Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Buju
Trad climber
the range of light
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 8, 2009 - 08:35pm PT
|
Anyone ever heard of this thing? I guess climbing on it was banned a few decades ago... Looks pretty crazy though...
|
|
WBraun
climber
|
|
There's huge serpent that lives on that thing and one has to chant a special mantra continuously while on that island to keep from being swallowed whole ......
|
|
cintune
climber
the Moon and Antarctica
|
|
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball%27s_Pyramid
Ball's Pyramid is 20 km (13 miles) southeast of Lord Howe Island in the Pacific Ocean. It is 562 m (1844 ft) high, while measuring only 200 m (656 ft) across, making it the tallest volcanic stack in the world.[1] Ball's Pyramid is located at 31°45′21″S 159°15′02″E / 31.75583°S 159.25056°E / -31.75583; 159.25056Coordinates: 31°45′21″S 159°15′02″E / 31.75583°S 159.25056°E / -31.75583; 159.25056. It is part of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park.
The first successful climb to the summit was made on 14 February 1965 by a team of climbers from the Sydney Rock Climbing Club, consisting of Bryden Allen, John Davis, Jack Pettigrew and David Witham.[2]
There had been an earlier attempt in 1964 by another Sydney team that included adventurer Dick Smith (then just 20 years old) and other members of the Scouting movement. They were forced to turn back on their fifth day running short of food and water. In 1979 Smith returned to the pyramid, together with climbers John Worrall and Hugh Ward, and they successfully reached the summit. At the top they unfurled a flag of New South Wales provided to them by Premier Neville Wran and declared the island Australian territory (a formality which it seems had not previously been done).
Climbing was banned in 1982 under amendments to the Lord Howe Island Act, and in 1986 all access to the island was banned by the Lord Howe Island Board. In 1990 the policy changed to allow some climbing under strict conditions, which in recent years has required an application to the relevant state Minister (e.g.[3]).
|
|
tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
I'm with Werner. You definitely need to include sea serpents in the list of objective hazards.
|
|
adventurous one
Trad climber
Truckee Ca.
|
|
Somewhere years ago I remember reading an account of the first ascent.
A filthy chosspile, but what a summit it must be.
Photos I saw before made the scale seem much larger than these photos. (anyone have others?)
If I remember correctly, just getting ashore could be an epic due to no landing spots and heavy surf.
A huge pinnacle like that rising out of the Pacific looks like something straight out of mythology!
Read somewhere that without the equiviliant of an Act of Congress, it was impossible to get a permit to even go ashore due to the fragile/unique eco system.
Choss pile or no, it would make for a fine adventure.
edit- The Wiki link says Balls Pyramid is the largest sea stack in the world, with the summit being 1,844 ft. above the sea.
|
|
tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
It is pretty neat looking, despite the monsters.
|
|
Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
|
|
There was an article or two about climbing it in Summit magazine, in the 1960s or early 70s.
There are some nesting birds on it which like to empty their stomach contents onto nearby climbers....
|
|
Studly
Trad climber
WA
|
|
Incredible.
|
|
WBraun
climber
|
|
There are some nesting birds on it which like to empty their stomach contents onto nearby climbers....
Fulmars?
They did that on the old man of hoy when we were there.
|
|
Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
There was something about climbing on it in an article on climbing in Australia, in Mountain in 1973 or so. As mentioned by others, half the challenge was simply getting ashore, then getting back to the boat after the climb.
|
|
WBraun
climber
|
|
Because it's there.
Mystery is all attractive ........
|
|
adventurous one
Trad climber
Truckee Ca.
|
|
" It's great that climbing is banned on Ball's. Why do we humans have to be able to tread EVERYWHERE on this planet?!? "
The pursuit of the unknown, a never ending human endeavor.
I agree that it is great that there are places where we are banned from treading,
but................the more that we are told, as humans, that it is impossible, the more strongly we feel the desire to do it anyhow and uncloak the mystique.
|
|
hb81
climber
|
|
There is a book by Stephen Venables called "Meetings with mountains" that has a story about a 1973 ascent by 2 australians. It's pretty much a chosspile apparently.
|
|
tom woods
Gym climber
Bishop, CA
|
|
Bump for a cool trip report
|
|
Oplopanax
Mountain climber
The Deep Woods
|
|
Tami i think it's up to 6 or 7 on SV now?
Bunker/Haley repeated the traverse, Simon Richardson et al ticked it, somebody else did too? a couple recently
|
|
ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
bouldering
|
|
|
Apr 26, 2011 - 12:12am PT
|
Wonder if this one's been climbed ...
Pyramid Lake (Nevada)
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!