The landowners do not currently allow access to The Tors.
- Home
- NZ
- South Island
- Port Hills
- The Tors
The Tors
Some good middle grade climbs are to be found on this small crag, including the classic ***Nudity 20. The harder routes are serious propositions with little pro and the odd loose or brittle hold.
Climbing Notes
All but two of the routes require gear to lead them, and getting a belay at the top can require serious amounts of extension. For those wishing to top-rope, it's an easy scramble up the back.
Generally belays are on blocks on the top ledge and descents at either end or over the back. There is a bolted belay for Mirage/Collateral Damage/Cat's Cradle.
An Abseil anchor is installed, above and right of Nudity.
The Feb 22nd Earthquake shifted rocks around on the top of the crag, BE CAREFULL ABOUT WHAT YOU USE FOR ANCHORS ON THE TOP!!
Unfortunately a few climbs were destroyed around and including "Future Legend".
History
In 1970 the great developer Ross Gooder produced Smaug 19, and the excellent **Hotlegs 17. 1973 saw exploration by Lindsay Main and Exposition 17. Then in 1977, new-arrival John Allen did the superb classic ***Nudity 20 which had been cleaned by Main. John also added *Future Legend 19. Over the next few years, these two were the main contributors, Main's best routes being Cat's Cradle 21 and Mirage 20. In a short burst of activity in 1979, John Allen added *Moss Gard 22. The crag was then left alone, considered by most to be worked out, until Tony Ward-Holmes added the desperate Someone Else's Girl 27 in 1993, being the first purely bolt protected route on the crag. Joe Arts then followed on and bolted Bulgy Bowels and Progressive Aging in 1994 and Lindsay Main added Collateral Damage 21 in 1996.
The Tors are prominent rock pillars on the harbour side of the Summit Rd between Castle and Rapaki Rocks, about 200m west of Castle Rock. While the Summit road is closed park at Rapaki, walk eastwards towards Castle Rock for 15 min, The Tors are on the Lyttelton Harbour side of the road. Cross the stile and follow the track (part of the crater rim walkway) or go straight up the hill to the crag.
The landowners, John and Sue Stevens of Cass Bay, do not allow access to their land, and therefore the crag is closed. However it is hoped that access can be negotiated in the near future.
Routes
Reference | Title | Grade | Length | Pro | Quality | Alert | Operations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kilgore's Crack, 10 | 10 | ||||||
A short steep crack with good holds on the left margin of the cliff. |
|||||||
Wampeter, 11 | 11 | ||||||
A steep crack with good holds but poor protection until the crux near the top of the climb. |
|||||||
Foma, 10 | 10 | ||||||
An easy-angled corner with a steep grassy bulge (crux) in the middle. |
|||||||
War & Peace, 14 | 14 | 15m | |||||
The bulge between Foma and Granfalloon. Negligible pro |
|||||||
Granfalloon, 13 | 13 | 15m | |||||
Start in the easy-angled right-facing corner, at mid-height traverse left and climb straight up near the edge. |
|||||||
P | PPantagruel, 14 | 14 | 15m | ||||
Start as for G. but continue up the corner, by some interesting bridging (crux). |
|||||||
NN | NNNo Nirvanas, 17 | 17 | 15m | ||||
Climb the sharply cut right facing vegetated corner, which steepens up under a large block. Swing round to the edge on the left using underclings, then climb up the thin crack. Watch for loose rock in the top crack. |
|||||||
S | SSmaug, 19 | 19 | 15m | ||||
Start on the left side of a wall wide. Climb up the thin crack which steepens up under the large block, then proceed delicately on small holds to layback past the block. Holds may be loose and protection marginal. |
|||||||
MB | MBMr Baggins, 10 | 10 | 15m | ||||
Start in the middle of the wall near a prominent crack, move onto the wall where this is easier. Great pro. |
|||||||
Gm | GmGollum, 12 | 12 | 15m | ||||
Starting on the right side of the wall, climb the left facing corner. Harder now since the earthquake. |
|||||||
Dominoes, 17 | 17 | 15m | |||||
The wall and bulge between Gumbo and Gollum. Easy start, then up steep wall on good holds and over bulge. Poor pro 'til well after the crux. |
|||||||
Go | GoGumbo, 16 | 16 | |||||
Start up a crack beneath a jumble of large, loose blocks. Climb through the
|
|||||||
FL | FLFuture Legend, 19 | 19 | |||||
Climb the right crack through the slight bulge (crux), then easier up to the
|
|||||||
Someone Else's Girl, 27 | 27 | 2 | |||||
steep, powerful and bolted - somewhat out of character with the other routes
|
|||||||
C | CCrapbreech, 15 | 15 | |||||
The overhanging off-width crack. Bridging and large jugs near the top make
|
|||||||
DIY | DIYD.I.Y., 18 | 18 | 16m | ||||
The wall to the right of Crapbreech. Start with a move to the right from the small rib. Spaced protection. Purists can choose to stay entirely left or right of the arête for a bit more fun. |
|||||||
HL | HLHotlegs, 17 | 17 | 18m | ||||
Climb the thin crack up through a small roof (crux), and then up to a left facing corner. Proceed pleasantly up the corner to the top. Good protection. |
|||||||
Hot Pants, 20 | 20 | 18m | |||||
Climb ‘Mirage’ or ‘Hot Legs’ for about eight metres to the gain a standing position on pedestal between the two routes and below a large roof / nose. Launch yourself straight over the roof and up the front face of the pillar on good holds, no protection to the top (climbed on sight). |
|||||||
M | MMirage, 20 | 20 | 18m | ||||
Start up Hotlegs then move right and up the right-facing corner, going right past the overhang to the top. Protection adequate, but make sure you don't miss the fixed piton under the roof (failing to clip it nearly killed John Visser - don't let it happen to you). Alternatively cheat and clip the bolts on Collateral Damage. |
|||||||
CD | CDCollateral Damage, 21 | 21 | 18m | 3 | |||
The roof and arête between Mirage and Cat's Cradle. Start on the left, move out to the first bolt and up over the roof (crux) to a good rest, then move technically up the arête. Three bolts plus gear at the top, bolt+chain belay |
|||||||
CC | CCCat's Cradle, 21 | 21 | 18m | ||||
Move up the smooth groove left of Garganuta and then powerfully straight up through the roof (crux) 5m up. From the vegetated ledge climb the easier wall above and follow the crack veering rightwards. The start used to be easier before the deacying ledge decayed. |
|||||||
Ga | GaGargantua, 16 | 16 | 18m | ||||
The prominent gully, start from the left and swing around into the crack (crux). Continue straight up. Direct start from the right is 18, but probably less awkward since the good ledge on the left fell off. |
|||||||
EC | ECExposition Crack, 17 | 17 | 18m | ||||
From 5m up Gargantua move from the gully onto the right wall, following vague cracks. 5m from the top step left and climb a small bulge to finish. Good pro every few metres up the crack. (Nuts and smaller cams) |
|||||||
P | PPorno, 22 | 22 | 18m | ||||
Start below the Gargantua gully. Move up and right to above the overhang and up the wall above, finishing up the top 3m left of Jambilicus. Adequate Pro on the face (Small wires, slings and RPs) |
|||||||
Quick Thrash, 24 | 24 | 18m | 1 | ||||
Climb through the right side of the overhang past the bolt. Carry on up the wall above with reasonable pro with the options of finishing as for Porno, Jamblicus, or the highest piece of rock. |
|||||||
J | JJambilicus, 15 | 15 | 18m | ||||
Start just left of Nudity. Climb up about 4m, move left to the bottom of the obvious groove (crux). The protection improves after this section!!! Proceed up the pleasant groove and wall above. Watch out for loose or brittle holds. |
|||||||
Two Bit Climb, 19 | 19 | 18m | 1 | ||||
From the bottom of Nudity, move left climb the thin crack and wall, then up past Old Single bolt. Move left to arete, over the large hanging flake at the top. Spaced gear & Committing top out. |
|||||||
N | NNudity, 20 | 20 | 18m | ||||
The prominent corner. Bare, but not indecently exposed. An excellent, sustained route for those with good technique. Straight up to the top. Pro adequate - CDs fit better than nuts (the nut placements are worn), take plenty of small cams (#0.5 and smaller). You can make it 19 by moving out R at 2/3 height to good holds,a hands free rest and pro on ledge. |
|||||||
LS | LSLickedy Splat, 22 | 22 | 17m | ||||
Through the overhang and up the arete R of Nudity. One loose hold, handle with care. Serious start but adequate pro after that. |
|||||||
Moss Guard, 22 | 22 | 17m | |||||
Climb the overhang 3m right of Nudity, step right then trend left and up to a good spike hold. Continue up trending left to the top. Sparse protection, very serious. |
|||||||
Great Notion, 21 | 21 | 17m | |||||
Climb through the overhang left of Gormeghast then follow a thin crack line right and up until near Gormenghast. Finally proceed up the upper wall. Technically not overly hard for the grade, but sparse protection, serious. |
|||||||
Gt | GtGormenghast, 17 | 17 | 17m | ||||
The left leaning corner, climb the underhung start and easy slab to gain the corner. Using holds on the left wall and laybacking move to the top, finish using block and tree roots with care. Adequate protection. |
|||||||
Progressive Aging, 17 | 17 | 1 | |||||
The overhang and wall right of Gormenghast. One bolt. A second bit up steep slippery vegetated loose unprotected rock adds a uniquely alpine flavour...& spaced |
|||||||
Bulgy Bowels, 17 | 17 | 14m | 1 | ||||
The bulge R of the descent route. Interesting texture, and one bolt. |
|||||||
Windless, 18 | 18 | 8m | |||||
Up the highest part of the wall of rounded holds out on the headland about 150m south of The Tors. |
Photo Clayton Garbes, Topo Grant Piper
The Tors cimbing guide added, please download and use, please do not upload to climbing websites or data bases
There's also some reasonable bouldering on the small ridge further right towards lyttleton, including the obligatory traverse and one route. Watch out for loose rock.