Thunderdome Area

(19 routes)

The often damp roof and its environs. Once the place to hang around, before the discovery of the Cave in Barnett Park on the other side of the hill.

Type: 
Wall
Reference Title Grade Length Quality Bolts Gone Natural pro Link to edit content
Fantasia 17
0
1 wire representing trad
This is just as you come out of the trees. It is a good route apparently. Up the corner and flake.
Rob Rainsbury, 1975
Hyperspace 22
0
3bolts
The bolted arete L of the cave. Up the arete past 2 bolts (crux), then slightly left and continue up the easier but very run-out wall above: there is just one more bolt and it's quite high.
Ton Snelder, 1991
Chocolate Discharge A2
0
Aid up the zigzag crack on the L end of the overhang section. Start in a groove, then L, then up. Knifeblades.
Roger Parkyn
Arms Race 23 12m
1.02
6bolts
Start in the R-facing corner L of Gone Bimbo. Straight up to the 4th bolt and join Layer Cake climbing directly to its 5th bolt
Tony Burnell, December 2017
Layer Cake 24 12m
1.02
6bolts
Start as for Gone Bimbo but at the first bolt continue straight up across the roof and up the groove to a DBA.
Tony Burnell
Gone Bimbo 26 12m
2.01
7bolts
The obvious line on the L end of the roof. Often wet. Pull to the fourth bolt then traverse R along the crack. Previously required a cam at the end of the traverse; now there's an extra bolt. There's also a new anchor to the left of the original anchor, which has rusted badly. Supposedly made a fair bit easier - after some gardening was done after the third bolt on the left.
Ton Snelder, 1989
Alternative Traverse 27
0
7bolts
An alternative traverse to Gone Bimbo. From GBs third bolt take the low traverse right, through a punchy and sequency section to join back into GB at its final bolt.
Andy Cockburn
Carnivore 27
0
Start at Mysterious Swine Disease, traversing left across the Gone Bimbo roof and finishing up Peter Carter's variation finish (27).
Peter Taw, 1993
Mysterious Swine Disease 26
1.02
7bolts
Strenuous and gymnastic moves (you couldn't tell?) leftwards across the roofs, joining Gone Bimbo just below the anchor.
Pete Taw, 1992
Swine Fever 26 11m
0
5bolts
Start as for Mysterious Swine Disease But go straight up to a ledge and right facing corner
Tony Burnell
Mega Pump 27
0
Do MSD to the last bolt. Go L to CD pro then down GB to where the direct finish exits.
Pete Taw, 1992
Kubla Khan 29 15m
1.02
4bolts
Boulder problem past ring bolt to easier headwall and coldshuts.
Sefton Priestley 2004
Creatures of Power 28 15m
1.02
5bolts
Awkward moves under the roof lead to easier ground.
Peter Taw
Creatures of Power (Alternative Start) 25
0
6bolts
Follow the steep corner out right at the start of Creatures of Power, to join it again for the fourth clip. Careful climbing from third to fourth, unsure of the ground fall potential if you were to fall towards the fourth.
Michael Karnick
Scud Muscles 23 10m
0
2bolts wire representing trad
An interesting start with some loose holds gets you to the first bolt. Don't kick off the big ledge! Tackle the small roof at the second bolt, then up easier but looser ground with scant pro to finish in the weeds. Watch out for rope drag.
Dave Fearnley
JJ Jug Jockey 23
1.02
4bolts wire representing trad 1
Start between Scud Muscle and Frank's in a Frenzy. Start up the yellow coloured wall directly below a series of overhangs. Climb easily up to the first bolt, a hard move past the first bolt leads to a huge hold. Surmount the second roof on improving holds and continue up, steep but easy ground past three more bolts. At the top of the shallow right facing corner rock over out left to a no hands rest and a No.1 friend placement. Continue straight up the slabby wall avoiding the crack on the right which is the finish to Frank's in a Frenzy. Single bolt lower off, four bolts, #1 CD.
Tony Burnell, 1997
Frank’s in a Frenzy 23 10m
0
5bolts wire representing trad
The left-facing corner right of JJ. Climb the corner past two bolts, haul over the small roof, then up the wall above. Step around the top roof to its left and finish up the crack above (small cam or wire).
Damian Carroll
Mystery 23
0
Punchy steep face inbetween FF and A4A.
Tony Burnell
A4A Art for Arts Sake 21
1.02
5bolts 1
Takes a line up the steep rock between Frank's in a Frenzy and Stu Allan. Above the initial roof is a left facing square capped corner. Start down and right, climb to the corner (BR) on slab, move up left to a small shallow scoop (BR), continue straight up over a small roof to good flat holds (BR), continue up passing the fourth bolt till the angle eases, last bolt, finish easily up to a double bolt belay slightly left.
Tony Burnell, 1996

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UUID: 
88a21a2a-112d-494c-8149-2a6f48fa9a1c

Comments

There has been an extra bolt added to the top of Jug Jockey recently. A concerned local has decided it was needed. No attempt was made to see if the first ascensionist agreed with the addition of an extra bolt. Maybe the person that added the extra bolt, could add a handhold of a suitable size? Last year the same discussion took place about adding extra bolts to existing climbs. Some historical routes demand a different level of mental strength. Protection on older climbs should remain as when climbed at the time of the 1st ascent. It is great when the fixed protection is upgraded and that is happening in the Port Hills. In my opinion, older routes should be rebolted, not retrobolted.

Jug jockey. The move from the first bolt no longer leads to a "huge hold." That is long gone. It now leads to a very modest hold. Just saying.

Having trouble repositioning route order (Swine Fever)

What's the climb inbetween Frank's in a Frenzy and Art for Arts Sake? Starting by fighting over the bulge and then into a little crimpy section which is followed by jugs to the top finishing next to A4A?