The Bigger Picture.

The Set Up. The sheer scale of the plateaux means its only possible to describe a few crags, but its worth noting that the excellent (1999) Pircher and Carter guide book. It is divided into 7 regions (Katoomba, Medlow Bath, Mount Victoria, Blackheath, Bell Line of Road East, West and Newnes plateaux) and lists over 25 venues, options range from single pitch clip ups at Diamond Falls to multi pitch tottering adventures in Pierces Pass. How ever avid your ticking and whatever you are after I'm sure it's here and has 3 stars. What follows is a simple glimpse of what's on offer.

The Black Heath Area: Centennial Glen (CG), Shipley Upper (SU) and Atlantis (A).

You may first encounter carrot bolts at Shipley Upper Grey Slab, they really are duff, but seemed to be confined to the slabbier, easier right hand end. Where the rock takes on an almost volcanic character, the small nubbins are hard to trust on first acquaintance. Moving left the wall becomes increasingly top heavy, new bolts replace carrots, as the routes become more modern, bowing to endurance. The weird 'bat starts' are easily overcome with the many in-situ clip sticks.

Like its name suggests Wave Wall (CG) is vertical to slabby (only joking), it contains a series of quality routes on good bolts. Go for easy ticks on the shorter left side, then head to the challenges of the longer central section.

Main Wall (CG) is an impressive amphitheatre, the left side of which is really is vertical, as it curve round to the right it gets longer and steeper, Roll up, pick a route any route! It's bound to be starred.

To get a broad picture it's necessary to include adventurous Atlantis. Access to one area is via strange metal rungs and eggshell like edges providing instant exposure, once you step onto the rock your at tree level with the river below providing a dizzying back drop to the excellent routes.

The Bell Line Road: East Area: Bowen's Creek (BC).

As walk in goes this is no Raven Tor, in fact it's not even a Cloggy, if your up for a hellish calf burner that will first take you back to the Jurassic and then onto one of the best crags I have ever visited then this is the place for you!

This fantastic sport crag was discovered by John Smoothy and Giles Bradbury years ago, it has only recently been equipped, testament to the vast amounts of quality rock over here (or perhaps its that walk?). All the routes at the impressive Main Wall are fully bolted. They are mostly endurance, with some stretching for 29m; the rock favours solid crimps, although there is some shorter steeper stuff at the top right section of the main wall for those with big arms. The beauty of the crag is its abundance of quality routes and lack of crowds (it's that walk in again).

Amenities and Rest Day Activities.

• If you feel your missing out on plastic, there is a decent cellar below the Mountain Design shop at 190 Katoomba Street; you can also get guides etc here.
• Bush walking, horse riding and mountain biking are all available at Echo Point (visitor centre). The Three Sister, Govett's Leap and Evans Lookout are all recommended.
• Check out the drive-thru Jenolan caves, and wish you had a bolt gun.

Oh and then there's the Olympics!!!