I went back to Steve’s Rocks at Mt Cole (in Victoria) on the weekend to try some new routes. In the end I didn't actually tick any of the routes but I gave the few I tried a fair few goes! One short finger crack (grade 23?) I attempted about fifteen times but to no avail. My best effort was falling off the top mantle. I rocked over onto the slabby top, but in doing so my feet slipped off the small crystals I was using. I tried to beach myself upwards scraping randomly with my feet but to no avail. The top holds were very small and useless... I needed solid feet. Right in front of my face was a fixed pin which I could have grabbed and pulled up easily but I resisted the urge and took the stomach/arm scraping plummet. Very frustrating. Marcel had a go at placing pitons in a short aid crack then we went over and climbed the three good easy hand cracks on the main boulder. All were three star short jam cracks from grade 14 to 18. I brushed a vertical wall right of one crack and bolted the thin face for a future ascent. I had a few goes on toprope and found it very hard but possible. Will properly go at 25+ with the crux being the final pull to the slabby finish.

Neil attempts the grade 23 finger crack