More than just a pretty face, Rock Hudson offers a high concentration of moderate routes on well-featured rock. Prone to seepage in wet conditions, it’s best avoided until the long warm, dry spells of summer begin.
From the Diamond Lake car park, walk up the west branch of the Rocky Mountain track to the steep wooden steps next to the cliff out left. Find the access track, which descends steeply left down along the base of the crag.
Alternatively, walk up the Sharon Stone access track and continue uphill another 50m to the base of Rock Hudson.
Routes
| Reference | Title | Grade | Length | Pro | Quality | Alert | Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1So Long Hip, 21 | 21 | 25m | 9 |
|||
|
A tribute to mountain guide David Hiddleston who died in the December 2003 Mt Tasman tragedy. A tricky face, initially, then up a right-angling crack. An extension (24) continues up the steep face above on excellent, well-featured rock.
|
|||||||
| 2 | 2Test of Wills, 21 | 21 | 20m | 7 |
|||
|
Layaway up the steep seam to a break, then turn the crux bulge.
|
|||||||
| 3 | 3Riddled with Aids, 18 | 18 | 20m | 7 |
|||
|
RIP Rock. This steep climb trends right to a steeper finish on jugs galore.
|
|||||||
| 4 | 4Thing 1, 19 | 19 | 20m | 7 |
|||
|
Up and left onto a ledge, then tricky moves right to larger holds.
|
|||||||
| 5 | 5Thing 2, 18 | 18 | 20m | 7 |
|||
|
The balancy start is not a sign of things to come. Steep ground heads up and left. Shares the anchor with Thing 1.
|
|||||||
| 6 | 6Tony’s Attraction, 18 | 18 | 20m | 7 |
|||
|
One of these first ascent couples is not like the others. Steep, bulging, right-angling, well-featured rock past horizontals.
|
|||||||
| 7 | 7Café Chatter, 17 | 17 | 20m | 7 |
|||
|
A steep start, then through a series of ledge systems trending right.
|
|||||||
| 8 | 8Solance, 16 | 16 | 15m | 5 |
|||
|
Pleasant enough.
|
|||||||
