Rest Day Views from Dyuritte/Arapiles

Rest days amongst the Pines at Dyuritte can be a tease for some with the glowing orange sandstone beckoning you… “C’mon, lose the little skin you have left, you know you want to.” For others it can be a welcome delight with slacklines aplenty to fall off and juggle on, a trip to the OTR bins for a tasty treat, slow mornings with at least six cups of the finest AeroPress coffee and talking through the world’s problems with your mates (who, chances are, you met just two hours ago). Unless—like Kate—you wield a camera. 

One of my personal favourite ways to spend a rest day, when not doing the activities above, is taking photos of my friends going “PSAAAT”. Sometimes planned when there’s some stoke around a climb, but more often than not, it’s on the fly. These shots in particular came about on a warm summer day. The Pines was hot (oh goodness was it HOT) and the search for a shady crag began. 

My friends Clem, Derwood and Evan discussed their excitement to head to Henry Bolte wall. Home to climbs by the name of Get Your Bloody Fingers Out of My Nostrils, Slinkin’ Leopard and one of particular interest, The Fortress, a popular mixed route. Evan had spent some sweet time here earlier in the trip, with said climb becoming an enticing shady project. To Derwood this route was an old friend, and to Clem it was a new exciting prospect. As we prayed for minimal spooge, we all piled in Evan’s ”lux five star b&b on wheels” and found our way to the top of the mount. 

A short stroll to the wall, I decided to set up ropes over Follow Your Nose, the climb beside The Fortress to hopefully get some fresh angles. Having shot at Henry Bolte wall previously I was keen to change it up. 

A fun little scramble to the top of the line, then battling my creeping fear of heights and my short arms… picture a person lying on their belly, legs spread with one foot toe-hooking a divet in the clifftop, the other being a balance, bent sideways like some kind of banana-shaped overstretched rubber band, while extending my right arm so far it might just fall off, and holding my breath for a questionable amount of extra length. I clipped my safety in. Phew. That took longer than expected. I thanked my -3cm ape index, climbed down to the bolts, threaded my rope through and repelled down.  

Lowering to where I think is a good place to stop and just hang out (ha ha) I watch from above as people climb, admiring the unique and wonderful perspective. To see the holds from above, the emotions bleeding through the faces of those pumped out of their brains and giving their all, the ear to ear smiles, the gritted teeth.

The rope is determined to spin me in every direction besides the way I want to shoot. I partake in some kind of air tango-cum-breaststroke to keep me in the correct position for a few seconds—if timed correctly, you can almost manage to capture your desired shot this way.

The Fortress is found on striking Dyuritte rock, a combination of orange and soft grey, where mother nature has let her oceans, wind and rain shape her. The beginning of the climb is sustained and, depending how you climb it, involves wide stances and high reaches. It continues up to larger holds, beginning with bolts and ending with a couple of pieces of trad gear, finishing up at a bolted anchor. A delight to capture, a delight to climb.

They took it in turns, sharing beta. Clem’s unique technique involved going more direct than the others, with their precise placement and impeccable finger strength. The others stick to more classic beta. Observing the problem solving and collaboration and watching it unfold on the wall is such a beautiful thing to witness. It’s such an intricate process. And of course no project session is complete without a jar of peanut butter and honey, filled with sultanas. Raw power.

We spent a good few hours at the wall. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted as an outcome from the day, but I wanted to try to capture the holds on the climb and the different ways all three climbers made it up the wall.

A moment when Derwood nailed the send, effortlessly flowing up the wall with seemingly little effort. And when Evan, locked in and fully engaged, moved from hold to hold with raw determination. Peanut butter power in full effect.

I was so absorbed in the beauty of the climbing, the atmosphere, the rock, that some moments I captured only in my memory. Still, I managed to snap a few that I was genuinely stoked with.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my time taking photos outdoors is that sometimes the least prepared, most unexpected moments deliver the most unique and beautiful shots.

Kate Proctor is a self proclaimed ‘chilled frother’ who has too many hobbies to give her entire focus to any one thing. She’s been taking photos since getting her first point and shoot 15 years ago (at age 10) and has been captured (haha) by the realm of artistry and representation through photography ever since. See more of her work @earthymedia + www.earthymedia.com.au