4 The very left side of the cave. Short and steep. An easier variant can be done by climbing up blocks to the right of the bolts at 25/26
FI	FIFalse Idol, 31	31	10m	5	1.02
P1 31 10m 5 Starts on pocket and sidepull right of the corner. Up through roof via underclings (crux)
	The Power of Christ Compels You, 29	29	0m		0
P1 29 Climbs into meet The Altar Boy at the top
AB	ABThe Alter Boy, 27	27	0m		2.01
P1 27 Start off the detached boulder climbing pockets and huceos then bust left through overhang on pinches to single ring lower off. Two knee pads are helpful ;)
Ca	CaCharismania, 32	32	8m	6	0
P1 32 8m 6 Climb up to roof and hard compression moves out to awesome jug on lip. Finish on Kneel to the Pope anchor.
	Kneel to the Pope, 30	30	10m	6	0
P1 30 10m 6 Good moves to steep section of overhang then crazy knee bar action required - righthand side of roof. http://www.flickr.com/photos/derekthatcher/11138377606/
	David and Goliath, 27	27	10m	4	2.01
P1 27 10m 4 Awarkward corner to headwall - rightside of over hang
SP	SPThe Supreme Pontiff, 30	30	8m	4	1.02
P1 30 8m 4 Trad Compress the overhanging prow then climb the face.
TH	THThor's Hammer, 21	21	10m	4	0
P1 21 10m 4 Just past the right side of the cave. Climbs the right-facing corner and crack, trending right at the top; then step left to the anchor rings.
TP	TPThe Pulpit, 17	17	0m	4	0
P1 17 4 Up the centre of the featured yellow and black face.
	Werewolves Of Diamond Harbour, 17	17	10m		0
P1 17 10m Trad A gear route on the arête between The Altar cave and the main wall. Generally well-protected, with a cool move on to the protruding blade. Move left to the Thor anchor.
CG	CGCatholic Girls, 19	19	10m	4	0
P1 19 10m 4 Corner and groove to the right of the arête. Move right at top to anchor for HLG.
HG	HGHindu Love Gods, 20	20	0m	5	0
P1 20 5 Up thin crack line past a jutting flake on the right (bolt just above lip). Finish in hand crack or right thereof.
RR	RRRasta's Revolution, 23	23	0m	5	1.02
P1 23 5 Clean-cut left-facing corner with a black streak. High first bolt followed by steep, technical climbing to ledge and then exit R-wards. Double anchors at top of HLG
Ad	AdAltared, 24	24	12m	3	1.02
P1 24 12m 3 Reachy moves up the prow and into groove to join MBB at the last bolt
	Moroni's Blues Band, 20	20	0m	4	0
P1 20 4 Just around the arete. Start in the Rh-facing corner and climb on past the flaring crack and exit out L-wards.
	Sunday School, 21	21	0m	4	0
P1 21 4
	Joe's Route, 20	20	0m		0
P1 20 Trad Up the obvious corner (clip the first Randall bolt) to the overhang. Place smallish cams and move left under the overhang. Very flaky rock. Belay at a tree.
RC	RCRandall the Horny Clergyman, 21	21	0m	4	0
P1 21 4 Starts in the corner or on the face, trending right past a roof to the arête on the right. Steeper than it looks. Single anchor ring.
	Face Scratcher, 15	15	10m		0
P1 15 10m Trad Start up the arête beside the obvious finger crack (can be used for gear), and balance up over the blocks. Steep left to the Randall anchor.

Comments

goonie

Me and Ferg girdled this the other night. Two pitch (15)

Thu, 07/04/2022 - 14:34 Permalink

ascott

Church Bay's answer to the Wimmera both in terms of the immaculate rock and thought-provoking body position climbing. Just not long enough! The projects look amazing... and hard! Pulpit (~17), Catholic Girls (~18+), Hindu Love Gods (~20), Rasta's (~23), Randall (~20+). Numerous single ring anchors.

Sun, 24/02/2013 - 15:31 Permalink

Lindsay Main

content_editor

I've added the three trad routes and made some minor edits, including grade changes to bring them more in line with the consensus between Simon and me. I think Catholic Girls and Hindu Love Gods could move down a grade, but have left them as originally graded to see what other people think.

Mon, 18/02/2013 - 22:08 Permalink

steve.skelton

Just visited The Alter today and loved the place! Great rock, beautiful environment and fun climbing. Where is there more of this kind of rock around CHC???? It's a shame the routes are only 10 m. I thought I'd put in my 2 cents on the grades etc. as Simon mentioned. I thought overall they were a bit soft, however some were right on. Thors Hammer, yes 21, Catholic Girls I'd say 18. Hindu Love Gods, Yes 20. Rastafarianism 22 1 STAR. This route is awesome and would be a three star mega-classic if it was 30 m, but I don't on-sight 24 off the couch... EVER! Randal... Yes 22 but maybe a bit soft. Thanks for all the hard work in putting together a quality climbing venue.

Mon, 19/11/2012 - 00:07 Permalink

Simon Courtois

Hi, It is good to see The Altar in your guide. I've added the route names from our 1st ascents in 2008/2009. The grades have not been changed and differ slightly from what we had thought originally. When more people climb these routes, we will have a better idea of what the grades should be.
2 gear routes exist, and that was how we accessed the top of the cliff. Not recommended.
Thanks, Simon Courtois

Sat, 12/05/2012 - 13:27 Permalink

This place appears in

Rock Deluxe South, 2014

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UUID

3ca9372f-6aec-48bb-8f72-1a122b4cc20a